Melbourne High School (Victoria)

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Melbourne High School
Melbourne High School logo
Motto Honour the work
Established 1905
Type Single-sex state senior (Selective Entry)
Principal Jeremy Ludowyke
Founder Frank Tate
Students Approx. 1,400[1]
Grades 9-12
Location Melbourne, VIC Australia
Campus Forrest Hill
Colours Maroon, green and black
Mascot Unicorn
Yearbook The Unicorn
Newspaper Ours (Weekly Newsletter), The Sentinel (School Magazine)
Website www.mhs.vic.edu.au

Melbourne High School is a selective single-sex state school for boys in years 9 to 12 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It's equivalent for girls is the Mac.Robertson Girls' High School. Founded in 1905 as the first coeducational state school in Victoria. It was originally located at Spring Street in Melbourne, but in 1927 the boys and girls split, with the boys school at Forrest Hill retaining the name of Melbourne High School[citation needed]. An additional outdoor education centre was founded at Millgrove.

Enrolment at year 9 is determined by an Entrance Examination, held in June each year. In 2007, 308 Year 9s entered the school[2] out of over 1200 students who attended the examination in the Melbourne Exhibition Centre, Carlton. High academic expectations continue throughout the students school career.

Past students have achieved very strong results in the VCE examinations and successful placements at tertiary institutions at a rate well above Victoria's average[citation needed]. The school also has a compulsory involvement programme, including involvement within school and within the broader communisty. Its ethos encourage investment of effort into academic, sporting, musical and political pursuits. It was the first school in Australia to organise a Student Representative Council.[3] Thus the school bears the slogan More than Just Marks[citation needed].

The school has a yearly inter-House competition as well as annual contesting of the Crawford Shield (against North Sydney Boys High School) and the Prefects Cup (against Adelaide High School) which involves sporting exchange programs. The school also has student exchange with Kasukabe High School in Japan as well as Lycée Edouard Branly in France. Since 2006, a competition between Melbourne High School and Mac.Robertson Girls' High School in sports which both boys and girls play is being organised.[4]

The median ENTER for Melbourne High School in 2006 was 95.35 - its highest ever[citation needed]. That is, over half of the graduating students of 2006 had been placed in the top 4.65% of the whole age group. Melbourne High School has been ranked 2nd out of all secondary schools in the State of Victoria based on median ENTER in past years, generally coming second only to Mac.Robertson High School, which has a lower intake of students, and thus has a more selective cohort.

Contents

[edit] History

Victoria's first state secondary school, the Melbourne Continuation School (from 1912 called Melbourne High School), was opened on February 15, 1905, with 135 girls and 68 boys. The school was the result of the vision of Frank Tate, the first Director of Education, to enable students from state primary schools to continue on with their education. It was housed in the Old National Model School in Spring Street with Joseph Hocking, an inspector of schools, as the first principal. Hocking turned Frank Tate's vision into reality, and quickly the school produced girls and boys of quality, especially many teachers, and by 1919 it had the greatest number of students at Melbourne University (the only university then) from any school.

A rich extra-curricular life was built with the strong academic curriculum, sports, music, cadets, drill, excursions, sporting exchanges with Adelaide High School (from 1910) and North Sydney Boys' High School, social events and a school magazine. World War I was an important hiatus for the school with many serving (over 500), and the school having a special association with Anzac Cove. Hocking spoke of the students as:

"so many upstanding, fearless-eyed Australians, full of the joy of life, physically fit and with mind-power and heart-power, duly exercised under favourable conditions".[5]

The Melbourne High School building at Forrest Hill. The building was used in World War II as a military base.
The Melbourne High School building at Forrest Hill. The building was used in World War II as a military base.

The School continued to grow until accommodation became critical in the 1920s, with the building literally falling down, and the decision was made to split the School and move to alternative sites. The boys were the first to move, in October 1927 to their new home on Forrest Hill, South Yarra and renamed Melbourne Boys' High School. The girls (then renamed Melbourne Girls' High School) moved to Government House in 1931, then to King Street Central School the following year and finally their new home at Albert Park in 1934 and were renamed The Mac.Robertson Girls' High School. Despite the Depression, and the slowly building threat of war, the School expanded in its new home. New traditions began, such as a house system, with competition in various sports, debating and with the strong music tradition of the school, house chorals. A Memorial Hall paid for by past students was a feature of the new school, at its time the finest school building in Australia.

