Brighton Secondary College
Encyclopedia
Brighton Secondary College is a Year 7 to 12 co-educational
. In 2010 it is estimated that 1200+ students will be enrolled at the college. Established in 1955, the College is set in spacious grounds in the City of Bayside
, situated in Brighton East
, Victoria
, Australia. From 1955 until 1987, it was known as Brighton High School, the name being altered in early 1988.
The main entrance to the school is located on Marriage Road.
and Study Centre.
The main part of the school consists of the N and C wings. The N corridor houses the bulk of junior school classrooms, but is also used for other years. The C Corridor houses a computer laboratory, staff rooms, and miscellaneous storage and building services like the heater boilers. A portion of the C corridor was destroyed during a fire in April, 2000, where once it had extended to where the Discovery Centre presently stands, where for the interim period they were basketball courts. Contemporary aerial images of the College are shown on Google-Earth and during the opening scenes of the television show, 'Summer Heights High
'.
The E Corridor consists of two parts: the northern section housing a majority of senior school studies and classrooms and the southern section houses four specialist science classrooms and a computer pod. In between the sections is a sheltered walkway to bicycle sheds and main grounds.
To the south of the library are located the portable classrooms 'P0' to 'P8'. To the east is the Discovery Centre and the rooms for Materials and Systems Technology (Woodwork, Metalwork and Electronics) and Visual Arts.
Attached to the western end of the N-wing is the Hall, on the upper level. On the lower level are the rooms for drama, band, music instruction and practice. Adjacent and to the south is the canteen area, toilet blocks, and the main entrance to the gym. To the west are the rooms for Visual Communication & Design and Media - dubbed the West Wing. The area formerly housed Vocational Curriculum and Learning (VCAL) students, the house/block better known as Gumnut Cottage which featured in the television series 'Summer Heights High
' before being demolished in late 2007.
The financial limitations of public education have affected the way the school has grown and developed, though the clear intention is to provide World Class education. The completion of the Discovery Centre was a massive undertaking, but was successful due to donations from students, former students as well as grants from the government. The Eastern Wing, and certain sections of the school grounds are in urgent need of upgrading. The VCE and Year 12 rooms are not airconditioned and the age of the structure is apparent. The remainder of the school grounds require an overhaul such as sealed asphalt basketball/netball courts and the re-grassing of eroded areas which are now composed of a hard compacted mixture of clay, rocks and dirt.
A new car park for teachers has also been built at this time, replacing the grassed area in front of the school.
As well as normal projector systems, classrooms which contain Smart Board technology feature a normal projector which projects onto a specially designed board. This board has sensors - when using an electronic white board marker will project 'electronic ink' onto the Smart Board - a digital canvas. It also is fully interactive, and touch sensitive. Brighton Secondary is one of the first schools in Melbourne to use Smart Boards.
s were purchased for Media and Art.
Guests and politicians from the local community attended the opening ceremony: the 2006 Year 9 students and teachers, various school principals together with 2005 Year 9 students who assisted into contributing to the Discovery Centre. During the ceremony a member formally opened the centre on behalf of the Minister of Education.
It has been intended for the Discovery Centre to open in 2005 but the final go-ahead did not occur until mid-2005. During construction students endured replacement classes in the Hall which had been organised to accommodate 4 classes - divided merely with non-soundproof boarding. Teachers used their initiative by conducting classes outdoors or in the amphitheatre.
offered as their years 11 and 12 option.
In 2004, the school had a large young population (eight year-7 classes of approximately 25-30 students each) with a significantly smaller senior student body (five year-12 classes of approximately 18-22 students each).
Brighton Secondary College also has a sister school in Japan - Tokoname Kita. Every second year both schools alternate in visiting each other with a large group of students and a few teachers who stay at the sister school. Housing is provided by the families at each of the two schools.
2007 - David Simmons and Zina Teoh
2008 - Chris Tagle and Hayley Tagle
2009 - Erin Butterworth and Shaun Matfin
2010 - Rain Mercer and Madeleine Buchner
2011 - Jaime Levin and Jordie Crawford
The SRC plays a prominent role. They serve to represent their year level and the general school body in the upper hierarchy (School Council/Principal/Teachers) in school. They also run casual clothes days, numerous special events and fund-raising for the student community or social justice issues.
SRC participates in an annual camp. The themes often explore what the needs of the individual are as a person in SRC, and in the school community and in the world. Students thoroughly enjoy getting to know their fellow members and to act more cohesively.
In 2007 SRC is dedicated to reducing the amount of waste made by the school, in terms of paper recycling and more bins to reduce landfill. And exploring the issues global warming
. Recently the SRC presented An Inconvenient Truth
to students.
In 2008 - further efforts are devised to 'green up' the schools act. The schools first co-mingled recycling facility was established, with the aim to improve recycling practices and tidy up the yard.
Brighton SC has worked closely with World Vision efforts with select students participating in Global Issues meetings. SRC also promote and run the 40-hour famine.
Brighton SRC over the years has been involved with many other events, such as previous SRC Conventions, 'SRC Congress,' and also in 2006 as part of their training camp - undertook visits to Mount Evelyn Christian School, and Upwey Secondary School to associate with their SRC and share common values and goals among the different schools.
In collaboration with one of the teachers of the school, SRC has promoted Waste Wise management. A step in making the school cleaner and greener. 3 large rain-tanks have been installed and piped from the roof the gym. (The amount of space is equivalent to at least 2 basketball courts)
Brighton SC's Student Rep Council is probably one of very few to offer students a free voice by offering means of communication via email, and Myspace
. A promotion ran giving away 10 chocolate bars to randomly selected "friends" on myspace.
On September 19, 2007, the school ran the "Green Day Festival" environmental awareness day, with students being encouraged to wear head-to-toe green apparel, bring unpackaged lunches, and travel by environmentally-friendly means. The first event of its kind at the school, it has been highly enjoyed by students and teachers alike. Community partners have been approached to help sponsor the event.
program. The College is an approved Department of Education "Select Entry Acceleration Provider" to the Bayside Network. The first set started in 1999, whilst later years have the option of finishing school one year early. SEAL's who decide not to leave a year earlier have the opportunity to do a 3rd year of VCE, therefore allowing them to try/do more electives.
When vacancies open up due to SEAL students leaving BSC (quite often to Melbourne High School
/ MacRobertson Girls High School) the school puts these spare positions up for grabs; a small percentage of the mainstream students (other school's students can also apply) are chosen, based on grades to sit an entrance test; consisting of Maths, English and Science. The students who score the highest are then accepted into the program.
The "Guinea Pigs" of the program (class of '04 who started in 1999) were originally placed in a large room of which one wall was made entirely of large panelled glass windows. This earned the classroom the title of "The Fishbowl." Ironically the "Smart Kid" stigma that accelerated students were marked with was most embraced by those that were put through the 'fishbowl' experience. Current in 2007 room "N2" still remains the gateway for new students to begin their 'accelerated' learning.
Year 7 SEAL start with an altered curriculum to normal Year 7 studies. It integrates an amount of work usually intended for Year 8. Year 9 SEAL are identified as Year 10's, so as Year 10 SEAL identified as Year 11 etc.
As of 2007, restructuring changed the sub-schools into two sections. Junior (Years 7 - 9) and Senior (Years 10 - 12) (Purple style jumpers). This has brought on a more typical configuration of a high school, similar to the US Education System. The Discovery Centre will mark the final year in the 'Junior' school. Though there is little change in where students physically learn, where the north section of the East Corridor houses the bulk of all Year 12 subjects and also incorporates many Year 11 subjects, and the odd Year 10 class.
Chorals is a house singing competition where each house forms their own choir from any number of students. Through a period of half a term, each house practises their repertoire of songs. On the main evening houses present these songs. Each house is required to sing a 'set song.' All houses sing this song, and the house then elects to sing two other songs decided by their Cultural Captain(s). The house that wins is properly decided by an adjudicator, usually from a professional background outside the school.
The other part of the evening are soloist performances. Each house chooses a representative for the house soloist competition. Over the past few years, the main theme for soloists are songs from 'musicals.' They are judged not only on their singing ability, but also the portrayal of their character.
