Westfields Sports High School

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Westfields Sports High School (help·info) (abbreviated as WSHS) is Australia's first Sports High School. It is a sports-orientated, Co-Educational High School in Fairfield, Sydney, Australia. The school is made up of over 1500 students, each from Years 7 to 12, Westfields Sports is the largest school in the South Western Sydney School Region.

Contents 1 Early History 2 Education 3 Sports 4 School Song 5 Facilities 6 Exchange schemes 7 Notable Alumni 7.1 Sports 7.2 Politics/Law 7.3 Science 7.4 Music 8 Quotations 8.1 Teachers 8.2 (Ex) Students 8.3 Community 9 References 10 See also 11 External links

[edit] Early History

Since the establishment of the High School in 1963 (which was opened by the honourable Former Prime Minister Edward Gough Whitlam), Westfields Sports has produced many successful and distinguished graduates. From its opening until now, the school strives to achieve the best, a tradition reflected its motto: Fortitudo; Endurance and Perseverance.

[edit] Education

Westfields offers a variety of courses for each of the selective sports students and also the academic localised students who attend the school. The comprehensive lists include over 100 different courses with 10 advanced classes. Some of these include advanced Mathematics, advanced English, further Modern and Ancient History studies, Language Studies (Japanese, Italian and Spanish), many Social Science classes, and many other extra curricula subjects. Students at Westfields Sports achieve the highest Scores in the Higher School Certificate (HSC) with 150 students, in 2005, achieving scores of 70 and above. 100 of those Students went further on to Tertiary Education (University). Also, in 2005, 10 students received distinguished achievers.

[edit] Sports

Sport is a vital part of Westfields Sports. The school has developed its sporting teams through the dedicated coaching available within the school premises and outside of school. Through this, Westfields Sports has built up a reputation as the best in the world in High School Level sports and has won many trophies. A number of sports are undertaken at Westfields Sports, with a number of exceptional students representing their sport for the school - some going on to become famous sport stars. The sports are as follows:

Athletics (Track and Field)	Lawn Bowls*
Baseball	Netball
Basketball	Rowing
Cricket	Rugby league
Curling*	Rugby Union
Dance	Softball
Football	Swimming
Golf	Tennis
Gymnastics	Water Polo*
Hockey	Volleyball

* = currently not undertaken at the school

[edit] School Song

Verse 1
We are so proud to wear the blue and gold
And face each challenge as it unfolds
We believe in what we do,
We believe in who were are
We'll forge a path to our own shining star

Chorus
We are all one family
(We're a team and we'll share our dreams with the world
We'll stand tall and we'll be heard)
We are the Westfields Sports family

Verse 2
We can take on the world with unity
And together we know we can face adversity
We find peace in our souls
'Cause we have lone in our hearts
And on our journey through life we will go far

Chorus
We are all one family
(We're a team and we'll share our dreams with the world
We'll stand tall and we'll be heard)
We are the Westfields Sports family

Bridge
On and off the field we seek success
Not just to be better, but to be the best
That we can be

Chorus x 3
We are all one family
(We're a team and we'll share our dreams with the world
We'll stand tall and we'll be heard)
We are the Westfields Sports family

[edit] Facilities

The School sits on a total area of approximately seven hectares and care is taken with the physical environment. Our most recent and newest building program has created a much more nicer and comfortable study area for all the students. Some of our facilities include:

• 8 Computer Rooms (4 Computer Labs)
• Specialist Subject Rooms
• Library
• Oval Sporting Area
• Throws Cage
• Synthetic Athletics Track
• Strength and Conditioning Room
• Indoor Sports Stadium
• Sports Medicine and Physiotheraphy Centre
• Cricket Nets
• Dance Studio
• Gymnasium
• Tennis Court
• Hockey Court
• Softball/Baseball Diamond
• Rowing facilities at Chipping Norton Lakes / Sydney International Regatta Centre
• 3 School Buses

[edit] Exchange schemes

Since 1997 there has been an annual student and teacher exchange scheme with Kasukabe High School, from Kasukabe, Saitama, Japan.^[1]

