Glenunga International High School
Encyclopedia
Glenunga International High School (informally known as Glenunga or GIHS) is a publicly-funded school in Adelaide
, South Australia
. It is located approximately four km south-east of the Adelaide city centre
in the suburb of Glenunga, between L'Estrange St and Conyngham St, adjoining the major thoroughfare Glen Osmond Road. In terms of academic performance, it is among the top public schools in the state, and serves the surrounding surrounding suburbs of the cities of Unley
, Burnside
and the Adelaide Hills
. It was the first public school in South Australia to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.
Robert Knight, who started at the school in 1992, retired as principal at the end of 2007. He helped improve the standing of the school with features such as a large international student program (under the Intensive Secondary English Course) involving many students from China, Japan and a variety of south-east Asian nations; a selective program for gifted students entering high school (Ignite Programme, initiated as the SHIP program in 1998) and the adoption of both the local SACE
and International Baccalaureate Diploma Programs. Knight's term saw enrolment increase by 700 students to 1400 (many of whom are from areas outside the school's zone, or from overseas), after it came close to being closed by the State Government
in the mid-1990s due to falling enrolments.
for the South Australian School of Mines and Industries
. It was renamed the Junior Technical School in 1914 and then Adelaide Technical High School in 1918. Nevertheless, the school and the Old Scholars Association marked 1998 as the cententary year.
It was located at Brookman Hall, North Terrace
, which is now part of the City East campus of the University of South Australia
. The school population outgrew the campus, so in 1964 it was relocated to its current location in Glenunga, and was renamed Glenunga High School in 1974. It adopted its current name upon the introduction of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in 1990-91, a development which was instigated to help save the school from closure due to dwindling student numbers. With enrolments rising, GIHS has subsequently attracted substantial government funding and construction projects, most notably the technology and science wing extensions, a new administration block and a performing arts centre; since 2005 there have been various additional changes to the facilities, such as extra rooms. While facilities have been improving, the school campus has now come to a point where, as a result of the expansion in enrolments, it is suffering similar space issues to its predecessor.
Recent changes include:
GIHS offers second language courses including English, English as a Second Language (ESL), Mandarin, French, German, and Japanese. Other languages are available off-campus through various programmes, such as the Ethnic Schools Association and the South Australian School of Languages. It has achieved accreditation from the European Council of International Schools
.
Glenunga International High School is home to an active student voice organisation which underwent a number of changes in 2006-2007. These included the composition of a new constitution for the Student Forum and the introduction of the Prefect system.
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
. It is located approximately four km south-east of the Adelaide city centre
Adelaide city centre
The Adelaide city centre is the innermost locality of Greater Adelaide, known by locals simply as "The City" or "Town". The locality is split into two key geographical distinctions: the city "square mile", bordered by North, East, South and West Terraces; and that part of the Adelaide Parklands...
in the suburb of Glenunga, between L'Estrange St and Conyngham St, adjoining the major thoroughfare Glen Osmond Road. In terms of academic performance, it is among the top public schools in the state, and serves the surrounding surrounding suburbs of the cities of Unley
City of Unley
The City of Unley, is a Local Government Area in the Adelaide metropolitan region. It is located directly south of the Adelaide city centre. The City of Unley was proclaimed in 1906.-Suburbs:-External links:***...
, Burnside
City of Burnside
The City of Burnside is a local government area with an estimated population of 44,300 people in the South Australian city of Adelaide. Burnside was founded in August 1856 as the District Council of Burnside, and was classed as a city in 1943. It is named after the property of an early settler and...
and the Adelaide Hills
Adelaide Hills Council
Adelaide Hills Council was established in 1997 by the amalgamation of four smaller district councils...
. It was the first public school in South Australia to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.
Principal
The current principal is Wendy Johnson, who commenced her term at the beginning of 2008. She was previously the principal of Victor Harbor High School and has experience as a teacher, administrator and district director.Robert Knight, who started at the school in 1992, retired as principal at the end of 2007. He helped improve the standing of the school with features such as a large international student program (under the Intensive Secondary English Course) involving many students from China, Japan and a variety of south-east Asian nations; a selective program for gifted students entering high school (Ignite Programme, initiated as the SHIP program in 1998) and the adoption of both the local SACE
South Australian Certificate of Education
The South Australian Certificate of Education is awarded to students who have successfully completed their senior secondary schooling in the state of South Australia....
and International Baccalaureate Diploma Programs. Knight's term saw enrolment increase by 700 students to 1400 (many of whom are from areas outside the school's zone, or from overseas), after it came close to being closed by the State Government
Government of South Australia
The form of the Government of South Australia is prescribed in its constitution, which dates from 1856, although it has been amended many times since then...
in the mid-1990s due to falling enrolments.
History
The school was established in 1903 (planning began in 1898) as the Preparatory SchoolUniversity-preparatory school
A university-preparatory school or college-preparatory school is a secondary school, usually private, designed to prepare students for a college or university education...
for the South Australian School of Mines and Industries
University of South Australia
The University of South Australia is a public university in the Australian state of South Australia. It was formed in 1991 with the merger of the South Australian Institute of Technology and Colleges of Advanced Education. It is the largest university in South Australia, with more than 36,000...