As well as the House Chorals Award, and Soloist Award, there is an award for the Best House Conductor, or "The Golden Hands Award". Throughout the night, guests are kept well entertained by the mostly inspiring performances. As well as the house, and solo singing, staff are invited to perform a piece. In the past, further performances where done by the 'Special Choir' - which in the past involved a smaller choir, performing a set of songs based on a particular theme, often highlighting the spread of talent in the college. In more recent years, the concert band and piano solos have been arranged.
Each house is headed by a teacher, A House Captain, House Vice Captain, Junior House Captain and a Junior House Vice Captain. For Chorals a 'Cultural' captain is nominated to head each house as a conductor for the Chorals competition.
Students are split into four different houses, also represented by a colour:
Note: In 2004, a fifth house, Peter (Blue), emerged to compete at the annual swimming sports. Peter never became a formal institution of the school and once more fell into obscurity.
Throughout the year some key events such as:
Tournament of the Minds, and Debating were formerly House competitions, but in recent years have not been undertaken.
The school also has a Concert Band and a Stage Band. The Concert Band usually plays on Chorals and Presentation Evening. Both bands usually contain a variety of Instruments forming Woodwind, Brass, Rhythm sections.
The Kool Skool's program allows students from Brighton SC to fully develop their music talents. They are offered a recording studio, and a chance to professionally publish their music with Kool Skool's annually.
's new show Summer Heights High
which premiered on the ABC on Wednesday 5 September 2007. Many students starred as extras in the show.
On Monday 24 April 2006, XYZ Studios filmed a music video at Brighton Secondary College. The song “Hold On” by hip hop artist Phrase
was a collaboration between Universal Music and XYZ Studios.
Coeducation
Mixed-sex education, also known as coeducation or co-education, is the integrated education of male and female persons in the same institution. It is the opposite of single-sex education...
. In 2010 it is estimated that 1200+ students will be enrolled at the college. Established in 1955, the College is set in spacious grounds in the City of Bayside
City of Bayside
The City of Bayside is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia. It is located in the southern suburbs of Melbourne. It has an area of 36 square kilometres and has a estimated population of 96,329 people.-City of Brighton:...
, situated in Brighton East
Brighton, Victoria
Brighton is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 11 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Bayside. At the 2006 Census, Brighton had a population of 20,651...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia. From 1955 until 1987, it was known as Brighton High School, the name being altered in early 1988.
The main entrance to the school is located on Marriage Road.
Grounds and facilities
The college provides a number of facilities such as gymnasium, library, canteen, school hall as well as facilities for drama and music facilities. The school also features an Arts and Materials Section, a Science Wing, VCEVictorian Certificate of Education
The Victorian Certificate of Education or VCE is the credential awarded to secondary school students who successfully complete high school level studies in the state of Victoria, Australia. Study for the VCE is usually completed over two years, but it can be spread over a longer period in some cases...
and Study Centre.
The main part of the school consists of the N and C wings. The N corridor houses the bulk of junior school classrooms, but is also used for other years. The C Corridor houses a computer laboratory, staff rooms, and miscellaneous storage and building services like the heater boilers. A portion of the C corridor was destroyed during a fire in April, 2000, where once it had extended to where the Discovery Centre presently stands, where for the interim period they were basketball courts. Contemporary aerial images of the College are shown on Google-Earth and during the opening scenes of the television show, 'Summer Heights High
Summer Heights High
Summer Heights High is a Logie Award-winning Australian television mockumentary series written by and starring Chris Lilley. It is a parody of high-school life epitomised by its three protagonists: effeminate and megalomaniacal "Director of Performing Arts" Mr G; self-absorbed, privileged teenager...
'.
The E Corridor consists of two parts: the northern section housing a majority of senior school studies and classrooms and the southern section houses four specialist science classrooms and a computer pod. In between the sections is a sheltered walkway to bicycle sheds and main grounds.
To the south of the library are located the portable classrooms 'P0' to 'P8'. To the east is the Discovery Centre and the rooms for Materials and Systems Technology (Woodwork, Metalwork and Electronics) and Visual Arts.
