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For the village in England, see Abbotsleigh, Devon.
Abbotsleigh School for Girls

Abbotsleigh crest. Source: www.abbotsleigh.nsw.edu.au (Abbotsleigh website)

Motto Tempus Celerius Radio Fugit (Latin:"Time flies faster than a weaver's shuttle")
Established 1885
School type Independent, Anglican, Day and Boarding
Known As Abbotsleigh
Principal/Headmistress Mrs Judith Poole
Founder Miss Marian Clarke
Chairman
Chaplain
Affiliations Anglican, AHIGS
Location Wahroonga, New South Wales, Australia
Campus Suburban Parkland
Enrolment 1300 (K-12)
Employees 148
School colours Black and Gold
School Hymn "To Abbotsleigh"
Area 11 Hectares
Homepage www.abbotsleigh.nsw.edu.au

Abbotsleigh School for Girls (commonly known as Abbotsleigh School or simply just Abbotsleigh) is an Anglican, independent, day and boarding school for girls in Wahroonga, New South Wales, Australia. The school currently caters for approximately 1300 students, including 140 boarders.

Abbotsleigh is a founding member of the Association of Heads of Independent Girls' Schools (AHIGS), as well as being a member of the Association of Independent Schools of NSW, and the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia.

History

Abbotsleigh was founded in 1885

Headmistresses

Abbotsleigh crest. Source: google.com.au (search site)

Purpose

Abbotsleigh is an Independent Anglican school for girls in the Diocese of Sydney. It encourages boarders and day girls to develop their potential in a caring Christian environment by fostering their pursuit of personal and academic excellence. In providing an excellent, well-balanced and prestigious education the school aims to help each girl develop inner strength and a philosophy of life which will enable her to be a larger than life, constructive and compassionate world citizen strengthened by a will to look out for and help others.

Motto and crest

The Abbotsleigh motto, "Tempus celerius radio fugit", reminds us that "time flies faster than the weaver's shuttle". As the shuttle flies a pattern is woven; the shuttle of time also weaves a pattern of which the threads are people, buildings and events. The pattern that is Abbotsleigh continues to grow in complexity and richness every year.

The motto was given to the school by Miss Marian Clarke, whose family crest was a weaver's shuttle surrounded by the motto, "Tempus fugit radio celerit". The school used this form until 1924, when it decided that the ungrammatical Latin should be changed to the present word order, which has been used ever since.

The crest was also given to the school by Miss Clarke. The 1934 edition of "The Weaver" explains the symbolism: the lion for the strength in God, lillies for purity and fish as the symbol of Christianity through baptism.

Lesson

Philippians 4:4-9

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let everyone know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand. Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus"

"Finally, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and seen do: and the God of Peace will be with you."

Facilities

The senior and junior schools educate 1300 students in total from Kindergarten to Year 12 (HSC). In the senior school, there is a Design & Technology Centre, a Music Centre, a Science Centre, a gymnasium and an indoor swimming pool as well as two sporting fields. A new library called the ARC (Abbotsleigh Research Centre) has been built and was officially opened on April 2, 2006. The ARC contains the LTR (a computer room), books from the old library, labtops that can be used on tables around the ARC, and three seminar rooms.

Subjects choices

Abbotsleigh offers a wide range of subjects for their students to choose from in senior years. In year 8 students choose broad subjects to study for year 9 and 10. Students must study maths, english , science, PDHPE, christian studies. They can choose elective subjects from: commerce, history, geography, design and technology, music, japanese, french, german, and latin.

In the upper school students have a wider range of subjects to choose from, which tend to be more specific. In year 11 these include: chemistry, biology, physics, standard english, advanced english, extension english (1 unit), general mathematics, mathematics (2 unit course), extension mathematics (1 unit), economics, modern history, ancient history, music 1, music 2, Latin, French, Japanese, German, PDHPE and design and technology. In year 12, students may pick up extra units such as extension 2 english/maths, and extension language subjects.

It is important to note that it is compulsary to do 12 units in the HSC at Abbotsleigh. Even if students have already completed units due to accelerated courses (for example chemistry) they must take 12 units in the HSC- it is the school policy. Furthermore, students cannot do more than 14 units in year 11 and 12. Choosing subjects is important at Abbotsleigh and should be considered carefully as switching subjects can be difficult.

Note: Abbotsleigh does not offer legal studies, or other electives other than those listed earlier.

Co-curricular activities

The school conducts many extra-curricular activities including the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme, drama and musical performances, chess, debating, mock trials, public speaking, skiing, jewellery making, sports, dress making, film club, charity groups, equestrian and cattle breeding for competition in the Sydney Royal Easter Show. The school competes in many IGSSA sports including, softball, tennis, swimming, basketball, soccer, athletics, cross country, hockey, netball, waterpolo, touch football and cricket. As of 2006, they have been IGSSA champions in swimming and athletics for the past 3 and 5 years and have won IGSSA Cross Country in 10 out of the 12 carnivals held.

