| Warrandyte High School | |
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Excellence Integrity Respect
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| Location | |
| Warrandyte, VIC, Australia | |
| Information | |
| Type | Public |
| Established | 1978 |
| Principal | Ms Glennis Pitches |
| Enrolment | 600 |
| Campus | Warrandyte |
| Colour(s) | Navy blue, red & white |
| Website | http://www.warrandytehigh.vic.edu.au |
Warrandyte High School (or WHS) is a high school in Warrandyte, Victoria, Australia. Established as only a few portable classrooms in 1978, it now comprises two main buildings and many semi-permanent portables set amongst many types of eucalyptus, native wildlife and other native vegetation, on a hillside on the southern slopes of the Yarra River, west of the main township of Warrandyte. The majority of its 600 students live in Warrandyte and the surrounding region. The school is known primarily for its art and music curriculum and natural setting, and it has a long history of annual musical theatre productions.
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Warrandyte High School was opened in 1978 with 43 students, initially the hillside was quite bare as new vegetation was planted, this initial planting has since matured and created the dense vegetation that surrounds the school today. The first permanent buildings were built in 1987. When the Triennial Review in 1994 was completed the school enrolment was 490, in 2000 it was 691 and by 2003 it was around 750 where it remains as of 2008. Around 600 students currently attend Warrandyte High School.
From 2002-2004 a number of construction works were undertaken. A Library extension/VCE study area (a project with a budget of $260,000) was undertaken and completed during 2004. In excess of $100,000 of locally raised funds was committed to the project together with a grant of $85,000 through the Department of Education and Training, as well as $77,000 from the ICT Modernization Project.
There were also a number of modifications to the school's grounds. The outdoor sports complex (now the Michael J. Blake Sports Complex) was completed and opened by Judy Green. The school's canteen was extended and renovated. The Federation Garden Project was completed with the planting of a 'Bush Tucker Garden'. The top driveway and bus bay was sealed, the gardens surrounding it landscaped and a new school sign erected on the corner of Alexander and Warrandyte Road. New indigenous garden areas at the front of the school and between the portable classrooms were planted. Large shade sails were also erected over the outdoor amphiteatre.
Frowd-Brown Mining Company has sponsored the achievements of students at WHS which have succeeded in trying schooling conditions to overcome the odds and succeed with an outstanding display of courage and drive bringing a great deal of respect back to the school. The most famous recipient of this prestige’s award is that of Benjamin Baragwanath, who won the F.B.M.C after a motivational movie display that took Australia by storm. Mr. Baragwanath, remembering his roots, has been known to return to WHS to provide the senior students with an inspirational speech every year. This award is presented to the student that is seen to best capture and represent the schools values. As of yet there has not been a winner of this award that has not gone on to provide a vital service to the Australian society that we live in today.Another notable award sponsored by Frowd-Brown Mining Company and presented to the student of Warrandyte High School is the “Benjamin Baragwanath Top Bloke Award” formally known as the Top Bloke Award it was renamed in 2001 to honour the greatness of an extremely successful student. This award is presented to the student that is seen to display the attitude of a Top Bloke. Unfortunately this award cannot be given to a female because they are not regarded as ‘Blokes’.
There is no year level camp, rather a year 7 camp, annual music camps and a Year 11 trip to the Northern Territory. It has a sister school 'Hazu High School' in Japan. The school hosts several orchestras and ensembles and has a long history involving music and theatre (see Extracurricular Activities). Warrandyte High teacher, Joe Ferrante, was awarded the teacher of the year by the school in 2010 after he donated $10,000 to keep the school's music department alive.
School sport competitions are divided into 4 houses:
The school has two outdoor basketball courts, four tennis courts and a football/cricket oval with cricket nets. The school has a separate building for art and design including a dark room, two art studios, Design studio (Used for wood, metal, plastic and more) it also has a visual design studio. School buildings are organised alphabetically in the order that they were built:
See: Warrandyte
Warrandyte is situated in the outer north-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, 27 km east-north-east of the Melbourne Central Business District. Warrandyte was founded as a Victorian town during the Victorian gold rush, and is now generally considered part of greater Melbourne. The nearest major suburbs are Ringwood to the east and Eltham to the north. The catchment area for Warrandyte High School is extremely wide, with students coming from as far as Christmas Hills and Hurstbridge. The National Bus Company, Panorama Coaches and Invicta Bus Service all provide public transport to and from the school. The school also offers a walking school bus program for their students from the school to the Warrandyte town complex.
Year 11 theatre studies productions:
Year 12 theatre studies productions:
The school is widely known for its yearly musical productions featuring students and occasionally staff members, which have run since 1983. The productions are notable for the high level of professionalism by the students, many of which attend the school for its music & theatre curriculum. In 1987 a dedicated theatre was built, the second largest school theatre in the region. Chris White directed 20 productions between 1983 and 2004. Most productions have involved multiple performances held over the course of 2 weekends.
Notable Personnel: