Newcastle Grammar School
Encyclopedia
Newcastle Grammar School is an independent
, co-educational, non-selective, non-denominational, Anglican-affiliated day school
, located in Newcastle
, New South Wales
, Australia
.
Established in 1859 as the Newcastle Boys' Grammar School, the school has a non-selective enrolment policy and currently caters for slightly over 800 students from Pre-school to Year 12. Students attend Newcastle Grammar School from all over the Hunter Valley
, with a small contingent from country New South Wales and overseas, and students from all religious denominations and affiliations are accepted.
Newcastle Grammar is affiliated with the Anglican Diocese of Newcastle
, the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA), the Junior School Heads Association of Australia
(JSHAA), the Association of Independent Schools of New South Wales (AISNSW) and Hunter Region Independent Schools (HRIS). It has consistently been the leading non-selective school academically in New South Wales outside Sydney for the past 15 years.
Newcastle Church of England
Girls' Grammar School was officially opened on 22 July 1918 with an enrolment of 56 girls. The School was relocated to Morpeth
for the period 7 June 1942 until sometime in 1943, due to the Second World War. The control and administration of the School was given to The Pittwater House Schools in 1976 and the Pittwater House administered the School until the end of 1991. In this time, enrolments at the School grew from 170 students to 600, and in 1978, boys were once again enrolled at the School.
At the beginning of 1992, the School's senior administration was returned to Newcastle and Newcastle Grammar School is now conducted by Newcastle Grammar School Limited, a non-profit Company limited by guarantee. Newcastle Grammar School maintains strong links with the Anglican Church. Today it is a leading independent school in the Hunter Valley
Region.
Park Campus - Cooks Hill (Pre-School – Year 4)
Located two kilometres from the Hill Campus, the Junior School at Park Campus features a library, music room and computer rooms. Every classroom is equipped with a computer and interactive Whiteboard. The Sandi Warren Performance Centre serves as the focal point for many musical and dramatic productions, assemblies, physical education lessons, lectures and dinners.
Hill Campus - The Hill (Years 5 – 12)
In late 2005, following approval from the Newcastle City Council
, Newcastle Grammar School embarked on a $10.5 million building project, replacing obsolete buildings and with the intention of offering the best possible standard of school facilities. Named Holland House, Stage I opened in 2007 with Technological and Applied Studies facilities including for Industrial Technology and Food Technology, computer laboratories and spaces for the Service and Adventure Training Unit, Maintenance and English, History and Drama departments.
Stage II opened in August 2007, and Holland Building was officially opened in February 2008, in a ceremony which featured the Governor of New South Wales Marie Bashir
as the Guest of Honour. Stage II features facilities for Drama, Physical Education, change rooms, a second stage of computer laboratories, a Year 12 common room, staff common room, general classrooms and a student terrace.
There is also a fully equipped library which is open from 8.00 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. on weekdays during the school term, and for more limited hours during the school holidays. The Visual Arts centre features a print making room, a dark room, a ceramics area and Apple computers with Photoshop.
The Horbury Hunt Hall provides a venue for drama classes in the middle and senior school, assemblies, and other functions. The Merrick Lecture Theatre has a seating capacity of seventy. Virtually every teaching area on the Hill Campus now features a computer and interactive Whiteboard.
Howzat Sports and Fitness Centre - Cooks Hill (Sporting Complex)
Howzat Sports and Fitness Centre was purchased by the school in 2000. It is a 10,000 square metre facility with indoor sports courts for basketball
, soccer, netball
, cricket
and beach volleyball
, and a fully equipped gym.
Christ Church Cathedral
The neighbouring Christ Church Cathedral serves as the chapel for students at the Hill Campus, in addition to being a venue for important events such as periodic eucharists, dedication and induction of student leaders, Founders Day, the Year 12 Valedictory, ANZAC Day
, Remembrance Day
and Carol Services.
website, at the primary level Newcastle Grammar was ranked 32nd in the State overall. At the secondary level Newcastle Grammar was ranked 41st in the State overall, 48th in the State in Writing and 34th in the State in Reading .