The outbreak of World War II meant the school building was requisitioned by the Royal Australian Navy, and the School was forced to be relocated to two sites: the new Camberwell High School and Tooronga Road State School.[3] This period saw the creation a tunnel connecting the school's Army Cadet Q-Store to the stormwater drain below it, that leads out into the Yarra River.[6]

In 1944 the School returned to Forrest Hill, with a new Principal, Major-General (later Sir) Alan Ramsay, the first former student of the School to be Principal. All but one of his successors have been former students. The 1950s under Principal Brigadier George Langley was a time of renewal, as the Tecoma camp was re-established and plans for a pool and new PE Centre developed. The 1960s saw the first physical expansion of the School's facilities since 1927 with a new PE Centre and Pool opened in 1960; a new Library in 1965, the first of many portables in the late 1960s, and work was begun on the Junior Science Block (finished in 1970).

By the 1980s the School was in poor physical condition, and urgently in need of new facilities to meet the changes taking place in education, particularly following the introduction of computers. Neville Drohan, Principal from 1987 to 1991, was able to secure government funds, together with donations, for a new building to replace the old Physical Education Centre/Pool. Completed in 1992, the New Building or Nineties Building included classrooms, library, music suite, gymnasium, swimming pool, weights room and cardio room. Completed at the end of 1992 and officially opened in 1993, the new building is a four level multipurpose facility housing a heated 8 lane swimming and water polo pool, weight training centre, games hall and gymnasium, general purpose classrooms, science laboratories and an extensive top floor library.[3]

In 1992, Raymond Willis became the principal of the school.[3] In 1995 the original 1927 building was refurbished and added a computer suite, dark room, new general office, improved classrooms, conference room, heritage room and an improved canteen and dining area. A synthetic hockey field replaced the old grass one. Two plexipave netball/basketball courts were also added. In 1999, the Woodfull-Miller Oval outside the school was reconstructed, reshaped and provided with new drainage, new turf wickets, new watering system, improved lighting and new fencing.[3] In 2000, a cardio room was constructed and outfitted with fitness equipment. Later that year, four old science rooms were totally rebuilt into world standard science facilities.[3] The expansion of facilities allowed the School to increase its enrolment to 1366, the highest it has ever been.[3]

In 2002, a building was created to house the Army and Air Force Cadets including orderly rooms, meeting rooms, seminar rooms, display areas, kitchen and toilets. That year also saw the creation of new changerooms for the Old Boys Pavillion and the creation of the Hockey Pavillion. After making numerous innovative changes and advancements, Willis died in July 2004 as the school's longest serving principal and the school went into a state of mourning. In January 2005, Jeremy Ludowyke was appointed principal.[3]

The school has been distinguished for its remarkable academic success and can point to many famous "old boys". Becoming more of an academic school over the last 30 years, the school has also retained its strong co-curricular traditions of music, with massed singing, formal assemblies and speech nights, the house sporting competition, house choral competition, an Army and Air Force cadet corps, active current affairs groups and school uniforms.

[edit] Academics

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Melbourne High School requires high academic performance throughout the students school career.

[edit] Entrance

Most students enter the school at Year 9 through entrance examination ever, since 2007, 28 more students have been accepted at Year 10 through a separate entrance examination.[7].

[edit] Middle School

[edit] VCE

[edit] Intranet

[edit] Extra-curricular

The school allows its students to participate in numerous academic competitions. This includes the Australian National Chemistry Quiz, Science Talent Search, Math Talent Quest, Rio Tinto Big-Science Competition, BHP Billiton Awards, Westpac Mathematics Competition and other competitions carried out by the University of New South Wales relating to geography, science, maths and English.

The school also allows entrance into the official Science Olympiad and Math Olympiad, out of which the winners can attend the International Olympiad representing Australia.

[edit] Student life

[edit] Music Programme

Melbourne High School offers students a diverse range of options to express themselves through music. The school has a compulsory massed singing program that it offers to Years 9 and 10 students. In addition to this, all Year 9 students complete a semester of classroom music. Following on from this, the Music Department also offers a number of electives at Year 10 level in Music Craft, Film Music and Music Composition, to name a few. At VCE level, the department currently offers VCE Music: Group Performance and VCE Music: Solo Performance.

In 2007, the Music Department will also offer VET Certificate II and III in Music Industry Skills and VCE Music Styles.

