| Werribee Secondary College | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Duncans Road Werribee, Victoria, Australia |
|
| Information | |
| Type | State high school |
| Motto | Live Worthily |
| Established | 1956 |
| Administrator | Department of Education |
| Council President | Paul Sidouropolous |
| Principal | K.S. Butyn |
| Asst. Principal | Gregory Lentini William Hatzis Kevin O'Neil |
| Teaching staff | ~100 |
| Years | 7-12 |
| Sex | Coeducational |
| Number of students | ~1,400 |
| Campus | Suburban |
| Houses | Hollows (Gold) Dunlop (Aqua) |
| Colour(s) | Navy, Maroon |
| Accreditation(s) | Council of International Schools, International Baccalaureate |
| Newspaper | 'The Loop' |
| Website | www.werribeesc.vic.edu.au |
Werribee Secondary College is a state high school located in Werribee, Victoria, Australia. It segregates students into a mainstream group and a selective entry accelerated program. Established in 1956, the college recently achieved international accredication from the Council of International Schools . The current college principal is K.S. Butyn.
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In 1997 the College introduced the gifted education Select Entry Learning Program or SELP. SELP is the only Department of Education accredited program in the City of Wyndham.
In 2003, three police cars were dispatched to the school when muck-up day activities went wrong after carloads of youths wielding baseball bats and wearing balaclavas arrived at the school. The students were thought to be from Galvin Park Secondary College.[1]
In May 2004 the College was hit by a massive fire that destroyed the school's technology and textiles wing. It caused up to A$2 million damage, including the destruction of students' VCE assignments. Junior students had up to 12 days off school while Portable classrooms were brought to the school site.[2]
In August 2006 Werribee Secondary College received accreditation from the Council of International Schools.
In July 2009 Werribee Secondary College was granted the IB program (International Baccalaureate). The college was the first government school in Victoria to offer students IB Program for Years 11 and 12. Until now 15 private schools hold this privilege. The school was originally granted the IB program in 2009, however due to financing complications with the previous Brumby state government, the program will start in 2013. 25 students are estimated to undertake the program in 2013.
Until recently, the college's facilities had been very poor. Following the 2004 fire, over 70% of classes were situated in portable classrooms. In 2005, the College received funding from the Department of Education for an extension (called the Shirley Cameron Centre) of the College's "Eca-Centre" (gymnasium and auditorium) which contained two food technology classrooms, two health classrooms, a canteen and a toilet block as well as new Music Centre. The construction of a new art and technology wing (called the Raymond Findlay Centre) was completed in 2007. A new school library, staff resource centre, administration wing as well as an extension to current school auditorium were completed in 2009. The construction of a science block and general purpose classroom block is currently being undertaken.
The college has access to two playing ovals; College Oval and Soldier's Reserve. College Oval is owned and maintained by the college and is used for purely recreational purposes. Soldier's Reserve is maintained by Wyndham City Council and is used for any sporting purposes including interschool cricket, Australian rules football, rugby and soccer. The college's gymnasium located next to the Shirley Cameron Centre is used for basketball, netball and volleyball. Basketball courts are located adjacent to the College Oval.
In early 2011 the school successfully finished building a Language Centre and Science centre under government funding. The whole building holds about 12 rooms, 4 Science rooms, a ICT room, 1 Science laboratory and office at ground level. On second floor there are 5 LOTE rooms and one LOTE office. The Language building and facilities are frequently used for exchange students from China and Japan.
The college holds a SELP program for academically gifted students. The college is the only school in Wyndham to hold this program. The program starts in Year 7 to 10 where there will be 2 classes; Year 11 to Year 12 where there will be one class.
The college since July 2009 has been granted permission to hold IB program, and the college will begin the program in 2013 with an estimate of 25 students who will undertake the course.
As part of an "Internationally accredited school", the college invites students each year for a brief two week visit from overseas. Students from the college may also get the chance for a brief visit to other schools and places overseas.
The College also runs a music program, including a compulsory Year 7&8 SELP band and string ensembles, Junior Band, Senior Band, Guitar Ensemble, String Ensemble and various other small group performances. Achievements include performing at Melbourne's Hamer Hall.
The College has newly added 8 houses. These houses are further divided into home groups as an attempt by the college to initiate and encourage student bonding. The houses are named after people who have "Lived Worthily"... the College motto. The houses are:
| House | Colour | Name After |
|---|---|---|
| Hollows | Yellow | Fred Hollows |
| Dunlop | Aqua | Edward "Weary" Dunlop |
| Evatt | Black | H. V. Evatt |
| Burnet | Red | Frank Macfarlane Burnet |
| Gilmore | Green | Mary Gilmore |
| Chisholm | Blue | Caroline Chisholm |
| Murdoch | Orange | Elisabeth Murdoch |
| Dynon | Purple | John Dynon |