Music

Abbotsleigh is blessed with a large musical heritage, and its various choirs and bands have won numerous awards in eisteddfods. As of 2006, a music tour set off for Europe, visiting countries such as Spain, France, England and Germany.

With its close neighbour Knox Grammar School, Abbotsleigh has an orchestra named KAYO (Knox/Abbotsleigh Youth Orchestra). Through KAYO, many students students on musical tours around the world.

In 2007, there are several musicals happening. In Abbotsleigh, many girls performed in The Wiz, as the cast, crew or band. At Knox Grammar School, some Abbotsleigh girls are involved in Guys and Dolls.

Junior School houses

In the Junior School there are five houses as follows:

  • Blaxland (Blue) - Named after Gregory Blaxland (1778 - 1853), Australian explorer
  • Lawson (Green) - Named after William Lawson (1774 - 1850), Australian explorer
  • Macquarie (Red) - Named after Lachlan Macquarie (1771 - 1824), Governor of New South Wales from 1810 - 1821
  • Sturt (Yellow) - Named after Charles Sturt (1795 - 1869), Australian explorer
  • Wentworth (Purple) - Named after William Charles Wentworth (1790 - 1872), Australian explorer, statesman and lawyer

Senior School houses

In the Senior School there are eight houses as follows:

The House System was introduced by Miss Everett. The Weaver for May, 1931 says: "Points are awarded for work, conduct and sport and a shield will be presented annually to the winning House. The Houses have increased and renewed interest and deep speculation on the part of the girls." The Malloch Shield, given the following year by Mr A Malloch, was won for the first time by Sturt.

The House System has been modified over time to reflect the changed needs of the School and its increased enrolment. One of the most significant changes occurred in the late 1960s under then Headmistress Betty Archdale. Senior School Houses had previously been named after well-known male Australian poets. Archdale introduced new house names recognizing accomplished Australian women. This was the basis for the Senior School Houses in use today.

Houses now compete for the House Choir banner and the Spirit Cup.

Boarding

Abbotsleigh offers boarding for girls overseas and nationally long since it established. Current boarding houses in Abbotsleigh include:

  • Vindin house - opened in 1931. It offers boarding opportunities for year 8 to 10 boarders.
  • Murray house - opened in 1962. It offers boarding opportunities for year 8 - 9 boarders.
  • Lynton house - opened in 1969. It offers boarding opportunities for year 7 boarders and sometimes upper years boarders depending on the amount of year 7 girls in the year.
  • Hirst house - opened in 1980 and 1985. It offers boarding opportunities for year 12 boarders.
  • McCredie house - opened in 1990. It offers boarding opportunities for year 9 - 11 boarders

There are about 150 boarders in Abbotsleigh currently from year 7 to 12. Boarders in Abbotsleigh make up about 1/6 of the senior school students population. Year 7 and 12 boarders are housed separately with their year group where year 8 - 11 boarders are mixed in different houses as Abbotsleigh encourages the mix of different year group’s friendship. Most boarders come from NSW or the border of NSW including Goondiwindi. Popular overseas boarders' countries include China, Hong Kong, South Africa, America, the United Kingdom, Taiwan and Singapore.

Uniform

Correct uniform in good repair must be worn at all times. Uniform is worn at all official school events. Girls must wear school uniform, not PE or plain clothes to and from school and in Chapel and Assembly. You may however during winter after 5pm if you have had sport training wear full winter track suit.

In Terms 2 and 3 blazers must be worn at Chapel and Assembly. However cold, freezing or frost-bitten the students may be, scarves and gloves must be removed during Chapel and Assembly. All clothing must be clearly marked with the student's name. Make-up, nail polish and jewellery are not to be worn when in uniform. However, Senior School girls may wear small gold, single stud earrings available from the Abbotsleigh Shop in two sizes only.

Hair that is long enough to touch the collar must be tied back with Abbotsleigh ribbons (black for the Senior School, white in summer or dark green in winter for the Junior School). Girls are to retain their natural hair colour and fancy bows or combs are not allowed. Combs and clips must be in Abbotsleigh green or black, or to match the natural hair colour.

It is also an Abbotsleigh tradition for each Year 12 group to design and create their own unique school leavers' jersey.

Notable alumni

Academic

Entertainment and the arts

Medicine

  • Cindy Pan - doctor, dancer, television personality

Sport

Notes

References

  1. ^ Australian Dictionary of Biography (2007). [1].

See also

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