There is also an extensive co-curricular ensemble program, which allows students of all abilities (who may not necessarily be music students) to participate in making music. Some of these ensembles include:

  • Davis Band, a symphonic concert band catering for woodwind and brass instrumentalists of all skill levels.
  • Chorale, an unauditioned dance and song choir.
  • Symphony Orchestra, catering for advanced players of orchestral instruments.
  • Tattam Band, a ceremonial marching band for advanced brass and woodwind players.
  • Singers, an auditioned chamber choir.
  • Stage Band, an ensemble of advanced jazz instrumentalists.
  • Big Band, similar to the Stage Band, but at an intermediate level.
  • String Orchestra, a string-only ensemble that has members ranging from a beginner to an advanced level.
  • Camerata, an auditioned chamber strings ensemble for advanced string players.
  • Composition Ensemble, a group dedicated to performing original works by students.

The current Director of Music is Dr. Anne Lierse, who succeeded Tony Paye in 2004.

[edit] Sport Programme

[edit] Leadership Programme

[edit] Involvement Programme

The school has an extensive program of student-run clubs, societies and special interest groups. It is compulsory for Year 9 students to be involved in some of these groups. It is compulsory for each student to pick an 'A Level involvement' and a 'B Level involvement'. 'A Level involvements' are Army Cadets, Air Force Cadets, Chorale, Instrumental or Rowing. All other involvements are considered 'B Level'.

[edit] A Level

Air Force and Army Cadets

Students who join the Air Force, the Army Cadets or the Ceremonial (Tattam) Band are assigned ranks, according to their experience, qualifications and skill. A cadet's rank is displayed on his military uniform.

The unit celebrated its centenary in 2005, alongside the school. Also in that year, a number of students from the Mac.Robertson Girls' High School joined the Army Cadet unit, marking the first time that females have been involved in the MHSCU.

Chorale

The school has compulsory singing but also has a voluntary choir which generally leads proceedings in special events.

Instrumental

Students in this involvement pick an instrument and study it over the year. They can participate in competitions and performances. At the end of each semester they must complete examinations for their instruments. Roles are also given for the School Pianist and Junior School Pianist.

Rowing

Students in this involvement join the school's rowing team and compete against other schools, normally on the Yarra River.

[edit] B Level

Some examples of such groups at Melbourne High School are:

Astro Club The Astro club allows students interested in astronomy the chance to arrive at school at night and investigate the skies through advanced astronomy equipment.
Bicycle Touring A bicycle touring club which gives students a chance to learn about Melbourne. They regularly stop at Museums, Engineering works and other hidden spots in Melbourne. This involvement also gives students the chance to increase their fitness levels and their riding distances.
Bush Walking Is a Bush Walking group which regularly goes on bush walks, camps and hikes. It was created to increase students knowledge of camping, hiking and survival techniques.
Chess Club The chess club is, as the title explains, a club in which teachers and students come together to increase their chess strategies, techniques and tricks by playing one another in a friendly environment.
Cross Country Skiing Cross country Skiing shows students basic track skiing techniques and cross country downhill skills through two camps; a two day and four day camp.
Debating The Melbourne High School Debating Team is one of the most successful in Victoria. It hosts the South Yarra region of the Debaters Association of Victoria. In 2006, it won the prestigious A-Grade DAV competition and was thus judged the best team in Victoria.
Environmental Action Group The Environmental Action Group (EAG) is a student-voice organisation where students can learn about how they can take action to save the environment and are given tasks to prevent environmental damage.
Food Interest Group The Food Interest Group is a group which organises cooking sessions for students interested in cooking.
Film Makers Club The club is for people interested in learning how to create their own films. It participates in numerous competitions across Australia.
Heritage Society This interest group is for people interested in the school and its history. A particular room known as the "Heritage room" is occupied and protected by the Heritage Society and contains various artifacts from the school's history.
Jewish Students Network/Forum The Jewish Students Network is a way for the minority Jewish members of the school to interact on religious matters and is also a way for non-Jewish people to learn more about Judaism.
Political Interest Group This interest group is for students who are interested in politics. Students in this group participate in an annual trip to Canberra where they meet with numerous politicians. The group also organises the arrival of various politicians to the school.
Public Speaking Public speaking is a competition-based group which organises students into public speaking competitions.
Reptiles, Amphibians and Fish This is an interest group in which students partake in the study and research of reptiles, amphibians and fish in the science departments of the school.
Students Alive (Christian Group) Students Alive is a way for the minority Christian members of the school to interact on religious matters and is also a way for non-Christian people to learn more about Christianity.
Strategy Club (Wargames + Role-playing Games Interest Group) The Strategy Club features competitions in Warhammer 40K and other games including Yu-Gi-Oh.