It offers Academic Scholarships for students entering Years 5 to 11, Music Scholarships for students entering Years 5, 7 and 11 and Visual Arts scholarships for students entering Years 9 and 11. Scholarships come in the form of remission of school fees and the provision of academic scholarships are based on financial need and examination results administered by the Australian Council for Educational Research
, reviewed on an annual basis. In practice, however, a student will retain their scholarship for the duration of their education at the school. To celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Newcastle Church of England Girls' Grammar School and the 150th anniversary of the founding of Newcastle Boys' Grammar School, it was decided that a number of Anniversary Scholarships would be offered to students entering Year 4 at Newcastle Grammar School in 2009, with selection criteria based on academic merit and all-round achievement. In 2010, it was announced that the school would be offering a number of 'Building Foundations' Scholarships for students entering Year 3 or Year 4 in 2011, to celebrate recent improvements in school buildings.
In the 2010 Higher School Certificate, Newcastle Grammar School was ranked 55th in the State, and the top non-selective school in the Hunter Region. 50% of students received an ATAR
over 88, and 92% of students received an ATAR over 60. 1 student obtained an ATAR of 99.45. One student was nominated for ENCORE, two students' artworks were selected for ArtExpress and three students were nominated for the DesignTech Exhibition in 2011. One student came first in the State in Music 1, and one student came third in the State in Geography. Newcastle Grammar School had 98 mentions on the Distinguished Achievers' List.
In the 2009 Higher School Certificate, Newcastle Grammar School was ranked 46th in the State, and the top non-selective school in the Hunter Region. 45% of students received an ATAR over 90, and 93% of students received an ATAR over 60. Four students obtained an ATAR over 99, with the top ATAR of 99.65. Seven students were on the All-Round Achievers' List (over 90% in 10 or more units), one student was selected to perform at ENCORE, two students' artworks were selected for ArtExpress and one student selected to perform at Callback. One student came eleventh in the State in Ancient History. Newcastle Grammar School had 126 mentions on the Distinguished Achievers' List.
In late 2007, Newcastle Grammar School, in collaboration with World Vision Australia, embarked on a three-year fundraising scheme to raise $150,000 in order to fund the construction of a school in Farkwa, Tanzania, comprising three boarding houses (two for girls and one for boys). Funds have been raised by various means, including sponsorships, donations, raffles, barbecue
s, sale of t-shirts, recycling old and unused mobile phones, a film night and dinners. Fundraising was successfully concluded in late 2010. A cultural exchange group consisting of two teachers and eight students travelled to Farkwa
in January 2010.
English (Reading, Writing, Listening, Library), Mathematics (Working Mathematically, Space and Geometry, Measurement, Number, Patterns and Algebra and Data), Human Society and Its Environment, Social Studies - Including French, Science and Technology - Including Computers, Creative Arts
(Music, Visual Arts, Dance and Drama - Including Choirs), Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (Physical Education and Sport Including Divinity)
Year 3 and Year 4: English (Reading, Writing, Listening, Talking, Library), Mathematics (Working Mathematically, Space and Geometry, Measurement, Number, Patterns and Algebra and Data), Human Society and Its Environment (Social Studies - Including French), Science and Technology -
Including Computers, Creative and Practical Art, Music, Creative Arts, Drama -
Including Choir and Strings Program, Personal Development, Health and Physical Education, Physical Education and Sport - Including Divinity
Year 7 and Year 8: English, Mathematics, Science, French, Geography, History, Japanese, Music, Personal Development, Health and Physical Education, Visual Arts, Technology
in Years 9 and 10 and in Years 11 and 12 both Course Music I and Music II and Extension are offered. All students who undertake Music Electives are encouraged to be involved in the School's co-curricular programme and are given many performance opportunities. Other subjects available to students include:
Years 9 & 10: English, Mathematics, Science, French, Japanese, Australian History and Geography, Commerce, Drama, Visual Arts, Music, Information and Software Technology, Food Technology, Industrial Technology (Timber in Yr 10), Personal Development, Health and Physical Education. Computer Skills is offered in Year 10 only.
In Years 11 to 12, students are prepared for the Higher School Certificate (HSC). Subjects offered to students at this stage include: English (Advanced, Extension 1 and 2), Mathematics, General Mathematics, Mathematics Extension 1 and 2, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Modern History, French Continuers, Japanese Continuers, Drama, Economics, Geography, Visual Arts, Music (1 and 2), Personal Development, Health and Physical Education, Business Studies, Legal Studies, Studies of Religion, Design and Technology, Hospitality, Information Technology
For the HSC, Extension Courses are available in History, French, Music and Japanese.
, Service and Adventure Training Unit and various team sports. Students are involved in community service and support charities in their work. Students are expected to participate in a minimum of one co-curricular activity from Years 5 to 12.
An annual school tradition is the fielding of a team of Year 10 or 11 students to debate against the Newcastle Rotary Club. In 2007, a team of Year 11 students opposed the Newcastle Rotary Club to debate the topic A bee in the bonnet is better than a chip on the shoulder, and were adjudicated by the New South Wales Minister for Tourism, the Hunter, Science and Medical Research and Women, Jodi McKay
.
At the representative level, students participate in HRIS (Hunter Region Independent Schools) Debating and Chapman Cup HICES (Head of Independent Co-Educational Schools) Debating, debating various independent schools in the Hunter Valley
region and New South Wales, including Bishop Tyrrell Anglican College, Lakes Anglican Grammar School, Central Coast Grammar School
, Hunter Valley Grammar School
, Arden Anglican School
and International Grammar School
.
For the first time in 2008, Newcastle Grammar School students sponsored by Newcastle Sunrise Rotary Club, participated in a Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA) Debate, hosted by Muswellbrook Rotary Club.
In addition, in 2008, two students for the junior division and two students in the senior division, participated in the Rostrum Voice of Youth Public Speaking Competition, opposing schools including St. Paul's High School, Merewether High School
and St Francis Xavier College. In 2009, the school fielded three students for the competition, with one gaining second place and progressing to the Regional Round of the competition.
Other public speaking competitions in which students have been involved in recent years include the Lions Youth of the Year Quest and Sydney Morning Herald Plain English Speaking competitions. In 2008, a Newcastle Grammar School student reached the state finals of the Sydney Morning Herald Plain Speaking Competition, while in 2009 at the regional finals, the only students to be awarded High Distinctions by the adjudicators were from Newcastle Grammar School.
In 2009, Newcastle Grammar School hosted the Newcastle round of The United Nations
Youth Association of NSW Junior Public Speaking Competition. In March 2010, Newcastle Grammar School hosted the UNYA (United Nations Youth Association) public speaking competition, The Perez de Cuellar Shield, one of NSW's premier senior school debating competitions modelled on sessions from the United Nations Security Council
.
Music is encouraged from an early age and students are given opportunities to try different instruments and styles of music. Music is a compulsory part of the classroom curriculum from Kindergarten to Year 8, and is offered as an elective subject from Years 9 to 12. An annual camp is held away from the school for all students (Years 7-12) who are part of a music group or choir. This gives them an enjoyable opportunity to devote time to making music. There are opportunities to perform at functions both in and outside the School, including the Newcastle Show and at Christ Church Cathedral. The senior and junior jazz bands, Brass Razoo and Bamboozle are made up of musicians from Years 7 to 12. In 2007, Brass Razoo competed in the Aurora Festival in Christchurch
, New Zealand
, and were the only competitors to win a Gold Award. In 2008, the Newcastle Grammar School Chamber Ensemble travelled to China, participating in four school exchanges and two public concerts, as well as touring local sights. In 2011, a group of forty students traveled to China
and performed at numerous schools and venues including Hong Kong Disneyland
. The tour was in lieu of the Japan
Tour due to the Japan Earthquake. In 2009, a cellist with the Newcastle Grammar School String Orchestra was admitted into the prestigious Australian Youth Orchestra
.
Junior School students are all involved in class music lessons for thirty minutes every week. Choirs from the Junior School perform regularly at major school calendar events. Variety Night is an evening featuring music items from all students at Junior School. End of term assemblies, an Easter
breakfast, Founders' Day and Grandparents' Day all provide opportunities for students to perform.
As part of the middle school curriculum, all students in Year 5 and 6 have weekly music lessons and are involved in a Wind and Brass programme where they have an opportunity to try an instrument for a year. Keyboard
classes are offered as part of the curriculum to all Year 7 students. In Year 8, the practical component entails learning the guitar.
Students from Year 10 produce an annual musical. Many different productions have been performed over the years, including: Guys and Dolls
, Cabaret
, His Majesty's Pleasure, Little Shop of Horrors
, The Pyjama Game
, Fame
, Noye's Fludde
, Pippin
, Sweeney Todd and Les Misérables
.
Private tuition, including instrumental, voice, or speech and drama, is available to all students enrolled at the school. Private tuition is also available for piano
, clarinet
, flute
, french horn, guitar
, oboe
, percussion
, saxophone
, trombone
, trumpet
, and tuba
. Voice
tuition and musicianship classes are also available.
, hockey
, soccer, futsal
, touch football
, cricket
, basketball
, netball
, tennis
, surfing
and rowing
. Dance
was introduced as an extra-curricular activity in 2010.
The Service and Adventure Training Unit seeks to foster in its members qualities including leadership, discipline, teamwork, initiative, independence, adventure, community service, proficiency in outdoor pursuits and an awareness of the organisation and training methods of the Australian Army.
Regular bivouac
s are conducted, including two compulsory weekend camps and a compulsory five-day Annual Camp. At the bivouacs and annual camps, activities include living in the field, navigation activities, abseiling, first aid and radio operating procedures, initiative exercises, use of army facilities such as the Singleton School of Infantry, visits to RAAF Williamtown and administrative practice such as Headquarters and Q-Store duties. Through membership of the SATU, members may also be able to fulfill some of the requirements for the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.
Notable events that the Service and Adventure Training Unit are involved include ANZAC Day ceremonies and the Passing Out Parade on Founders Day, when Year 12 cadets are farewelled as they conclude their formal association with the Cadet Unit and prepare for their Higher School Certificate examinations, and the school has an opportunity to observe a military parade.
In 2008, students from Ancient History, Modern History and the Service and Adventure Training Unit travelled through Italy
, Belgium
and France
during the school holidays, participating in a series of commemorative marches and services. This notably included being involved in Australia's First ANZAC Dawn Service in France, at Villers-Bretonneux
. In 2010, a History study group travelled during the Easter
break through Greece
, Turkey
and the United Arab Emirates
. In June to July next year, a group, including members of the SATU, will be travelling to Papua New Guinea
to trek the Kokoda Track
.
to participate in the 2010 National Robotics Challenge. Out of 54 participating teams, the school came 34th.
Service and prefect induction. The middle school is led by two "Stewart Council" leaders (one male, one female). A male and female representative are elected to each of Years 5, 6, 7 and 8, who, together with the house captains and Stewart Council leaders form the Stewart Council leadership body. These leaders meet on a fortnightly basis to discuss the organisation of activities pertaining to the middle school.
Captains are appointed for Tyrrell, Shortland, Macquarie
and Hunter houses in both the middle and senior schools to facilitate various house activities throughout the year, particularly the swimming and athletics carnivals. House vice-captains are elected early in Year 11 to assist the house captains. Once the house captains depart the school in October, the house vice-captains assume the leadership responsibilities of the house for the remainder of the year. To assist the house vice-captains, four house leaders (2 male, 2 female) are elected from Year 10 in Term 4. Prefects are appointed by the headmaster, in consultation with senior students and staff.
There are also leadership opportunities in the music department, as ensemble leaders for Brass Razoo, Wind Orchestra, String Orchestra, Senior Choir, Chapel Choir and Britten Choir. Two to four senior musicians are appointed to represent the music department in their final year. The Service and Adventure Training Unit also offers those involved various leadership opportunities. The leading student of the SATU is appointed as the Senior Cadet
in Year 12. In addition, captains are appointed by the masters/mistresses of the relevant sporting groups in the school, including athletics, swimming
, rowing
, hockey
, touch football
and netball
.
