Luther College (Victoria)

Luther College is a co-educational independent secondary school of the Lutheran Church of Australia located in the outer-eastern suburb of Croydon Hills in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It maintains a close relationship with the Outer Eastern Lutheran Church parish of the Lutheran Church of Australia, which congregates in the school's chapel facilities. It provides education for years 7-12. Some year 10 and all year 11 and 12 students undertake the VCE program.

History

Opened in 1964, Luther College is a school of the Lutheran Church of Australia, named for the father of the Lutheran Church, Dr. Martin Luther, a 16th-century German theologian.

Beginning as a boarding school with students from remote regional areas of Victoria making up a large percentage of its enrolment, the school grew to become popular with International students. However, after a decline in International enrolments and worries about the growth of the student body in relation to the school's facilities, the boarding program ended at the end of 2002, with the boarding house facilities being demolished or adapted into classrooms. The school now admits small numbers of students from remote areas who take part in a home-stay program, residing with the families of local students.

Campus

The campus has altered considerably since the school's opening in 1964.

Several houses originally owned by the College and formerly lived in by its chaplains, boarding students and boarding-house supervisors have been converted into office blocks, including what is now the school's Ministry Centre.

The school's facilities also comprise one football oval, and two soccer/hockey pitches, three basketball courts and four tennis courts which can be converted into a half-sized hockey court, and often doubles as a soccer field during lunchtimes. There is also two full size basketball courts in the gymnasium as well as a gym for students to use at lunchtime from Year 10 onwards.

In 2010, the new middle school building was opened. The building consists of state-of-the art facilities, including over 25 classrooms. Students in years 7-9 use these classrooms.

In 2012, the old middle school building was redeveloped and became the Senior Years Centre and incorporates a common room for Year 12 students, a variety of learning spaces, a Careers Centre and easy access to Year level coordinators.

In 2014, the Prime Minister of Australia, Mr Tony Abbott, and several parliamentarians, visited the College. This visit coincided with the release of the Commonwealth Government’s review of the Australian Curriculum and educational initiatives to promote the Government’s Competitiveness Agenda. Together with the Prime Minister, Principal Michael Kleidon and other science and careers staff discussed the Australian Government’s focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects. Mr Abbott and his colleagues also visited the College’s recently refurbished Mathematics facility, an inspiring learning space for students.

Religious education

As a school of the Lutheran Church of Australia, Luther College students participate in mandatory religious education classes in years 7-12.

• In years 7-8, these classes are known as Christian Studies and students develop basic Biblical knowledge and discuss theological issues. In year 7 the focus is on the Old Testament and in year 8 the focus moves onto the new testament, the coming of Jesus and the Holy Week.
• In year 9, students participate in The Rite Journey program which includes PD, Christian Studies, Voluntary Service and learning what it means to be a young adult. As apart of the program they participate in many challenges, the most popular been that of the Year 9 Luther Journey which is the camp, where they go camping for 5 days where they spend 2.5 either canoeing, rafting or river sledding and 2.5 hiking. All students also undertake three days of community service in an approved institution.
• In year 10, the program focuses on personal and spiritual development.
• In years 11 and 12, students undertake one of two VCE courses, either Religion and Society which focuses on world religions and the influence of religion on modern world culture, or Religious History which charts the development of Christianity throughout history. While neither course contributes to the ENTER score, both are assessed VCE subjects awarded either a "Satisfactory" or "Non-satisfactory" grade on the student's VCE transcript.

All students from all year levels attend a chapel service in the school's chapel four days out of the week. On Wednesday, students participate in a devotion in their homegroup classes.

The school's campus contains a special Ministry Centre which contains the offices of the school's two chaplains as well as the school counsellor. Students can go to the Ministry Centre at any time of the day to seek advice or counselling.

IT program

Luther College is a notebook computer school. The notebook program was commenced in 1995, with a pilot class of 30 Year 10 students. At the end of the year, the school council voted to commence the notebook program for all year 10 students, commencing from 1996 onwards. More recently, the program was extended to year 9 students. The IT is set to be removed from the school in 2016 as Apple Macintoshes are coming into place.

School houses

There are four houses operating within the school. These are further divided into form classes, also known as home groups, which hold meetings every morning to distribute news and information. They include 5-8 students from every year level. Cheong won the 2008 overall house cup, after a 27-year drought. The four houses are:

• Birt - named after Birt's Hill which adjoins the College campus to the east. House Colour: Blue.
• Cheong - named Cheong Hill, located approximately 500 metres south-west of Wicklow Hill. House Colour: Red.
• Nelson - named after Nelson Hill, located between the Maroondah Highway and Mt Dandenong Road. House Colour: Yellow.
• Wicklow - named after Wicklow Hill, at 207 m above sea level the highest ground in Croydon. House Colour: Green.