[edit] House competition

Interhouse competitions remain an integral part of the school's ethos.

The four Houses with their associated colours are:

  • Como (Yellow)
  • Forrest (Blue)
  • Waterloo (Green)
  • Yarra (Red)

The names for the houses were derived from the local history of the area. The hill upon which the school is situated was first settled by captain John Forrest, who built his house, Waterloo cottage, in Como estate, alongside the river Yarra.[3]

The houses compete in 4 Major Competitions:[3]

  • Athletics - The most successful house has been Forrest.[8] It was won in 2007 by Waterloo. Yarra were second, Forrest was third and Como was last.
  • Swimming - The most successful house has been Waterloo.[9] It was won in 2007 by Forrest. Yarra was second, Waterloo were third, Como were last.
  • Cross Country - The most successful house has been Yarra. It was won in 2006 by Waterloo. Yarra was second, Forrest was third and Como was last.
  • Chorals - The most successful house has been Yarra.[10] It was won controversially by Waterloo in 2007. Yarra came second, Forrest was third and Como was last.

They also compete in Minor Competitions:[3]

House Cup Progressive Tally (1928-2006):[3]

  • Yarra: 27
  • Como: 20
  • Forrest: 20
  • Waterloo: 12

[edit] Awards and badges

There are School Colours for both Service and Sport. Both are in the form of ties, with a design consisting of the standard MHS tie's stripes and a unicorn at the bottom for Half Colours; and the tie stripe alternating with unicorns for Full Colours. The Unicorns on Sport Colours ties are coloured gold; the ones on Service Colours are silver. In addition to the tie, Full Colours recipients as well as holders of some leadership positions can have their blazer emblazoned with their award or position. Position titles are emblazoned above the school emblem on the blazer pocket whilst award titles are emblazoned below.

A system of badges is also employed at Melbourne High School.

  • SRC Executives: Gold Unicorn in red circle
  • House Captains: Gold Unicorn in black circle
  • Year 12 Form Captains: Gold Unicorn in green circle
  • Year 9, 10 & 11 Form Captains: Silver Unicorn in green circle
  • Academic Achievement: Gold Unicorn in maroon/green oval
  • Year 12 SRC Representatives: Gold Unicorn in yellow circle
  • Year 9, 10 & 11 SRC Representatives: Silver Unicorn in yellow circle
  • Cadet Under Officers & Warrant Officers: Gold Unicorn in gold circle
  • Year 12: Gold Unicorn
  • Year 9, 10 & 11: Silver Unicorn

[edit] School tradition

[edit] Motto and school song

The school motto is "Honour the work"

The School motto was derived spontaneously from an eloquent address given to the assembled school by the late Mr Frank Tate ISO, MA, a former Director of Education. In the course of his speech, he quoted the words of Edward Thring: "Honour the work and the work will honour you", and it is recorded that these inspiring words were at once recognised as the most appropriate for the School motto.

The school song is entitled Honour the Work.

Honour The Work

First Verse

Blithesome our hearts are and free is our fancy,
Swift fly the hours in work and in play,
Fain would we linger, but youth turns to manhood,
School days are passing, and we must away.

Chorus:

Honour the work, let our motto remind us,
When courage weakens and stern grows the fight,
Strong, like its pillars, the school stands behind us,
Standing for duty, and standing for right.

Second Verse

Lo! Steering westward through life's stormy surges,
Those who once laboured and played here are gone;
Before them a vision, a lamp lit by learning,
A shrine to be guarded and fame to be won.

Chorus

Third Verse

Nothing we care for the small time remaining,
Shallow the stream our life flows along,
Slow though we progress with old muscles straining,
We shall prevail, for our spirit is strong.

Chorus

Fourth Verse

Red blood of youth calls from far-distant Flanders,
Call o'er the sea from Gallipoli shore;
Loud rings the voice of the deathless departed:
"Honour the work that we honoured of yore."

Chorus

Note: The third and fourth verses are sung only on commemorative occasions.