[edit] Notable Alumni

[edit] Sports

• Harry Kewell - Football player who is currently playing for Liverpool F.C. in England's FA Premier League.He was always in trouble when he was at school, and none of the teachers liked him very much. They only now recognise him as a ex-student because he is an international football star.
• John Thornell - Young Upcoming Long Jumper, competitor of the Commonwealth Games.
• Michael Clarke - Cricketer who is currently part of the Australian Test and One-day International cricket teams.
• Amanda Pascoe - Won the 800 metres freestyle at the 2003 Telstra Australian Championships propelling her onto the national team for her second World Long Course Championships.
• Dani Samuels - Competitor of the 2006 Commonwealth Games for Discus and Shotput.
• Kelly Golebiowski - Youngest player to represent Australia in a full international.
• Scott Jamieson - Football player, part of the Bolton Wanderers F.C. youth team in England.
• Liam Fulton - Rugby League Player, part of the 2005 NRL Telstra Premiership winning side for the Wests Tigers, along with
• Bryce Gibbs - Also in the same team as Liam Fulton
• Chris Betts - An up and coming e-sports superstar, he is widely regarded as one of Australias Top Cyber-Athletes.
• Trent McClenahan - Football player, who is currently playing for Hereford United F.C. in England's Football League Two.
• Danny Vukovic - Football player, currently playing for Central Coast Mariners
• Jarryd Hayne - Rugby league player, currently a right winger for the Parramatta Eels. Won the award for 'Rookie of the year' in the 2006 campaign.

[edit] Politics/Law

• Joe Tripodi - Member of the Legislative Assembly, Member for Fairfield, Minister for Energy, Minister for Ports and Waterways, and Minister Assisting the Treasurer on Business and Economic Regulatory Reform and Member of Australian Labor Party.

[edit] Science

• Denis Evans - Australian physicist and chemist. He is currently a professor at the Australian National University's Research School of Chemistry.

[edit] Music

• Ramez Habib - AKA DJ Bunnivelli, he is a Rap and RnB remixer, producer and artist, and has featured on a number of mixtapes included "The Dream vol 1 and 2" and "The Wragg Mixtape".

[edit] Quotations

[edit] Teachers

• "Westfields Sports is about producing athletes, not collecting them," - Dan Suchy, Director of Athletics, Westfields Sports.
• "The school has a positive attitude so I came back to show the kids what they can do," Kathy Dodsworth, Ex-Student and Now Teacher at Westfields Sports

[edit] (Ex) Students

• "Being able to train full time and with great players who have gone on to play overseas and in the NSL certainly helped me. The memories I have and the things I learnt there, I will never forget." - Kelly Golebiowski, Australia's Youngest Female Soccer Player, Westfields Sports.

[edit] Community

• "As a pioneer of sports high schools in Australia, Westfields has established itself as a superlative innovator of compelling energy and enterprise. The accomplishments of the school underpin just how rewarding a productive a partnership of sporting and scholastic pursuit can be." - Senator Marise Payne, Opening of Creative and Performing Arts Building, March 2001.
• "Watson's personal goal for 2002 is to get into Westfields Sports cricket program and continue his promising cricket career." - Daily Telegraph.
• "Westfields Sports is more than a Sports High School. Under the control of Phil Tucker, it's a school, which dedicates itself to ensuring that kids, whatever their talent, are able to realise their potential. Their academic results are outstanding, their dance, their music fantastic, their sport unbelievable. It's the school that has produced Harry Kewell and the outstanding John Thornell to name a few." - Alan Jones, Radio 2GB Broadcaster.
• "If you would like your son or daughter to play soccer for Australia, you might try sending them to Westfields (Sports)..." - J Pearlman, Sydney Morning Herald.

[edit] References

1. ^ "West News", 7 November 2006

[edit] See also

• List of Government schools in New South Wales

[edit] External links

• Westfields Sports High School Homepage
• Westfields Sports High School Westnews Newsletter Page
• NSW Department of Education and Training: Westfields Sports High School