The four houses compete annually for a school trophy. The events in which the houses compete are:

• Athletics carnival, where the houses compete in a number of track and field events.
• Swimming carnival, in which the houses compete in various races and aquatic events.
• Cross-country carnival, a long-distance run through the College campus and the surrounding suburb of Croydon, Victoria.
• Performing Arts festival, which takes place bi-annually, in which the houses compete by performing a half-hour segment which includes choral, ensemble and dance pieces
• House Drama, where the four houses direct, produce and perform plays, traditionally written by students
• Public Speaking, One member from each House in every year level speaks for 3–5 minutes depending on their year level on a topic of their choice, and are then awarded points on their presentation which are transferred to their house.
• House sports, where members of the four houses are divided into teams by year level and compete in different team sports, such as volleyball, soccer, softball and basketball.
• Food Eating Contest, where members of each house compete to see who is able to finish a 4kg meat platter in the shortest amount of time.

All of the above events are considered voluntary, with the exception of the cross-country which is mandatory for all students, and house sports which are mandatory for all students.

Involvement with Good Shepherd Lutheran Primary School

Both Luther College and The Good Shepherd Lutheran Primary School are private schools, as well as schools of the Lutheran Church of Australia. Both their campuses are located in Croydon Hills, separated by two sporting ovals.

The schools share many of their facilities, including the sporting ovals, as well as the Luther College chapel which is used by the primary school for special occasions. The schools have very similar uniforms, and until 2004 their physical education uniforms were almost identical.

As many as 80% of Good Shepherd students attend Luther College after the completion of year 6, due to the school's close proximity and affordable fees. Due to this, students of the schools share a close relationship. Many Collegiates undertake work experience or voluntary service placements at Good Shepherd, and both schools often present chapel services for each other.

There has been speculation since Good Shepherd's inception that the schools will one day join to become one college that provides education for all students years prep-12, as other private Church schools including Methodist Ladies' College and Yarra Valley Grammar have successfully done, but there has been no official acknowledgement of this proposal from either school at any time.

Extra-curricular activities

The following are extra-curricular activities and are options to all students:

• Analecta – allows students the ability to work on the school magazine which is produced at the end of each year, by designing or writing articles.
• Social Justice - held weekly to discuss ways to get the school involved in the social rights of others nationally and internationally
• Middle + Senior School Forums – organises charity events for the school (years 7-9) e.g. Red Nose day, Y B Blue day, and other free dress days for different causes.
• Chapel Tech – in morning service, these students are responsible for any audio-visual requirements
• Awaken – a group that is held once a week and is a Christian environment for anyone who wants to go along to talk.

Music

The following music ensembles are optional providing the required level of skill is demonstrated

• Senior Voices
• SSA Choir
• String Orchestra
• Symphonic Orchestra
• Middle School Strings
• String Quartet
• Senior Stage Band
• Soul Band
• Junior Stage Band
• Symphonic Band
• Concert Band
• Cello Ensemble
• Flute Ensemble
• Guitar Ensemble
• Numerous Quartets
• Percussion Ensemble (aka Whack Whack)

Athletics

Luther College prides itself in its strong volleyball program. Students from all year levels participate in both indoor and beach volleyball. In 2008, Luther College sent a senior girls volleyball team to New Zealand to compete in their national schools volleyball competition. Luther College has a successful history at the EISM interschool cross country. Luther has won it three out of past four times, losing only to Aquinas by a narrow margin on the fourth. The school also does extremely well in the EISM interschool sports which the years 9 and 11 participate in weekly. These sports include: Soccer, football, tennis, hockey, volleyball, netball, basketball and more.

Musicals

Every second year Luther College presents a whole school musical. These musicals are open to all year levels. The school is also accompanied by selected students and music staff who make up the band.

Past Luther musicals include:

• 2014: "Oliver"
• 2012: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat
• 2010: Anything Goes
• 2008: Seussical the Musical
• 2006: Guys and Dolls
• 2004: The Hot Mikado
• 2002: The Wizard of Oz
• 2000: Pirates of Penzance
• 1998: Fiddler on the Roof
• 1996: Godspell

Notable alumni

• Aaron Baddeley - Golf player
• Sarah Blanck - Olympic representative for Sailing
• Ash Grunwald - blues and roots artist
• Sarah Groenewald - Soccer player
• 360 - hip hop artist
• Kathleen O'Kelly-Kennedy - Paralympian (Bronze medal, basketball, Beijing 2008)
• Tom Boyd - Australian rules football player, #1 pick in 2013 AFL Draft, selected by the Greater Western Sydney Giants
• Daniel McStay - Australian rules football player, #25 pick in the 2013 AFL Draft, selected by the Brisbane Lions.

References