Words by: A.G. Daws
Music by: Charles Breen

[edit] Mission and philosophy

The school's official mission statement is:

As a selective entry statewide provider of broad, stimulating and challenging education of the highest quality, Melbourne High School is in a unique position to enhance the vast and varied talents of its diverse body of students, preparing them for academic, civic and vocational leadership, whilst encouraging individual happiness and satisfaction[3]

The school's official philosophy statement is:

Melbourne High School is an academic secondary college aiming to provide an environment conducive to learning and the pursuit of excellence, and in which students develop self-discipline and learn to take responsibility for their own actions. It recognises that, in the pursuit of excellence, all students are individuals, entitled to equal opportunity, a positive learning environment and on-going support to enable them to realise their fullest potential - intellectual, personal, physical, creative, social and vocational. Such an environment can be developed when based on the values of mutual respect, shared responsibility and cooperation between staff, students and parents.[3]

[edit] School uniform

The school has a separate summer uniform and winter uniform. One can wear the winter uniform during summer but cannot wear the summer uniform during winter. The summer uniform comprises a blazer, a white business shirt, a tie and grey Melbourne High School shorts. The winter uniform comprises the blazer, a white business shirt, a tie and grey Melbourne High School trousers. The main difference is that the blazer can be taken off in summer only if one is wearing shorts (correct summer uniform).[3] There is also an optional green V-neck woolen pullover with an embedded logo, and an optional Year 12 maroon woolen pullover.

The MHS Sports uniform range is very diverse, and caters for different sports and events. However, there is a particular set of sports uniform which is required by all students. In years 9 and 10, this sports uniform must be worn to Physical Education lessons and consists of a plain maroon shirt with school logo, which can be flipped inside out to form a house shirt (maroon with a house colour stripe, no logo), bottle green shorts or black track pants, white sports socks with school coloured stripes, and the appropriate shoes (runners or spikes.) In Years 9 - 12, the sports uniform must be worn to most weekly sport sessions, depending upon the sport which the students choose to do (some sports require other attire, eg. fencing, rowing, water polo, etc.) There are also many optional uniform items which may be purchased by all students and these include the school cap (black with embedded logo), school spray jacket with school colours and the school rugby top.

The blazer is woolen and is black in colour. It features a maroon and green trim which extends to the collar-region. On the left-chest-pocket the school logo (the unicorn) is emblazened. This is also the region where student leadership positions are stitched into the blazer so the students can be recognized by their peers within the school. The tie features maroon and green stripes, however, students can also receive half colours and full colours, which are differently coloured ties. Some students also have the centenary tie, which is black and was received in Melbourne High School's centenary year (2005).

[edit] Sister schools

Melbourne High continues to maintain close ties with their old counterpart, The Mac.Robertson Girls' High School. Each year both schools engage in a combined winter concert as well as a musical and drama production. The schools recently celebrated their centenary together in a combined Centenary Concert, held in 2005.

Melbourne High maintains a relationship with North Sydney Boys' High School and Adelaide High School. Each year, Melbourne High competes against North Sydney for the Crawford Shield, and against Adelaide High for the Prefect's Cup. Melbourne High also has an exchange with Sydney Boys High School for rowing and junior cricket, where each year the boys from either school are billeted to the hosting families from Sydney or Melbourne.

Sister school relationships also exist internationally with high schools in Japan (Kasukabe High School), Germany (Albert-Schweitzer-Gymnasium Gundelfingen), Indonesia and France (Lycée Edouard Branly, Amiens). Annual exchanges occur with each of the sister schools, giving students the opportunity to experience both the culture and education systems of another country. Each year Melbourne High either sends a group of students overseas to these schools, or hosts students from these schools. There are also opportunities for individual students to go on a longer term exchange overseas.

[edit] Principals

[edit] Notable alumni

Main article: List of Melbourne High School alumni

Those that have left the school are known as 'Old Boys' and many join the 'Melbourne High School Old Boys Association'. The Association organises sport participation after Year 12 and also organises reunions which occur every 5 years. Many 'Old Boys' have gone on to achieve distinguished posts in society.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Should be 1372 students in 2007
  2. ^ Melbourne High School Attendance Rolls 11 classes of 28 students in Year 9
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Melbourne High School staff (2007). Melbourne High School Student Planner: About the School Preface. Melbourne High School. 
  4. ^ 2007 SRC Charter
  5. ^ Jones, Adrienne (2005-06-25). High praise indeed.
  6. ^ The Sentinel Student Magazine 2006 Edition 1
  7. ^ Year Nine and Ten Entry into Melbourne High. Retrieved on March 12, 2007.
  8. ^ 2007 Melbourne High School Athletics Competition Guide
  9. ^ 2007 Melbourne High School Swimming Competition Guide
  10. ^ 2007 Melbourne High School Chorals Competition Guide

[edit] References

  • Bell, Susan (2005). in Janet Prideaux: More Than Just Marks. Melbourne High School. 
  • Gregory, Alan (2005). Strong Like Its Pillars - Melbourne High School 1905-2005. Matheson Library. 

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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