Balwyn High School
| Balwyn High School | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
 | |
| Coordinates | 37°47′54″S 145°04′33″E / 37.79833°S 145.07583°E |
| Information | |
| Type | State school |
| Motto | Constanter ac Fideliter (constantly and faithfully) |
| Established | 1954 |
| Principal | Deborah Harman |
| Years | 7 to 12 |
| Number of students | ≈2000, Coeducation |
| Colour(s) | Navy Blue, Gold, Bottle Green |
| Mascot | Lion |
| Yearbook | The Buchanan |
| Publications | The Lion (fortnightly online newsletter) |
| Website | http://www.balwynhs.vic.edu.au |
Balwyn High School is a state-run high school (years 7-12) in the Melbourne suburb of Balwyn North, in Victoria, Australia. It was established in 1954. As of 2009 it has some 2,000 students and over 180 staff, making it one of the largest schools in the inner-eastern suburbs of Melbourne or the third largest secondary school in Victoria[citation needed].
The postwar student population expanded. The school assembly hall was built with assistance from parents and is named after a former principal, Archibald M. Rogers. Managing the large class sizes of the era, the school developed a strong science education at senior levels that saw many of its graduates pass into senior academic, government and private sector positions[citation needed].
The school buildings were redeveloped in 1994 after merging with Greythorn High School. Since 1996 the school has operated an International Students Program.
Academic achievements
In 2006 the median ENTER was 85.70, 40.06% achieved an ENTER at or above 90 and 5.07% achieved an ENTER at or above 99. In 2004, 55 students attained ENTER scores in excess of 97 and the median ENTER was 86.95.[1]
Extracurricular program
The school runs co-curricular programmes, including music, sport, debating, cheerleading and community programs. Its music programme, which comprises many string orchestras, includes Beginner Strings (Novice), Junior Strings (Junior), Newitt Strings (Intermediate) and Senior Strings (Advanced), concert bands, choirs, stage bands, a full symphony orchestra, a smaller chamber orchestra and many other privately formed smaller groups.[citation needed].
Its chess teams have consistently reached state level competitions, while the school's cheerleading squad, the Skyraiders, earned two gold medals in Pom and Stunt and finished second (Level 2 Cheerleading/Scholastic) at the 2007 National Cheerleading Championships.[2]
Sport
Balwyn High School has a sports faculty, with many interschool sport teams representing the school in numerous sports, some at elite levels, like many other schools around Victoria.[3]
International Students Program
Balwyn High School runs an 'International Students Program'.[4] In 2007, there were 107 international students at Balwyn High School, who pay $11,800 per year, compared with the local students' voluntary school fees of around $900 per year. Balwyn earned 1.2 million from those international students in 2007.[5] Victoria's Education minister Bronwyn Pike denied that it was a "money-making scheme for schools", though Australian Education Union state president Mary Bluett said, "Certainly this has become a financial incentive for schools."[5]
Other
The school has four houses - Churchill, Strathmore, Windsor and Edinburgh. It also recently introduced a "Safe School Policy" against cyber-bullying.[6] In 2009, the Victorian Budget 2009-2010 has allowed the school to commence "Stage 3" building project which will include art facilities and the replacement of two old blocks.[7] The state government allocated $11.2 million for "school modernisation" of the facilities.[8]
Notable alumni
- Peter Cullen - water scientist[9]
- Neil J. Gunther - scientist
- Steve Hooker - pole-vaulter[10]
- Will Hull-Brown - drummer of The Cat Empire
- Michael Theoklitos - Brisbane Roar Goalkeeper, former Norwich City Goalkeeper and Melbourne Victory Goalkeeper
- Malcolm Speed - former CEO of ICC and Australian Cricket Board [11]
- Philip Mallis - councillor[12]
Notes
- ^ Balwyn High School, "Annual Report to the School Community", 2006
- ^ "2007 Australian Gymsport Spectacular". Gymnastics Australia.
- ^ "Victorian Secondary Schools' Sports Association". Archived from the original on 8 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "International Students". Balwyn High School. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
- ^ a b Metlikovec, Jane (2007-12-03). "Foreign students benefit system – Minister Bronwyn Pike". The Herald Sun. Retrieved 2009-04-27.
- ^ Balwyn High School, Anti Cyber-Bullying Policy
- ^ Harman, Deborah, Principal’s Perspective - Stage 3 Funding Success, 14 May 2009
- ^ 2009/2010 Victorian Budget Fact Sheet
- ^ "Took the water war to the wallies". Melbourne: The Age. 18 March 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-07.
- ^ "Athletics". Disease and disorder Information. 31 July 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-15.
- ^ "The Lion". Balwyn High School. Retrieved 1 September 2009. [dead link]
- ^ "Boroondara council election a battle of the young bloods". Melbourne: The Weekly Review Stonnington. 8 October 2012.