Cheltenham Girls High School
Encyclopedia
Cheltenham Girls High School, is a public, comprehensive
, high school
for girls, located in Cheltenham
, a north-western suburb of Sydney, New South Wales
, Australia
.
Established in 1958 and operated by the New South Wales Department of Education and Training
, the school has a non-selective enrolment policy and currently caters for approximately 1,340 students from Years 7 to 12.
In the 2006 Higher School Certificate, the National Education Directory of Australia named Cheltenham Girls High School the sixth best performing school, and the best non-selective public school in Sydney's Hornsby
region.
Cheltenham Girls High School holds many traditions including the bright pink uniform that distinguishes the students very much to other schools and the Presentation Day held at the Opera house at the end of the school year. This has been a tradition since 1973. Cheltenham Girls also has a school song occasionally sung at the Presentation Day and school assemblies.
The first students of the school were accommodated at Epping Boys' High School
buildings during 1957, as the school was poor and had no money to buy their own property. The Epping boys playground was separated, one side for the girls, one for the boys. The boys were caned if they were seen in the girl's playground. These students finally moved to new buildings on the Cheltenham site in 1958, and comprised four classes of second year students and 10 classes of first year students.
A common myth associated with the school is that the colour of the uniform comes from a bequest, the terms of which stated that the uniform must be pink. In fact, it was not Bessie Mitchell as some think, who decided the uniforms should be pink dresses, it was the Vicars family who previously owned the land. These dresses are still worn today and are noted throughout the area.
One highlight of the Cheltenham school year is the annual Presentation Day, which is held at the Sydney Opera House each year. The majority of students, staff and parents travel to Circular Quay station in a special train reserved for this occasion (the "Cheltenham Express").
for all years. The school provides two years of compulsory subjects (Years 7–8); two years of compulsory subjects, plus three elective subjects for the School Certificate
(Years 9–10); and two years preparing for the Higher School Certificate (HSC) (Years 11–12). In Years 11 and 12, a minimum of 12 units Preliminary and 10 units HSC must be studied, with English
the only mandatory subject. Additional courses are also available through TAFE NSW
, the Open High School
, Saturday School of Community Languages and other providers.
The school is a comprehensive
high school
, and typically performs well in the HSC, outperforming some public selective schools
. In the 2006 HSC, the National Education Directory of Australia named Cheltenham Girls the sixth best performing school, and the best non-selective public school in Sydney's Hornsby
region.
Bookoola (light blue)- "wise owl"
Mirrabooka (dark blue)- "Southern Cross"
Coolaroo (yellow)- "Stars"
Petarli (white and black)- "The Moon"
Dulkara (red)- "Rainbow"
Wirreanda (green)- "Tall Trees"
Transport prefects are elected from year 11 and support the safety, welfare and conduct of each student as she travels to and from school. Transport prefects report misbehavior, problems etc. to the head welfare teacher.
The SRC is a representative body comprising students from each year 7 through 12. Years 8 to 11 elect their six representatives from a whole year. Each year 7 class elects its own representative. Elections are held in the first semester(late in Term1 or early in Term2).
Comprehensive school
A comprehensive school is a state school that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude. This is in contrast to the selective school system, where admission is restricted on the basis of a selection criteria. The term is commonly used in relation to the United...
, high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
for girls, located in Cheltenham
Cheltenham, New South Wales
Cheltenham is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Cheltenham is located 21 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of Hornsby Shire...
, a north-western suburb of Sydney, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Established in 1958 and operated by the New South Wales Department of Education and Training
New South Wales Department of Education and Training
The New South Wales Department of Education and Communities, a department of the Government of New South Wales, is responsibile for primary schools, secondary schools and Technical and Further Education colleges...
, the school has a non-selective enrolment policy and currently caters for approximately 1,340 students from Years 7 to 12.
In the 2006 Higher School Certificate, the National Education Directory of Australia named Cheltenham Girls High School the sixth best performing school, and the best non-selective public school in Sydney's Hornsby
Hornsby, New South Wales
* Highest Maximum Temperature: 42 °C* Lowest Maximum Temperature: 4.9 °C* Warmest Month: January* Coolest Month: July* Highest Precipitation: February* Lowest Precipitation: July-Notable residents:...
region.
Cheltenham Girls High School holds many traditions including the bright pink uniform that distinguishes the students very much to other schools and the Presentation Day held at the Opera house at the end of the school year. This has been a tradition since 1973. Cheltenham Girls also has a school song occasionally sung at the Presentation Day and school assemblies.
History
Cheltenham Girls High School was founded in 1957–1958 by Bessie Mitchell who also acted as the first Principal. The School is located on the former residential estate of the Vicars family, who had donated the land for the only purpose of building a school. A leadlight window from the original house is now situated in the administration foyer, as well as a larger window of a ship being located in the E block. The ship is used in the header of the school newsletter, Yallambee.The first students of the school were accommodated at Epping Boys' High School
Epping Boys High School
Epping Boys High School is a government high school located at Marsfield, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It was established in 1957. Peter Garrard is the principal.-Achievements:...
buildings during 1957, as the school was poor and had no money to buy their own property. The Epping boys playground was separated, one side for the girls, one for the boys. The boys were caned if they were seen in the girl's playground. These students finally moved to new buildings on the Cheltenham site in 1958, and comprised four classes of second year students and 10 classes of first year students.