. It was renamed the Junior Technical School in 1914 and then Adelaide Technical High School in 1918. Nevertheless, the school and the Old Scholars Association marked 1998 as the cententary year.
It was located at Brookman Hall, North Terrace
North Terrace, Adelaide
North Terrace is one of the four terraces that bound the central business and residential district of the city of Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia. It runs east-west, along the northern edge of the CBD.-North Side of North Terrace:...
, which is now part of the City East campus of the University of South Australia
University of South Australia
The University of South Australia is a public university in the Australian state of South Australia. It was formed in 1991 with the merger of the South Australian Institute of Technology and Colleges of Advanced Education. It is the largest university in South Australia, with more than 36,000...
. The school population outgrew the campus, so in 1964 it was relocated to its current location in Glenunga, and was renamed Glenunga High School in 1974. It adopted its current name upon the introduction of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in 1990-91, a development which was instigated to help save the school from closure due to dwindling student numbers. With enrolments rising, GIHS has subsequently attracted substantial government funding and construction projects, most notably the technology and science wing extensions, a new administration block and a performing arts centre; since 2005 there have been various additional changes to the facilities, such as extra rooms. While facilities have been improving, the school campus has now come to a point where, as a result of the expansion in enrolments, it is suffering similar space issues to its predecessor.
Recent changes include:
- The gymnasium now houses three extra classrooms, which are used for Physical Education classes and a weights/training area.
- Gradual upgrading of all computer systems within the school as well as the usage of Bess content-control softwareContent-control softwareContent-control software, also known as censorware or web filtering software, is a term for software designed and optimized for controlling what content is permitted to a reader, especially when it is used to restrict material delivered over the Web...
to help prevent access to non-curriculum-based internet content. - SMARTboards have been installed in various classrooms within the school.
International focus
Glenunga has a history of academic achievement in the IB Diploma Programme, with students often achieving scores in the highest range. Glenunga has several sister schools in countries as wide-ranging as China, Japan, the United Kingdom, Thailand, Germany, Mexico, Brazil, South Africa, India, Malaysia and Fiji. GIHS helps organise regular student exchanges and school tours both to and from these schools.GIHS offers second language courses including English, English as a Second Language (ESL), Mandarin, French, German, and Japanese. Other languages are available off-campus through various programmes, such as the Ethnic Schools Association and the South Australian School of Languages. It has achieved accreditation from the European Council of International Schools
European Council of International Schools
The European Council of International Schools - ECIS is an association of international schools founded in 1965. ECIS is a collaborative network promoting the ideals and best practice of international education....
.
Student life
Glenunga International High School hosts an array of extracurricular groups, many of which are student-run. These include the Student Forum, musical theatre and other interest clubs, a variety of community service organisations, International and Environment Clubs, as well as various sporting teams. The Amnesty International Club and the Student Activist Alliance are two student-led groups which seek to raise international and political awareness within the school as well as in the wider community. To actively encourage the creation and expansion of these groups, GIHS maintains a Student Life Coordinator on its staff. The current coordinator is Jonathan Turland.Glenunga International High School is home to an active student voice organisation which underwent a number of changes in 2006-2007. These included the composition of a new constitution for the Student Forum and the introduction of the Prefect system.
Notable alumni
- Peter Badcoe - Victoria CrossVictoria CrossThe Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
recipient. Killed in action during the Vietnam WarVietnam WarThe Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of... - Mark BrindalMark BrindalMark Brindal is an Australian politician. He was a Liberal Party of Australia member of the South Australian House of Assembly, Adelaide, South Australia, between 1989 and 2006, representing the electorates of Heywood and then Unley.-Early life:Brindal was born in South Australia and was educated...
- politician - Bruce R. DavisBruce R. DavisBruce Raymond Davis was born in Adelaide, 1939, and is an electronic engineer notable for his research in mobile communication systems, satellite communications, and high frequency data communication systems.-Education:...
- electronics engineer - William HenzellWilliam HenzellWilliam Henzell is a right-handed Australian Table Tennis player. He was born in Adelaide and moved to Sweden at the age of 14. His highest international ranking was 108 in 2010. He has represented Australia many times, including securing Australia's first Commonwealth Games table tennis singles...
- Represented Australia at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics in table tennisTable tennisTable tennis, also known as ping-pong, is a sport in which two or four players hit a lightweight, hollow ball back and forth using table tennis rackets. The game takes place on a hard table divided by a net... - Paul Mildren - Member of the Australian baseball team
- Cameron WoodCameron WoodCameron Wood is a professional Australian rules football player currently playing for the Collingwood Football Club in the Australian Football League .-Brisbane Lions:...
- AFLAustralian Football LeagueThe Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
footballer with the Brisbane LionsBrisbane LionsThe Brisbane Lions is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Brisbane, Queensland. The club was formed from the merger of the Brisbane Bears and the Fitzroy Lions in 1996...
(2005–2007) and Collingwood Football ClubCollingwood Football ClubThe Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
(2008–present)