Hillbrook Anglican School
Hillbrook Anglican School is a co-educational, Anglican independent school, in Brisbane, Australia. The school is one of the few Anglican schools in Brisbane which specialises in high school education only.
History
Hillbrook was founded on 31 May 1986. The school officially opened for the 1987 school year, providing for three classes in 1991. The school's first four original buildings were an orphanage before becoming a school. These buildings now house Science, Languages/Geography, Home Economics classrooms and computer labs. Each year level now consists of four home classes, labeled by colour - red, white, blue, green.
The school's development has seen significant building activity, most significantly with the addition of a performing arts complex towards the end of 2003, in 2006 the Tree of Life Chapel (which coincided with the school's 20th anniversary) and more recently, in 2009 a new library complex and in 2010 the Science classrooms were updated.
The school now has a typical enrolment of approximately 600 students from Year 8 to Year 12. In 2015 Year 7 will join the student cohort.
The school was started by a small group of people, including past headmaster Norm Hunter, and his original co-principal, John Lindsay. Father Clarrie White was also part of this foundation group, along with Mrs Julie Lindsay and Mrs Rae Hunter.
In 2008, Mr Geoff Newton, the deputy principal of Hillbrook, took over the role of principal following the retirement of Mr Norm Hunter.
The current leadership team at Hillbrook consists of 1 principal, 2 deputy principals and 1 business manager.
Most of the buildings at the school were designed by Brand and Slater Architects.
Curriculum
The school offers a curriculum based on the syllabi offered by the Queensland Studies Authority (QSA). It does not offer vocational education subjects. Subjects unique to the school include PSD (Personal and Spiritual Development) and Global Studies (roughly equivalent to the QSA subject, Studies of Society and Environment, or SOSE).
The school has a significant Outdoor Education program, with students participating in a yearly camp and numerous activities throughout the year. These activities include: Rockclimbing/Abseiling, Canoeing, Surf safety, various forms of Orienteering and a Ropes Course. The activities are challenging and are designed to promote confidence, resilience and teamwork. The school competes in some team sports activities as well as district cross-country, athletics and swimming for interested students.
Co-curricular
Hillbrook offers a range of co-curricular activities. Typically these are offered in an arrangement known as 'Project Active' which emphasises fitness and the opportunity to engage in less mainstream activities. The school offers dramatic options in the form of biennial school musicals and more informally as part of a drama extension program. Productions have included "The Boyfriend" (2012), "Little Shop of Horrors" (2010), "The Wizard of Oz" (2008), "Biloxi Blues" (2007), "The Drought" (2007), "Peter Pan" (2007), "Away" (2006), "forget.me.never.after" (2006),"Grease" (2006)", The Insect Play" (2006), "The Crucible" (2005), "Pirates of Penzance" (2004), "Anything Goes" (2002) and "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" (2000), "The Mikado" (1998), "Sherwoodstock" (1995) and "Bugsy Malone" (1990). Other productions have included staff and past-students, including "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (2007), "The Importance of Being Earnest" (2005), "Cosi" (2004) and "Love Letters" (2003).
Governance
Hillbrook is governed by a School Council, consisting of 11 members. 9 of these members are democratically elected, 4 from the parent body and 5 from the teaching staff. 1 representative is appointed by the Archbishop, and the Principal is an ex officio member.
The school emphasises a comparatively flat leadership structure, but responsibility for the school's day to day running rests with the school leadership team, consisting of the principal, deputy principals (2) and business manager.
Eight year 11 students are democratically elected each year to form the Student Representative Council Executive. A term in the SRC Executive lasts for two semesters, Semester II in year 11 and Semester I in year 12. The SRC Executive is responsible for leading the Student Representative Council which consists of two representatives from each homeclass in the school (excluding year 12 homeclasses).
References
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Coordinates: 27°24′57.27″S 152°59′21.25″E / 27.4159083°S 152.9892361°E