Attached to the western end of the N-wing is the Hall, on the upper level. On the lower level are the rooms for drama, band, music instruction and practice. Adjacent and to the south is the canteen area, toilet blocks, and the main entrance to the gym. To the west are the rooms for Visual Communication & Design and Media - dubbed the West Wing. The area formerly housed Vocational Curriculum and Learning (VCAL) students, the house/block better known as Gumnut Cottage which featured in the television series 'Summer Heights High
Summer Heights High
Summer Heights High is a Logie Award-winning Australian television mockumentary series written by and starring Chris Lilley. It is a parody of high-school life epitomised by its three protagonists: effeminate and megalomaniacal "Director of Performing Arts" Mr G; self-absorbed, privileged teenager...
' before being demolished in late 2007.
The financial limitations of public education have affected the way the school has grown and developed, though the clear intention is to provide World Class education. The completion of the Discovery Centre was a massive undertaking, but was successful due to donations from students, former students as well as grants from the government. The Eastern Wing, and certain sections of the school grounds are in urgent need of upgrading. The VCE and Year 12 rooms are not airconditioned and the age of the structure is apparent. The remainder of the school grounds require an overhaul such as sealed asphalt basketball/netball courts and the re-grassing of eroded areas which are now composed of a hard compacted mixture of clay, rocks and dirt.
VCE Centre
Plans have existed since 2007 to modernise the Eastern Block. Funding limitations generally limited the capability of the crumbling infrastructure which had existed early on after the opening of the high school. Funding had not been secured until late 2008, and construction started in May 2009. Construction though did not involve the removal of the dating classrooms and science wing, but added the new centre in the space which existed between the administration area and the top of the E Corridor. It houses Year 12 locker space, a computer laboratory, VCE School Administration and, amenities for Year 12 students. The centre was officially opened on December 18, 2009.A new car park for teachers has also been built at this time, replacing the grassed area in front of the school.
Technology
The school contains 4 computer rooms, and 3 'pods.' with each computer room being able to house a full class. L2/L4 rooms contain the newest computers. N4 located on the N corridor also have computers purchased in early 2005 - N4 is the computer room which lacks a "Smart Board." C2 is the other computer lab, also open at lunchtimes for students to complete assignments. The 'pods' are built in sections of computer labs, which are often used for student group tasks.Technology in classrooms
Recently, the multimedia and ICT in several classrooms has been overhauled with "Smart Boards. which are electronic whiteboards" First introduced in 2005 at BSC to a handful of classrooms they provide Video/DVD playback, sound, and projection. The advanced interactive multimedia hubs are widespread around the school.As well as normal projector systems, classrooms which contain Smart Board technology feature a normal projector which projects onto a specially designed board. This board has sensors - when using an electronic white board marker will project 'electronic ink' onto the Smart Board - a digital canvas. It also is fully interactive, and touch sensitive. Brighton Secondary is one of the first schools in Melbourne to use Smart Boards.
Computers
The school's computer facilities are constantly being improved. The range of software is diverse. Class specialisations in IT, Web Publishing/Design require up-to-date software which is provided by the school. Computer hardware is maintained to a high standard and the general turnover of older computers takes less than 3 years. In general, the main bulk are Dell computers (GX Series) based in "L" computer labs, "N4" and "C2." A number of iMacIMac
The iMac is a range of all-in-one Macintosh desktop computers built by Apple. It has been the primary part of Apple's consumer desktop offerings since its introduction in 1998, and has evolved through five distinct forms....
s were purchased for Media and Art.
Discovery Centre
With construction beginning in 2005, the "Discovery Centre" was commissioned into use the following year. Officially opened on the behalf of the Minister of Education the centre brings new incentives for students integrating a world class learning environment, within IT-rich surroundings.Guests and politicians from the local community attended the opening ceremony: the 2006 Year 9 students and teachers, various school principals together with 2005 Year 9 students who assisted into contributing to the Discovery Centre. During the ceremony a member formally opened the centre on behalf of the Minister of Education.
It has been intended for the Discovery Centre to open in 2005 but the final go-ahead did not occur until mid-2005. During construction students endured replacement classes in the Hall which had been organised to accommodate 4 classes - divided merely with non-soundproof boarding. Teachers used their initiative by conducting classes outdoors or in the amphitheatre.
