Lowther Hall Anglican Grammar School

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For other uses, see Lowther.
Lowther Hall Anglican Grammar School
Lowther Hall Anglican Grammar School crest. Source: www.lowtherhall.vic.edu.au (Lowther Hall website)
Non Nobis Solum
(Latin:"Not for Ourselves Alone")
Established 1920[1]
School Type Independent, Single-sex, Day school
Denomination Anglican
Key People Mrs. Carolyn Grantskalns (Principal)
Archbishop Lowther Clarke (Founder)
School Fees AU$8,365–14,770 p.a[2]
Location Essendon, Victoria, Australia Flag of Australia
Coordinates 37°45′34″S 144°54′52″E / -37.75944, 144.91444Coordinates: 37°45′34″S 144°54′52″E / -37.75944, 144.91444
Enrolment ~800 (K–12)[3]
Colours Blue and Gold         
Homepage www.lowtherhall.vic.edu.au

Lowther Hall Anglican Grammar School, most often referred to simply as Lowther, is an independent, Anglican, day school for girls, located in Essendon, an inner suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Established in 1920 through the amalgamation of Blinkbonnie's Ladies' College and Winstow Girls' School, the school has a non-selective enrolment policy and currently caters for approximately 850 students from Kindergarten to Year 12.

Lowther Hall is affiliated with the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA),[4] the Junior School Heads Association of Australia (JSHAA),[5] the Alliance of Girls' Schools Australasia (AGSA),[6] the Association of Independent Schools of Victoria (AISV),[1] and is a founding member of Girls Sport Victoria (GSV).[7]

Contents

[edit] History

Lowther Hall is compromised of numerous buildings, each varying in age. The centre of the school is 'Earlsbrae Hall', commonly referred to as 'The Mansion' by students, parents and staff alike, which Coiler McCracken constructed in 1890. Behind the mansion is the 'Monkey House', which today is used for music lessons.

'Earlsbrae Hall', ca. 1949
'Earlsbrae Hall', ca. 1949

Earlsbrae Hall was designed by renowned architect, R.A. Lawson. The exterior of the mansion is described as a Greco-Roman temple with Corinthian columns. Inside the mansion, one can find carved woodwork and an extensive use of stained glass windows. 'The Mansion' houses the drawing room, as well as the administration wing of the school, music classrooms, a chapel and the principal's office.

Earlsbrae Hall was sold for £6500 to the Church of England Trusts Co-operative for the Diocese of Melbourne to be used for educational purposes. The school was named after Archbishop Henry Lowther Clarke who directed the purchase of the building.

Blinkbonnie's Ladies' College in Moonee Ponds and Winstow Girls' School merged in 1920 to become Lowther Hall Anglican Grammar School.

[edit] Campus

Lowther Hall Anglican Grammar consists of two campuses: one campus on Leslie Road in Essendon, which is situated close to amenities such as Essendon Station, and a 13-hectare sporting campus on Overnewton Road in Keilor, which has a gymnasium, numerous tennis, netball and basketball courts and an oval. There is also a hall, named the Joan M Garde Cultural Centre, which houses dance and drama classrooms, private music rooms, a lecture theatre, changerooms a stage, and student care and sports offices.

[edit] Houses

There are six houses at Lowther Hall, each with a House Captain - a year twelve student - as well as a Deputy Captain - a year eleven student - and an Assistant Deputy Captain in year ten. Selected students receive House Colours as a reward for house involvement throughout the year, and they are chosen with the help of the captains and Principal.

The houses are as follows:

  • Booth (Orange)
  • Clarke (Green)
  • Hindley (Red)
  • Lees (Blue)
  • Moorhouse (Gold/Yellow)
  • Perry (Purple)

The houses are named after Anglican Archbishops.

The House Cup is awarded at the end of every year during the school speech night, Exeunt. The winner is decided through a point system, based on points gained during the House Performing Arts Competition, held at the start of the year, House Athletics, also held in Term One, and House Swimming, held in November.

[edit] School Structure

The student body is arranged in four sections.

The Early Learning Centre for Kindergarten students located close to the main school. It is a dual-story building, with a second-hand uniform shop occupying the top floor. There is a playground which is supervised at all times by the staff.

The years Preparatory to 6 are housed in the Junior School.

Sampford House houses students from Years 7 to 10. It consists of two stories. The bottom floor includes two science classrooms, a multi-purpose forum area, food technology kitchen and tutor room - as well as four classrooms. The top floor contains offices for the Year Seven and Eight coordinator, the Year Nine and Ten coordinator, a French classroom, a Japanese classroom, a German classroom, and other classrooms as well as bathrooms and locker space. Sampford House was named after a principal, Evelyn. E. Sampford. Each homegroup in years seven to ten ends with the suffix of S, M or P - letters drawn from the word 'S a M Pford'.

Grant House houses Years 11 and 12. Adjoining Grant House is a two-level Staff Room and workspace for staff. There is a common room space where Year 12 students may spend their study periods, as well as acting as a social space for those in VCE. There are also two science laboratory classrooms, shared with the lower year levels.Above the ground floor of Grant House, there is a Learning Resource Centre and offices for various heads of staff. On the top floor, there are two art rooms and classrooms.

[edit] Subjects

Students in Year 12 may elect to take part in a university-level subject through the University of Melbourne. In year Ten, one may undertake VCE studies such as General Specialist mathematics, Business Management and Music Styles.

[edit] Co-curriculum

[edit] Sport

Lowther Hall is a member of Girls Sport Victoria (GSV). Twenty-four girl's schools participate in GSV alongside Lowther. Lowther has gained a reputation in the aerobics and hip-hop dance sport areas, with teams in state and national finals. The school also has had a successful rowing season.

[edit] Music

Lowther Hall is a school renowned for its musical talent, and many music scholarships are awarded yearly. It also has a yearly music camp, where all the girls involved in music ensembles gather to hone their creative as well as performance skills, and prepare for the annual Spring Concert. Lowther Hall has many esteemed choirs and orchestras. All students must join an ensemble as well as an instrument from grade three to grade eight, however those in senior school do not need to be in an ensemble. The choirs take out prizes almost every year at the Geelong Eisteddfod among numerous other choral competitions, and have sung at major events such as the 100th anniversary of the 1901 Federation.

[edit] Charity

The school currently supports various charities, as well as a school in Bangladesh. Term Three is designated as a fundraising term where various activities are organised in order to raise money for charities.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Lowther Hall Anglican Grammar School. Find a School. Association of Independent Schools of Victoria (2007). Retrieved on 2008-02-05.
  2. ^ Lowther Hall Anglican Grammar School. Directory. Melbourne's Child (2008). Retrieved on 2008-03-16.
  3. ^ Lowther Hall Anglican Grammar School- About the school (accessed:22-06-2007)
  4. ^ Victoria. School Directory. Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (2008). Retrieved on 2008-02-05.
  5. ^ JSHAA Victorian Directory of Members. Victoria Branch. Junior School Heads' Association of Australia (2007). Retrieved on 2008-02-05.
  6. ^ Butler, Jan (2006). Member Schools. Members. The Alliance of Girls' Schools Australasia. Retrieved on 2008-02-05.
  7. ^ Mawkes, Leonie (2005). Member Schools. Profile. Girls Sport Victoria. Retrieved on 2008-02-05.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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Members of the Girls Sport Victoria, Australia