Caringbah High School
| Caringbah High School | |
|---|---|
 Latin: Omnia Vincit Diligentia Diligence conquers all | |
| Location | |
|
Caringbah, New South Wales Australia | |
| Coordinates | 34°02′06″S 151°07′16″E / 34.035°S 151.121°E |
| Information | |
| School type | Selective, Co-Educational, Public Public, Selective, Coeducational Secondary School |
| Established | 10 August 1961 |
| Principal | David Chapple |
| Deputy Principals |
Maria Iemma and Greg Lucas |
| Grades | 7-12 |
| Number of students | ~912 |
| Color(s) |
Orange & Green |
| Website | http://www.caringbah.nsw.edu.au/ |
Caringbah High School is an academically selective, co-educational public high school located in the Sutherland Shire, Sydney. It is a selective high school in New South Wales.
Caringbah High School students achieve consistently high marks in both the School Certificate (SC) and the Higher School Certificate (HSC). In the years 2000-2007, of the 150 student cohort, on average 11 students achieved 99+ (7%), 23 achieved 98+ (15%), and 48 achieved 95+ (31%), with over 98% of students gaining entrance into university. In the 2009 student HSC cohort the average ATAR was 87.8, with 60% of students achieving an ATAR 90+.[1]
The school was opened in 1960 as a co-educational high school and was nominated to become selective in 1989, over the neighbouring Port Hacking High. Currently there are around 900 students enrolled. In February 2010 the school celebrated its 50th anniversary.[2]
School Campus
Before 2010, the school was split across two locations, the southern campus (on higher ground, known colloquially known as "top school") and the northern campus (on lower ground, know colloquially as "bottom school" or "the Annexe"). The campuses were linked by a covered walkway and grassed area. The southern campus was the original site which contained an auxiliary administrative office as well as music, industrial technology and applied science classrooms.
However, due to the unstable clay foundation of the "top school", a construction project to consolidate all of the school's facilities commenced in 2007.[3] As of 2010, only the "bottom school" is in use and the abandoned buildings of the "top school" have become a noted site of urban decay and vandalism.[4] On 2 April 2013, the school hall in the abandoned southern campus was destroyed by arson.[5]
Faculties
LOTE
At Caringbah High, language is compulsory in years 7 and 8 and it is taught as an elective for years 9-12. Languages taught include French, Japanese, and German. In year 7 students study roughly 13 weeks on each of the languages offered (German, Japanese and French). In year 8, each student picks one language that they favour most, which is studied for the whole year. Once in year 9, students have the option of continuing study in the language that have chosen as an elective.
English
Caringbah High School follows the Board of Studies curriculum for its English courses for Years 7 - 12. Students learn a variety of skills in the English language, such as analysis of various texts, creative writing and essay writing. Texts studied include the works of William Shakespeare, Robert Frost and John Steinbeck.
HSC
Caringbah High School does not offer Standard English as part of its HSC course, and instead only offers English Advanced, English Extension 1 and English Extension 2. Unfortunately, the school does not offer Philosophy as a HSC course even though it is vital that all students are educated in it.
Information Technology
Students have the option to enter the 'Talented Computing Program' (TCP) as an elective in year 9. The School Certificate computing course (Information Software and Technology) is completed during the first semester of year 9, with the preliminary HSC course in either IPT (Information, Processes and Technology) or SDD (Software, Design and Development) commenced during the second semester; consequently allowing students to complete 2-units of their HSC by year 11.
Co-Curricular
Caringbah High School provides various extra-curricular activities, such as public speaking, debating, tournament of the minds and HSC distinction courses.
Music
Caringbah has a wide ranging music program which includes sixteen musical ensembles, of which many compete in region and state-wide events and performances, including the Sydney Eisteddfod Macdonalds Performing Arts Challenge.[6] As a part of the consolidation of campuses, a new, "Music Centre" was created, which houses music classrooms and practice rooms, where students from music classes and music ensembles have classes, can store instruments and practice during lunch times and before and after school. Also, there is a Bosendorfer grand piano in the music room!
Sporting teams
Caringbah fields many sporting teams which compete in many sports including water polo, rugby league, soccer, cross country running, lawn bowls, field hockey, mountain biking, tennis, cricket (boys and girls) and squash.
Tournament of Minds
Caringbah High School has competed in the Tournament of Minds for over 12 years. The school regularly enters two Language Literature Teams, three Social Science Teams and a Maths/Engineering Team. In 2006, the Maths Engineering team, two Social Science teams and a Language Literature team received honours at a regional level. One Language Literature team went on to compete and receive honours at the State level.
Popular Culture
The 2012 Australian television series Puberty Blues was filmed on location at Caringbah High School. The show starred well known Australian actors, Lachlan 'Daddo' Symonds and Graeme 'G-Man' Phillips.
Green Edge
In 2012, Green Edge, the school's environment group began. The aim of the team is to promote environmental sustainability within the school community. It has undertaken activities such as upgrading light switches to energy efficient timers, introducing a worm farm system, and a school garden.
Outdoor Learning Centre
One of the key programs Green Edge is undertaking is the Outdoor Learning Centre. Construction started in August 2013. It is currently under construction near the site of the former walkway between the two campuses. Students and staff both had significant input into the design, and much of the work will be constructed with the help of students and staff. It will consist of a central "pod", where classes can be held, and 5 smaller "pods" each based on bush tucker, a xeriscape, a meditative garden, an indigenous garden and a sensory garden. The centre is expected to be a work in progress, with full construction expected in 5 years.
Regeneration Area
The school also has a "regeneration" area, where plants from pre-European settlement times grow. Seeds from trees and original native grasses populate the area, with students working to ensure the area remains free of introduced grasses and weeds. The area was formerly the driveway for teacher's cars between the two campuses. This area is one of only 3 in the Sutherland Shire and helps increase the biodiversity of the school, attracting a range of native animals including birds and possums.
See also
- List of Government schools in New South Wales
- List of selective high schools in New South Wales
References
- ↑ http://www.caringbah.nsw.edu.au/newsletter.php
- ↑ http://www.caringbah.nsw.edu.au/50yearsevent.php
- ↑ https://tenders.nsw.gov.au/dfs/?event=public.rft.showArchived&RFTUUID=9A2B6314-AF0F-4315-C7453B03CA02962B
- ↑ Walker, Ian; Samuel, Johnson (20 November 2014). "Creepy Caringbah campus a ghostly reminder of old school days". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
- ↑ http://www.theleader.com.au/story/1403993/old-caringbah-school-site-fire-suspicious/
- ↑ http://www.sydneyeisteddfod.com.au/index.php?page=178