Principals
- 1965 - 1965 G.M. Stirling
- 1965 - 1969 Leonard Albert Cooke (also, President of the Victorian High Schools Principals Association 1968 - 1989, Foundation President of the Australian High Schools Principals Association, 1969).
- 1970 - 1975 M. Brennan
- 1976 - 1981 G.E.P. Rowney
- 1982 - 1984 P.A. O'Brien
- 1985 - 1992 John Fowler
- 1992 - 1993 Phil Shireffs (Acting)
- 1994 - 1996 Phil Shireffs
- 1996–present Julie Podbury
Student Distribution
The school offers Victorian Secondary School years 7 through 12, with VCEVictorian Certificate of Education
The Victorian Certificate of Education or VCE is the credential awarded to secondary school students who successfully complete high school level studies in the state of Victoria, Australia. Study for the VCE is usually completed over two years, but it can be spread over a longer period in some cases...
offered as their years 11 and 12 option.
In 2004, the school had a large young population (eight year-7 classes of approximately 25-30 students each) with a significantly smaller senior student body (five year-12 classes of approximately 18-22 students each).
International Student Programme
The College has a programme for international students, attracting a large number of students from countries such as China, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, Korea and Taiwan.Brighton Secondary College also has a sister school in Japan - Tokoname Kita. Every second year both schools alternate in visiting each other with a large group of students and a few teachers who stay at the sister school. Housing is provided by the families at each of the two schools.
School Committees and Captaincy
Variations of committee establishment numbers vary year by year. Decisions are also made to modify existing leadership positions mostly changing the responsibilities held by each title.- School Captains: 1 male and 1 female Year 12 student who become the public face for the school. They are required to represent the school at college events. This position is much sought after and is elected by teacher voting. In some instance the School Captains may fulfill roles as Presidents of the SRC.
2007 - David Simmons and Zina Teoh
2008 - Chris Tagle and Hayley Tagle
2009 - Erin Butterworth and Shaun Matfin
2010 - Rain Mercer and Madeleine Buchner
2011 - Jaime Levin and Jordie Crawford
- Vice School Captains: 1 male and 1 female year-12 student who act as understudies for the school captains. They also fulfil the role of Vice Presidents of the SRC.
- Education Committee: 1 year-12 student with a council of 4 year-11 students that look out for educational issues/interests among the student body. They seek information such as the "top 10 most enjoyable subjects" and promote study in these areas. In the past a super-hero alias was created at the school to highlight the issue of bullying. The super-hero alias in question has been granted to every subsequent education captain so far. They also aid the school's Tournament of the Minds interests. Student morale, due to potent relevance to education and study, is often affected by Education Captains.
- Well Being Committee: Created in 2008 headed by the College Vice Captains with a body of four year-11 students the committee looks out for social issues among the student body. These include bullying and smoking as well as general well-being. In other years a similar committee (now defunct) engaged in a similar but focused on Social Justice.
- International Committee: Designed to represent the growing international student members at the college, whose voice often is unique.
- Social Committee: 1 year-12 student with a council of 4 additional year 12 students that looks out for year 12 social events/interests (such as the year 12 formal).
- Arts Committee: 1 year-12 student with a council of 4 year-11 students that looks out for artistic issues within the school. This involves aiding in advertising school plays and performances.
- Sports/Sporting Committee: 2x Year 12 students with a council of 4 year-11 students that look out for sports interests within the student community. These often co-ordinate with the senior house-captains to aid in house co-ordination for locations at sporting events.
- Sports Captains: Junior, middle school and senior (two for each of the four houses at each of years 7-8, years 9-10 and years 11-12 - 24 in total)
- Debating Captain: 1 year-12 student who looks after the school's debating team interests.
- Cultural captains: for each of the houses (usually year 11 students) They usually host/conduct their representative team at Chorals
Student Representative Council
The student body is represented by a Student Representative Council (SRC) where four students are drawn from each year level, gender balanced at teachers' discretion and voted by peers.The SRC plays a prominent role. They serve to represent their year level and the general school body in the upper hierarchy (School Council/Principal/Teachers) in school. They also run casual clothes days, numerous special events and fund-raising for the student community or social justice issues.