A common myth associated with the school is that the colour of the uniform comes from a bequest, the terms of which stated that the uniform must be pink. In fact, it was not Bessie Mitchell as some think, who decided the uniforms should be pink dresses, it was the Vicars family who previously owned the land. These dresses are still worn today and are noted throughout the area.
One highlight of the Cheltenham school year is the annual Presentation Day, which is held at the Sydney Opera House each year. The majority of students, staff and parents travel to Circular Quay station in a special train reserved for this occasion (the "Cheltenham Express").
Curriculum
Cheltenham Girls' High School is registered and accredited with the New South Wales Board of Studies, and therefore follows the mandated curriculumCurriculum
See also Syllabus.In formal education, a curriculum is the set of courses, and their content, offered at a school or university. As an idea, curriculum stems from the Latin word for race course, referring to the course of deeds and experiences through which children grow to become mature adults...
for all years. The school provides two years of compulsory subjects (Years 7–8); two years of compulsory subjects, plus three elective subjects for the School Certificate
School Certificate
The School Certificate was a qualification issued by the Board of Studies, New South Wales, typically at the end of Year 10. The successful completion of the School Certificate is a requirement for completion of the Higher School Certificate...
(Years 9–10); and two years preparing for the Higher School Certificate (HSC) (Years 11–12). In Years 11 and 12, a minimum of 12 units Preliminary and 10 units HSC must be studied, with English
English studies
English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language , English linguistics English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language (including literatures from the U.K., U.S.,...
the only mandatory subject. Additional courses are also available through TAFE NSW
TAFE NSW
TAFE NSW is Australia's largest vocational education and training provider. Annually, the network trains over 400,000 people in campus, workplace, online, or distance education methods of education....
, the Open High School
Open High School Sydney
The Open High School in Australia, is part of the New South Wales Department of Education and Training. In 1991 The New South Wales Correspondence School, which catered for preschool to Year 12 students, was decentralised into 19 Distance Education Centres located in schools across the state...
, Saturday School of Community Languages and other providers.
The school is a comprehensive
Comprehensive school
A comprehensive school is a state school that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude. This is in contrast to the selective school system, where admission is restricted on the basis of a selection criteria. The term is commonly used in relation to the United...
high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
, and typically performs well in the HSC, outperforming some public selective schools
Selective school (New South Wales)
Selective schools in New South Wales, Australia are government high schools operated by the New South Wales Department of Education and Training, that have accepted their students based upon their academic merit...
. In the 2006 HSC, the National Education Directory of Australia named Cheltenham Girls the sixth best performing school, and the best non-selective public school in Sydney's Hornsby
Hornsby, New South Wales
* Highest Maximum Temperature: 42 °C* Lowest Maximum Temperature: 4.9 °C* Warmest Month: January* Coolest Month: July* Highest Precipitation: February* Lowest Precipitation: July-Notable residents:...
region.
House system
Students are divided alphabetically into six house groups. School carnivals in swimming athletics and cross country are organized on a house basis.There are also sport prefects in each sport house that lead the houses into house and school spirit chants and organize house meetings and do various jobs. The houses are:Bookoola (light blue)- "wise owl"
Mirrabooka (dark blue)- "Southern Cross"
Coolaroo (yellow)- "Stars"
Petarli (white and black)- "The Moon"
Dulkara (red)- "Rainbow"
Wirreanda (green)- "Tall Trees"
Student Leadership
School prefects are elected from year 11 by staff and peers in years 10 to 12in June each year. The captain, vice captain and senior prefect are elected by the prefects.Transport prefects are elected from year 11 and support the safety, welfare and conduct of each student as she travels to and from school. Transport prefects report misbehavior, problems etc. to the head welfare teacher.
The SRC is a representative body comprising students from each year 7 through 12. Years 8 to 11 elect their six representatives from a whole year. Each year 7 class elects its own representative. Elections are held in the first semester(late in Term1 or early in Term2).
Organisations
- P & C Association: Cheltenham's Parents and Citizens' Association takes an interest in the welfare and education of its students. The annual general meeting of the P&C takes place at the beginning of each school year and regular meetings are held each term. One highlight of the school year is the annual Art & Craft Show, which is held at the beginning of the second term. This event is run by the P&C and is the major fundraising event for the year.
- Cheltenham Old Girls Association: The Old Girls Association promotes ongoing contact between former students and supports the school with fundraising efforts.
- SRC: this is a panel of girls from each grade in the school who help with raising money for charities and helping girls have their say on what is needed around the school.
Notable alumnae
- Meredith OakesMeredith OakesMeredith Oakes is an Australian playwright who has lived in London since 1970. She has written plays, adaptations, translations, opera texts and poems, and taught play-writing at Royal Holloway College and for the Arvon Foundation....
, playwright and music critic. - Louise Robert-Smith, Headmistress of Ascham School.
- Chris Ronalds AM SC, Barrister, author of “Discrimination Law and Practice”
- Greer Skinner, Annette Harada, Angela Blackshaw and Naomi "Batti" Battah, members of ARIA nominated rock band, "Skulker".
- Kylie KwongKylie KwongKylie Kwong , is a prominent Australian television chef, author, television presenter and restaurateur.-Early life and education:...
, celebrity chef. - Lily SernaLily SernaLily Serna is an Australian mathematician, best known for co-presenting the SBS game show Letters and Numbers.-Career:Serna attended Cheltenham Girls' High School and graduated from the University of Technology, Sydney with a Bachelor of Mathematics and Finance and a Bachelor of International...
, co-host of SBS Television's "Letters and Numbers".