Warrandyte High School

Warrandyte High School

Excellence Integrity Respect
Location
Warrandyte, VIC
Australia
Information
Type Public
Established 1978
Principal Dr. Stephen Parkin
Enrolment 600~
Campus Warrandyte
Colour(s) Navy blue, red & white
Website http://www.warrandytehigh.vic.edu.au

Warrandyte High School (or WHS) is a high school in Warrandyte, Victoria, Australia. Established as only a few portable classrooms in 1978, it now comprises two main buildings and many semi-permanent portables set amongst many types of eucalyptus, native wildlife and other native vegetation, on a hillside on the southern slopes of the Yarra River, west of the main township of Warrandyte. The majority of its 600 students live in Warrandyte and the surrounding region. The school is known primarily for its art and music curriculum and natural setting, and it has a long history of annual musical theatre productions.

History

Warrandyte High School was built in 1978 with 43 students, initially the hillside was quite bare as new vegetation was planted, this initial planting has since matured and created the dense vegetation that surrounds the school today. The first permanent buildings were built in 1987. When the Triennial Review in 1994 was completed the school enrollment was 490, in 2000 it was 691 and by 2003 it was around 750 where it remains as of 2008. Around 600 students currently attend Warrandyte High School.

2004 Development

From 2002-2004 a number of construction works were undertaken. A Library extension/VCE study area (a project with a budget of $260,000) was undertaken and completed during 2004. In excess of $100,000 of locally raised funds was committed to the project together with a grant of $85,000 through the Department of Education and Training, as well as $77,000 from the ICT Modernization Project.

There were also a number of modifications to the school's grounds. The outdoor sports complex (now the Michael J. Blake Sports Complex) was completed and opened by Judy Green. The school's canteen was extended and renovated. The Federation Garden Project was completed with the planting of a 'Bush Tucker Garden'. The top driveway and bus bay was sealed, the gardens surrounding it landscaped and a new school sign erected on the corner of Alexander and Warrandyte Road. New indigenous garden areas at the front of the school and between the portable classrooms were planted. Large shade sails were also erected over the outdoor amphitheatre.

Holly's Heroes

In 2004 WHS became a temporary set for 13 episodes of the Nine Network Australia's television series Holly's Heroes. The show has a basketball backdrop and follows the life of 14-year-old Holly McKenzie. It explored themes of friendship and the rewards that came from participation and the love of sport. It takes place in Woolich (sic) High, a high school on Phillip Island. Most filming at WHS took place in the basketball stadium with special lighting mounted on the changing room roof and camera rails along the floor. Filming also took place on the external basketball courts. Involvement with the film industry brought a sense of excitement and curiosity along the way offering students opportunities to participate as paid or unpaid extras. The whole experience provided the students with an insight into the film and television industry.

In 2013, it was revealed that the Nine Network was considering a second season of Holly's Heroes, also set partially at Warrandyte High School. This season would follow Holly McKenzie's return to Woolich High to coach the basketball team.[1]


Other information

There is no year level camp, other than a year 7 camp, annual music camps and a Year 11 trip to Kakadu. It has a sister school 'Hazu High School' in Japan. The school hosts several orchestras and ensembles and has a long history involving music and theatre (see Extracurricular Activities).

School sport competitions are divided into 5 houses: Newman (Yellow or Purple), Stiggant (Blue), Anderson (Green), and Michel (Red).

Facilities

The school has two outdoor basketball courts, four tennis courts and a football/cricket oval with cricket nets. The school has a separate building for art and design including two dark rooms, two art studios, Design studio (Used for wood, metal, plastic and more) it also has a visual design studio. School buildings are organised alphabetically in the order that they were built:

Location

See: Warrandyte

Warrandyte is situated in the outer north-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, 27 km east-north-east of the Melbourne Central Business District. Warrandyte was founded as a Victorian town during the Victorian gold rush, and is now generally considered part of greater Melbourne. The nearest major suburbs are Ringwood to the east and Eltham to the north. The catchment area for Warrandyte High School is extremely wide, with students coming from as far as Christmas Hills, Panton Hill, Alexandria, Healesville and Hurstbridge. Transdev Melbourne, Panorama Coaches and Invicta Bus Service all provide public transport to and from the school.

Curriculum

Theatre studies

Year 11 theatre studies productions:

Year 12 theatre studies productions:

Extracurricular activities

Theatre

The school is widely known for its yearly musical productions featuring students and occasionally staff members, which have run since 1983. The productions are notable for the high level of professionalism by the students, many of which attend the school for its music & theatre curriculum. In 1987 a dedicated theatre was built, the second largest school theatre in the region. Chris White directed 20 productions between 1983 and 2004. Most productions have involved multiple performances held over the course of 2 weekends.

References

  1. ↑ http://channelnine.ninemsn.com.au/

Coordinates: 37°44′49″S 145°11′03″E / 37.74694°S 145.18417°E / -37.74694; 145.18417

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