Arden Anglican School

Arden
Location
Beecroft and Epping, New South Wales
Australia Australia
Coordinates 33°46′13″S 151°5′2″E / 33.77028°S 151.08389°E / -33.77028; 151.08389Coordinates: 33°46′13″S 151°5′2″E / 33.77028°S 151.08389°E / -33.77028; 151.08389
Information
Type Independent, Co-educational, Day school
Motto In God My Joy
Denomination Anglican
Established 1922[1]
Principal Graham Anderson[2]
Chaplain Mark Rundle
Employees ~63[3]
Enrolment ~800 (P–12)[3]
Colour(s) Green and White         
Website www.arden.nsw.edu.au

Arden Anglican College is an independent, Anglican, co-educational day school, located in Beecroft and Epping, both north-western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Established in 1922 as a preparatory, feeder school for the Presbyterian Ladies' College, Sydney,[1] the school now caters for approximately 659 students from Pre-school to Year 12. Arden's first Year 12 class commenced in 2008.

Arden Anglican College is a member of the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA),[4] the Independent Primary School Heads of Australia (IPSHAA),[5] the Association of Independent Co-Educational Schools,[6] and the Association of Independent Schools of New South Wales.[7]

History

Began as a preparatory school of the Presbyterian Ladies' College, Sydney (P.L.C).[1] The idea of a P.L.C preparatory school on the northern railway line, had first been suggested circa 1915, however nothing came of these ideas then. On 23 February 1922, the P.L.C Council received a request from the Beecroft Presbyterian Congregation, that a primary school be established at Cheltenham. Subsequently, a sub-committee of the Council was formed to investigate its viability, and inspect a number of sites in Beecroft and Pennant Hills.[8] Arden has been recently recognised as a leading sports school in the Hillzone sports for 2012.

Council gave the committee power to open a preparatory school in the Beecroft Church Hall, to appoint a teacher-in-charge and to make any other arrangements necessary. By the April 1922 Council meeting, it was reported that the school had been opened at Beecroft with 13 female pupils, and with Eleanor Linck in charge. This school was named the Presbyterian Ladies' College, Beecroft and was to serve as an all-girls, primary feeder school for the Presbyterian Ladies' College at Croydon.[8]

Over the next few years enrolments grew and an assistant teacher was appointed. However, P.L.C Beecroft was not a financial success and Council enthusiasm began to wane. Linck tried her best to expand the school, suggesting that "Romana House" on Beecroft Road be purchased to allow for further enrolments, and that the house next door to the Church Hall be purchased so that boarders could be accommodated. Despite the school's strong number of enrolment application's, these requests were all declined.[8]

In 1925, an additional teacher was appointed to teach kindergarten and sport. It was reported that the local community was taking an interest in the new P.L.C, as that year two prizes had been presented to the school by the Beecroft School of Arts for library proficiency, and the Beecroft Presbyterian Women's Guild presented a prize for Scripture.[8] In 1926, Mrs Linck resigned to take up a position at the Presbyterian Ladies' College, Melbourne, and Mrs Lucy I. Ritter was appointed head. Later that year, two council members suggested that a house be purchased to expand the school and widen its tuition scope, however again nothing came of this. Council now appeared to be uninterested in the Beecroft school.[8]

Ritter, in the Assembly report for 1927, complained that "Beecroft deserves more support from Presbyterians on the Hornsby line." The school continued to make losses and so on 19 June 1929, Council decided that it was to be closed. Ritter, and the assistant teacher Ms Gurney, resigned in December of that year.[8] In 1930, Gurney reopened the school in the Church Hall, which she named "Arden" after the Shakespearean Forest of Peace in As You Like It.[9] The school flourished under her leadership.[8]

Arden came under the control of the Anglican Diocesan Schools in 1946, and subsequently moved to St John’s Beecroft Church Hall where it was named Arden Anglican College. The college moved again in 1952 to a house in Wongala Crescent, and in 1962, property was purchased on Beecroft Rd.[9]

In 2000, due to demand from the local community, preliminary plans for a secondary school at Arden began. The school purchased the former site of the Australian American International School at Oxford St, Epping in 2001, and in 2003, the first year 7 class commenced at the new senior campus. Yearly expansion has continued since then, and concluded with the first Year 12 class graduating in 2008.[9]

2008 also saw the opening of the Senior Studies Centre. Located directly opposite the secondary campus, it facilitates learning for year 11 and 12 (Preliminary and HSC) students in a "corporate-style" environment.

