Merewether High School
Encyclopedia
Merewether High School is a co-educational, academically selective
high school for students from Years 7-12. Located in the suburb of Broadmeadow
in the city of Newcastle, New South Wales
, it is the only academically selective school in the Lower Hunter Region.
Since 1989 enrolment is determined by an academic selection process. The school has approximately 1,000 students with a planned capacity of 1,080 students (180 from each year from 7–12). It first reached its enrolment capacity across all years in 2005.
, who began his working life in Australia as aide-de-camp
to three Governors of New South Wales between 1842 and 1861. He was appointed Superintendent of the AA Company in Newcastle in 1861 and became a significant landowner and local benefactor. The school's E.C. Merewether Award for Creative Endeavour and the shield, which adorns the school's front foyer, were inaugurated in honour of Merewether.
From 1952 until 1976, the site, enclosed by School Street, Awaba Street, Chatham Street, Pokolbin Street and Melville Road, was occupied by Newcastle Technical High School. The school included an industrial arts block (now the covered outdoor learning area (COLA)), K Block (the library), two bike sheds (since removed) and a canteen (since pulled down and a new canteen built in its place). L block was added in the 1960s.
The school merged with Cooks Hill Girls High School in 1976 to form a comprehensive co-educational high school, which drew students from the suburbs of Carrington
, Wickham
, Hamilton
and Merewether
. A building programme commenced just before the merger, with new blocks (A–D) being constructed, and blocks F–G being added later.. The final principals of both schools are memorialised in the naming of the Bensley Hall and the Foley Library on the present campus.
In 1989, the school became a selective high school.
Many buildings sustained severe damage in the 1989 earthquake
, but were repaired thereafter. Another more recent event that affected the school was the floods of June 2007, which toppled trees and required the replacement of carpets in some blocks' lower floors (e.g. K block, The Library).
developed by the New South Wales Board of Studies. Students in Years 7 to 10 undertake studies in mathematics, English
, science, history, geography, music, film studies, visual arts, dance, Technological & Applied Studies (metalwork, woodwork and Home Economics
), languages, and Personal Development, Health and Physical Education
.
Year 11 and 12 students work towards the Higher School Certificate, in which they achieve some of the best results in the region. Students may opt for units developed by the Open High School
as correspondence courses.
s, including: string ensemble, orchestra
, jazz band
, concert band
and guitar ensemble facilitated by the honourable Mr Brian Saxby BMus. Other activities include a chess club and the robotics club.
Merewether High School has participated in Odyssey of the Mind
since at least 1992 and have had many successes in this pursuit, including a team of year 9 students winning the Ranatra Fusca Creativity Award in 2008., it also had three teams in the recent F1 in Schools initiative who competed at state-level in 2008.
There are also various sporting teams including: cricket, soccer, basketball (The Weathers), rugby union (Merewether Moos), rugby league, Australian rules football
, hockey, netball, volleyball, rowing, aerobics team, softball and baseball.
consists of six students from each year, elected by their peers. In Year 7 one student from each class is elected; in the remaining grades, six students from each year are elected, regardless of class. The SRC nomination process begins in term 2, so members terms are across two years.
The Prefect Body is also elected by the students, of which four are chosen to be the captains of the school.
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...
high school for students from Years 7-12. Located in the suburb of Broadmeadow
Broadmeadow, New South Wales
Broadmeadow is the geographic centre of Newcastle city. Its main commercial hub is located at the “Nineways”.-Origins:Broadmeadow was originally part of the Newcastle Pasturage Reserve of 648 hectares...
in the city of Newcastle, New South Wales
Newcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
, it is the only academically selective school in the Lower Hunter Region.
Since 1989 enrolment is determined by an academic selection process. The school has approximately 1,000 students with a planned capacity of 1,080 students (180 from each year from 7–12). It first reached its enrolment capacity across all years in 2005.
History
Merewether is named after Edward Christopher MerewetherEdward Merewether
Sir Edward Marsh Merewether KCMG KCVO was a British colonial administrator.Merewether was Governor of the Leeward Islands from 1916 to 1921.He married Honoria Clementina Mary ....
, who began his working life in Australia as aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to three Governors of New South Wales between 1842 and 1861. He was appointed Superintendent of the AA Company in Newcastle in 1861 and became a significant landowner and local benefactor. The school's E.C. Merewether Award for Creative Endeavour and the shield, which adorns the school's front foyer, were inaugurated in honour of Merewether.
From 1952 until 1976, the site, enclosed by School Street, Awaba Street, Chatham Street, Pokolbin Street and Melville Road, was occupied by Newcastle Technical High School. The school included an industrial arts block (now the covered outdoor learning area (COLA)), K Block (the library), two bike sheds (since removed) and a canteen (since pulled down and a new canteen built in its place). L block was added in the 1960s.
The school merged with Cooks Hill Girls High School in 1976 to form a comprehensive co-educational high school, which drew students from the suburbs of Carrington
Carrington, New South Wales
Carrington is a suburb of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia and is named after Lord Carrington, governor of N.S.W. in 1887 when the area was proclaimed a municipality.-Origins:...
, Wickham
Wickham, New South Wales
Wickham is an inner suburb of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, located from Newcastle's central business district.-Origin:Wickham which was a Misspelling of Whickham, a suburb of Newcastle-on-Tyne in the north of England. Means village by the creek...
, Hamilton
Hamilton, New South Wales
Hamilton is a suburb of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, located from Newcastle's central business district. The main commercial centre is located around Beaumont Street and boasts a vibrant multicultural atmosphere providing an array of restaurants, retail, fashion and commercial outlets...
and Merewether
Merewether, New South Wales
Merewether is a suburb of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, located from Newcastle's central business district with a population of around 10,000. The suburb stretches from Merewether Beach in the east to Adamstown in the west.- Establishment :...