SRC participates in an annual camp. The themes often explore what the needs of the individual are as a person in SRC, and in the school community and in the world. Students thoroughly enjoy getting to know their fellow members and to act more cohesively.
In 2007 SRC is dedicated to reducing the amount of waste made by the school, in terms of paper recycling and more bins to reduce landfill. And exploring the issues global warming
Global warming
Global warming refers to the rising average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans and its projected continuation. In the last 100 years, Earth's average surface temperature increased by about with about two thirds of the increase occurring over just the last three decades...
. Recently the SRC presented An Inconvenient Truth
An Inconvenient Truth
An Inconvenient Truth is a 2006 documentary film directed by Davis Guggenheim about former United States Vice President Al Gore's campaign to educate citizens about global warming via a comprehensive slide show that, by his own estimate, he has given more than a thousand times.Premiering at the...
to students.
In 2008 - further efforts are devised to 'green up' the schools act. The schools first co-mingled recycling facility was established, with the aim to improve recycling practices and tidy up the yard.
Brighton SC has worked closely with World Vision efforts with select students participating in Global Issues meetings. SRC also promote and run the 40-hour famine.
Brighton SRC over the years has been involved with many other events, such as previous SRC Conventions, 'SRC Congress,' and also in 2006 as part of their training camp - undertook visits to Mount Evelyn Christian School, and Upwey Secondary School to associate with their SRC and share common values and goals among the different schools.
In collaboration with one of the teachers of the school, SRC has promoted Waste Wise management. A step in making the school cleaner and greener. 3 large rain-tanks have been installed and piped from the roof the gym. (The amount of space is equivalent to at least 2 basketball courts)
Brighton SC's Student Rep Council is probably one of very few to offer students a free voice by offering means of communication via email, and Myspace
Myspace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
. A promotion ran giving away 10 chocolate bars to randomly selected "friends" on myspace.
On September 19, 2007, the school ran the "Green Day Festival" environmental awareness day, with students being encouraged to wear head-to-toe green apparel, bring unpackaged lunches, and travel by environmentally-friendly means. The first event of its kind at the school, it has been highly enjoyed by students and teachers alike. Community partners have been approached to help sponsor the event.
SEAL Program
Brighton Secondary College offers a Select Entry Accelerated LearningSelect Entry Accelerated Learning
A Select Entry Accelerated Learning program is a form of streaming used in government secondary schools in Victoria, Australia to provide a focused educational environment for academically gifted children...
program. The College is an approved Department of Education "Select Entry Acceleration Provider" to the Bayside Network. The first set started in 1999, whilst later years have the option of finishing school one year early. SEAL's who decide not to leave a year earlier have the opportunity to do a 3rd year of VCE, therefore allowing them to try/do more electives.
When vacancies open up due to SEAL students leaving BSC (quite often to Melbourne High School
Melbourne High School
Melbourne High School is a selective entry state school for boys in years 9 to 12 located in the Melbourne suburb of South Yarra. Being a selective school, it is known mainly for its strong academic reputation...
/ MacRobertson Girls High School) the school puts these spare positions up for grabs; a small percentage of the mainstream students (other school's students can also apply) are chosen, based on grades to sit an entrance test; consisting of Maths, English and Science. The students who score the highest are then accepted into the program.
The "Guinea Pigs" of the program (class of '04 who started in 1999) were originally placed in a large room of which one wall was made entirely of large panelled glass windows. This earned the classroom the title of "The Fishbowl." Ironically the "Smart Kid" stigma that accelerated students were marked with was most embraced by those that were put through the 'fishbowl' experience. Current in 2007 room "N2" still remains the gateway for new students to begin their 'accelerated' learning.
Year 7 SEAL start with an altered curriculum to normal Year 7 studies. It integrates an amount of work usually intended for Year 8. Year 9 SEAL are identified as Year 10's, so as Year 10 SEAL identified as Year 11 etc.