Campus

Arden Anglican College is located on two campuses in the north-western suburbs of Sydney. The pre-school and primary School are situated in a bushland setting in Beecroft near Beecroft railway station on Wongala Crescent, while the secondary school is located 200 m from Epping railway station, in the suburb of Epping.[10]

Curriculum

The primary school follows a curriculum mandated by the NSW Board of Studies, and where required is tailored to meet the needs of individual students. Specialist teachers are utilised for subjects such as Physical Education (PE), Music, Art, French language, Science, Library, Computer and Problem Solving.[11]

The secondary school also follows the Board of Studies curriculum. In 2008, the first year 12 class completed the NSW Higher School Certificate.[12]

Co-curriculum

Sport

Arden offers sport to all year levels, and students may partake in house and inter school competitions.[13]

Through Arden's membership of the Junior School Heads Association of Australia, Primary students may represent the school in sports such as athletics, swimming, cross-country, gymnastics, T-ball, softball, minkey (mini hockey), hockey, netball, basketball, rugby and soccer for females.[13]

Secondary students may represent Arden in cricket, basketball, soccer (indoor/outdoor), rugby, netball, athletics, cross-country, softball, hockey,[13] in the HZSA (Hills Zone Sports Association).[6]

As part of the Secondary sports program, a tour of New Zealand is held every two years, for up to 45 students, competing in a variety of sports. Visits by New Zealand Schools are also common.[13]

Tours

In alternation with the New Zealand tour, the school takes a group of students to Europe as a cultural experience from years 7-9. The group traditionally tours through Italy, France and Southern England. As of 2014, a Hawaii Netball and Soccer tour takes place during March–April. There is also a tour to New Caledonia for French year 9 and 10 students.

In Year 11, the students also have a chance to participate in a mission trip to Cambodia (a long-standing destination) and Vietnam (which commenced in July 2012). During this mission trip students visit the different cultural places in both countries and build houses in Cambodia to help villages struggling to have suitable accommodation for themselves. This mission trip has been a huge success helping many families have a better place to live.The first Cambodia mission trip was held in 2008 and proved to be a great success. The school has now set up its own "charity" of sorts under the name The Extra Mile Project. Each year the school raises money to go towards this mission trip with no money raised going towards expenses of the students or teachers who go.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "About Arden - History". Archived from the original on 2015-02-28. Retrieved 2015-03-20.
  2. ↑ "Arden Leadership Team". Archived from the original on 2015-02-28. Retrieved 2015-03-20.
  3. 1 2 "Annual Report 2006" (PDF). Arden Anglican School. Archived (PDF) from the original on 31 August 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-23.
  4. ↑ "AHISA Schools: New South Wales". Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia. April 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-08-29. Retrieved 2007-09-11.
  5. ↑ "JSHAA New South Wales Directory of Members". Junior School Heads' Association of Australia. 2007. Archived from the original on 30 August 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-11.
  6. 1 2 "Member Associations and Colours". Association of Independent Co-Educational Schools. Archived from the original on 30 August 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-11.
  7. ↑ "NSW Independent Schools by Region". Association of Independent Schools of New South Wales. 2007. Archived from the original on 29 August 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-11.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 McFarlane, John (1988). "Reform Rejected 1920-1929". The Golden Hope: Presbyterian Ladies' College, Sydney 1888-1988. Croydon, NSW: P.L.C Council, Presbyterian Ladies' College, Sydney. pp. 58–62. ISBN 0-9597340-1-5.
  9. 1 2 3 "History". Arden Anglican School. Archived from the original on 2007-08-28. Retrieved 2007-09-11.
  10. ↑ "Participating schools: Arden Anglican School". North Shore Independent Schools' Expo. Archived from the original on 12 September 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-11.
  11. ↑ "Primary School". Arden Anglican School. Archived from the original on 2007-09-10. Retrieved 2007-09-11.
  12. ↑ "Secondary School". Arden Anglican School. Archived from the original on 2007-08-31. Retrieved 2007-09-11.
  13. 1 2 3 4 "Sport". Arden Anglican School. Archived from the original on 2007-08-28. Retrieved 2007-09-11.
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