. A building programme commenced just before the merger, with new blocks (A–D) being constructed, and blocks F–G being added later.. The final principals of both schools are memorialised in the naming of the Bensley Hall and the Foley Library on the present campus.
In 1989, the school became a selective high school.
Many buildings sustained severe damage in the 1989 earthquake
1989 Newcastle earthquake
The 1989 Newcastle earthquake was a Richter magnitude 5.6 earthquake that occurred in Newcastle, New South Wales on Thursday, 28 December 1989, at 10:27 am. It was one of Australia's most serious natural disasters, killing 13 people and injuring more than 160...
, but were repaired thereafter. Another more recent event that affected the school was the floods of June 2007, which toppled trees and required the replacement of carpets in some blocks' lower floors (e.g. K block, The Library).
Curriculum
The college follows the mandated statewide 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...
developed by the New South Wales Board of Studies. Students in Years 7 to 10 undertake studies in mathematics, 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.,...
, science, history, geography, music, film studies, visual arts, dance, Technological & Applied Studies (metalwork, woodwork and Home Economics
Home Economics
Home economics is the profession and field of study that deals with the economics and management of the home and community...
), languages, and Personal Development, Health and Physical Education
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
.
Year 11 and 12 students work towards the Higher School Certificate, in which they achieve some of the best results in the region. Students may opt for units developed by the Open High School
Open High School
Open High School is an American alternative public high school in urban Oregon Hill in Richmond, Virginia. It was established in 1972 with the intention of helping students become independent, self-determined thinkers and learners...
as correspondence courses.
Selective High School
As an academically selective high school, Merewether High School takes enrolments through a statewide process. In the final year of primary school, students are assessed and enrolled by the school on the basis of their achievement across the curriculum and on the Selective Schools Placement Test. After the beginning of Year 7, students are placed into the selective classes by the college on a student-by-student basis.Extra-curricular activities
Merewether offers many extracurricular clubs and activities to its students, many of them musical ensembleMusical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
s, including: string ensemble, orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
, jazz band
Jazz band
A jazz band is a musical ensemble that plays jazz music. Jazz bands usually consist of a rhythm section and a horn section, in the early days often trumpet, trombone, and clarinet with rhythm section of piano, banjo, bass or tuba, and drums.-Eras:SwingDuring the swing era in the mid-twentieth...
, concert band
Concert band
A concert band, also called wind band, symphonic band, symphonic winds, wind orchestra, wind symphony, wind ensemble, or symphonic wind ensemble, is a performing ensemble consisting of several members of the woodwind instrument family, brass instrument family, and percussion instrument family.A...
and guitar ensemble facilitated by the honourable Mr Brian Saxby BMus. Other activities include a chess club and the robotics club.
Merewether High School has participated in Odyssey of the Mind
Odyssey of the Mind
Odyssey of the Mind, often called OM , is a creative problem-solving competition involving students from kindergarten through college. Team members work together at length to solve a predefined problem ; and present their solution to the problem at a competition...
since at least 1992 and have had many successes in this pursuit, including a team of year 9 students winning the Ranatra Fusca Creativity Award in 2008., it also had three teams in the recent F1 in Schools initiative who competed at state-level in 2008.
There are also various sporting teams including: cricket, soccer, basketball (The Weathers), rugby union (Merewether Moos), rugby league, Australian rules football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
, hockey, netball, volleyball, rowing, aerobics team, softball and baseball.
Elected student representatives
The school SRC (Student Representative Council)Students' Representative Council
A Students' Representative Council represents student interests in the government of a university, school or other educational institution. Generally the SRC forms part of a broader Students' Association which may include other functions such as societies, entertainments and sports Universities...
consists of six students from each year, elected by their peers. In Year 7 one student from each class is elected; in the remaining grades, six students from each year are elected, regardless of class. The SRC nomination process begins in term 2, so members terms are across two years.
The Prefect Body is also elected by the students, of which four are chosen to be the captains of the school.
Notable alumni
- Justin NorrisJustin NorrisJustin Neville Norris is an Australian butterfly and individual medley swimmer, who won the bronze medal in the 200 m butterfly at the 2000 Sydney Olympics....
, Australian butterfly and individual medley swimmer, bronze medal in the 200m butterfly at the 2000 Sydney Olympics2000 Summer OlympicsThe Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia... - Tim AmbroseTim AmbroseTimothy Raymond Ambrose is an Australian born English cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman and wicket-keeper. He commenced his domestic career with Sussex in 2000, although he now plays for Warwickshire...
, wicketkeeper for the England cricket team - Jodi McKayJodi McKayJodi Leyanne McKay is a former Australian politician who represented the electoral district of Newcastle in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 2007 until her defeat at the New South Wales state election, 2011.McKay was the Minister for Tourism and the Minister for the Hunter in the Rees...
, Newcastle Member of Parliament, New South Wales - Gordon Hamilton (composer)Gordon Hamilton (composer)Gordon Hamilton is an Australian composer and conductor. Since 2009, he has been the Artistic Director of The Australian Voices. He was born in Newcastle, lived and worked in Bremen, Germany for five years as a conductor and composer and he now lives in Brisbane.He studied in Australia at the...
, director of the The Australian VoicesThe Australian VoicesThe Australian Voices are a choral ensemble based in Brisbane, Australia.In 1993 Graeme Morton and Stephen Leek founded The Australian Voices, an ensemble of young adult singers who work to promote Australian composers. The Australian Voices has performed and promoted new Australian music...