School Year Levels
In 2006 plans were made underway to change the school structure for 2007. Each Year level has their "Year Level Co-Ordinator" as well as for sub-school there was a "Sub-School Manager." In previous years the school operated in three sections (defined as 'sub-school'):Junior (Years 7 & 8), Middle (Years 9 & 10), Senior (Years 11 & 12) - who wore the Purple style jumpers.As of 2007, restructuring changed the sub-schools into two sections. Junior (Years 7 - 9) and Senior (Years 10 - 12) (Purple style jumpers). This has brought on a more typical configuration of a high school, similar to the US Education System. The Discovery Centre will mark the final year in the 'Junior' school. Though there is little change in where students physically learn, where the north section of the East Corridor houses the bulk of all Year 12 subjects and also incorporates many Year 11 subjects, and the odd Year 10 class.
Chorals
Chorals is one of the first key college events in the year. In its 50th year in 2011,Grant house were declared the winners, the soloist award went to Jaime Levin of Phillip he sung 'if i were a rich man' from the musical fidler on the roof .Chorals is a house singing competition where each house forms their own choir from any number of students. Through a period of half a term, each house practises their repertoire of songs. On the main evening houses present these songs. Each house is required to sing a 'set song.' All houses sing this song, and the house then elects to sing two other songs decided by their Cultural Captain(s). The house that wins is properly decided by an adjudicator, usually from a professional background outside the school.
The other part of the evening are soloist performances. Each house chooses a representative for the house soloist competition. Over the past few years, the main theme for soloists are songs from 'musicals.' They are judged not only on their singing ability, but also the portrayal of their character.
As well as the House Chorals Award, and Soloist Award, there is an award for the Best House Conductor, or "The Golden Hands Award". Throughout the night, guests are kept well entertained by the mostly inspiring performances. As well as the house, and solo singing, staff are invited to perform a piece. In the past, further performances where done by the 'Special Choir' - which in the past involved a smaller choir, performing a set of songs based on a particular theme, often highlighting the spread of talent in the college. In more recent years, the concert band and piano solos have been arranged.
Houses
As with other schools, Brighton SC has student houses. At Brighton SC, each of the houses is named in honour of a famous ship captain.Each house is headed by a teacher, A House Captain, House Vice Captain, Junior House Captain and a Junior House Vice Captain. For Chorals a 'Cultural' captain is nominated to head each house as a conductor for the Chorals competition.
Students are split into four different houses, also represented by a colour:
- Lonsdale (Yellow)
- Phillip (Green), after Captain Arthur Phillip, head of the First Fleet.
- Murray (Red)
- Grant (Purple)
Note: In 2004, a fifth house, Peter (Blue), emerged to compete at the annual swimming sports. Peter never became a formal institution of the school and once more fell into obscurity.
Throughout the year some key events such as:
- Chorals - House choir event
- Swimming - House swimming competition
- Athletics - House athletics competition
- Cross Country
Tournament of the Minds, and Debating were formerly House competitions, but in recent years have not been undertaken.
Music
Brighton Secondary College offers a wide variety of instrumental music lessons. Brighton SC is also home to many well known local youth bands.The school also has a Concert Band and a Stage Band. The Concert Band usually plays on Chorals and Presentation Evening. Both bands usually contain a variety of Instruments forming Woodwind, Brass, Rhythm sections.
The Kool Skool's program allows students from Brighton SC to fully develop their music talents. They are offered a recording studio, and a chance to professionally publish their music with Kool Skool's annually.
Television
In 2006/2007 (filming concluded on February 2, 2007) Brighton Secondary College became the set for Chris LilleyChris Lilley (comedian)
-External links:****...
's new show Summer Heights High
Summer Heights High
Summer Heights High is a Logie Award-winning Australian television mockumentary series written by and starring Chris Lilley. It is a parody of high-school life epitomised by its three protagonists: effeminate and megalomaniacal "Director of Performing Arts" Mr G; self-absorbed, privileged teenager...
which premiered on the ABC on Wednesday 5 September 2007. Many students starred as extras in the show.
On Monday 24 April 2006, XYZ Studios filmed a music video at Brighton Secondary College. The song “Hold On” by hip hop artist Phrase
Phrase (rapper)
Harley Webster —better known as Phrase—is an Australian hip hop MC, originating from Melbourne, Victoria.-History:Phrase began to piece together an album with producers Daniel Merriweather and J-Skub , while working part-time for the Reach Youth foundation, an organization that Phrase credits with...
was a collaboration between Universal Music and XYZ Studios.