Ravenswood School for Girls

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Motto	Semper Ad Meliora Always Towards Better Things
Contact	Phone: (61)(02)9498 9898 Fax: (61)(02)9498 9898
Established	1901
Type	Private/Independent
Principal	Vicki Steer
Location	1B Cecil Street Gordon, 2072 NSW, Australia
Region	Ku-ring-gai, Sydney
Enrollment	1150 students
Grades	Kindergarten to Year 12
Website	www.ravenswood.nsw.edu.au

The Ravenswood School for Girls is a Uniting Church Independent Day and Boarding School for Girls, established in 1901 by Mabel Fidler (1871-1960) [1], for students from Kindergarten to Year 12. Its campus is situated in Gordon, on Sydney's Upper North Shore, New South Wales, Australia. Its motto, Semper Ad Meliora, means "Always Towards Better Things".

Ravenswood is a member of the Alliance of Girls’ Schools (Australasia), which includes memberships of independent and public, day and boarding schools across Australia and New Zealand with affiliates in the United States of America. The school is also a member of the Association of Heads of Independent Girls' Schools.

There are currently 320 students in Kindergarten to Year 6 and 830 students in Years 7 to 12, of which 70 are boarders (boarding to be phased out in the next 6 to 8 years).

Ravenswood School is currently ranked within the top 50 schools of NSW, attaining consistent academic results in the Higher School Certificate. In 2005, the median UAI was 40.4.

In its Centenary Year in 2001, the school celebrated with the official opening of The Centenary Centre. His Excellency the Honourable Sir William Deane, AC, KBE, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia (1996 - 2001) was in attendance.

The current principal is Ms Vicki Steer.

1 Curriculum
2 Community
3 Notable alumnae
4 See also
5 External link

[edit] Curriculum

[edit] Academic

In Years 11 and 12 students may choose to take either the [[Higher School Certificate] course or the International Baccalaureate Diploma Course (IB). Ravenswood is one of the few schools in Sydney to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma programme.

[edit] Sports

A comprehensive program of sports and extra-curricular activities include:
Basketball, Cricket, Cross Country, Diving, Equestrian, Gymnastics, Hockey, Netball, Rowing, Rhythmics, Skiing, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Tennis, Track and Field, Trampolining and Water Polo.

[edit] Co-Curricular

For Kindergarten to Year 6 students, they are encouraged to participate in these activities:

Debating
Prep School Concert, Musicals and Stage Productions
Primary School Concert Band and String Orchestra
Vocal Ensemble

Activities for Year 7 to Year 12 students include:

Astronomy Club
Bond Moot
Chess Club
Choir and Vocal Ensembles
Community Involvement
Crusaders - Christian group
Dance Festival
Debating
Double Helix Club and CREST - conducted jointly with the CSIRO
Duke of Edinburgh
Mock Trial
Music Festival - annual House competition
Orchestras, Concert and Jazz Band
Theatre Tech Team
Theatre Sports Team

Currently phasing out boarding

[edit] Community

The school has been noted for its significant contributions towards equality for women. In 2001, Ravenswood was the only school in Australia to be short listed for the Most Innovative Practice for the Advancement of Women Award. Also, it is one of only a small number of companies to be awarded an Employer of Choice for Women classification by the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency (EOWA). Ravenswood has maintained this status in 2002 and 2003.

The School has also been named as one of the top 10 Leading Organisations for the Advancement of Women; chosen from 2500 companies throughout the country.