: Hunter (green) - named after John Hunter
Macquarie (red) - named after Governor Macquarie Shortland (yellow) - named after John Shortland
Tyrrell (sky blue) - named after Bishop Tyrrell.
Houses form the basis for sporting and cultural competitions or interactions within the school, including:
The house system also facilitates the pastoral care programme of the senior school. Students in each house are placed in a single-sex, mixed age group led by one a mentor
teacher, and they remain with this group throughout their senior school years. Mentor groups meet twice each week and also sit together in assembly and chapel service. The mentor teacher and house patron work together to encourage and support each student in the House, and the house patron and student leaders are responsible for organising sporting teams for inter-house competitions as well as fund-raising activities, and various inter-house events. Each house is responsible for organising one themed chapel service annually, and sponsoring an activity for the Spring Fair.
, the Newcastle Old Grammarians' Association (NOGA). NOGA presently has about 2500 members.
Notable alumni of the school include:
Entertainment, media and the arts
Independent school
An independent school is a school that is independent in its finances and governance; it is not dependent upon national or local government for financing its operations, nor reliant on taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of tuition charges, gifts, and in some cases the...
, co-educational, non-selective, non-denominational, Anglican-affiliated day school
Day school
A day school—as opposed to a boarding school—is an institution where children are given educational instruction during the day and after which children/teens return to their homes...
, located in Newcastle
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...
, 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 1859 as the Newcastle Boys' Grammar School, the school has a non-selective enrolment policy and currently caters for slightly over 800 students from Pre-school to Year 12. Students attend Newcastle Grammar School from all over the Hunter Valley
Hunter Valley
The Hunter Region, more commonly known as the Hunter Valley, is a region of New South Wales, Australia, extending from approximately to north of Sydney with an approximate population of 645,395 people. Most of the population of the Hunter Region lives within of the coast, with 55% of the entire...
, with a small contingent from country New South Wales and overseas, and students from all religious denominations and affiliations are accepted.
Newcastle Grammar is affiliated with the Anglican Diocese of Newcastle
Anglican Diocese of Newcastle, Australia
The Anglican Diocese of Newcastle, Australia is located in the state of New South Wales and extends along the coast of New South Wales from Woy Woy to Laurieton and inland to Merriwa and Murrurundi. The cathedral church of the diocese is Christ Church Cathedral in Newcastle. The current Bishop of...
, the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA), the Junior School Heads Association of Australia
Junior School Heads Association of Australia
The Independent Primary School Heads of Australia formerly Junior School Heads Association of Australia , is an incorporated body representing the heads of independent primary schools in Australia....
(JSHAA), the Association of Independent Schools of New South Wales (AISNSW) and Hunter Region Independent Schools (HRIS). It has consistently been the leading non-selective school academically in New South Wales outside Sydney for the past 15 years.
History
Established in 1859, Newcastle Grammar is one of Newcastle's most historically significant schools. The school has links to the earliest days of Anglican education in the city, beginning in 1816 when convict Henry Wrensford taught thirty eight children in a small room in Christ Church, on the site of today's Cathedral. Newcastle Boys' Grammar School opened on the present site in 1859, the same year that the School's current administration building, Berkeley House, was opened. The School operated until 1902.Newcastle Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
Girls' Grammar School was officially opened on 22 July 1918 with an enrolment of 56 girls. The School was relocated to Morpeth
Morpeth, New South Wales
Morpeth is a suburb of the City of Maitland Local Government Area in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia. It is located on the southern banks of the Hunter River at the border between the City of Maitland and Port Stephens Council LGAs...
for the period 7 June 1942 until sometime in 1943, due to the Second World War. The control and administration of the School was given to The Pittwater House Schools in 1976 and the Pittwater House administered the School until the end of 1991. In this time, enrolments at the School grew from 170 students to 600, and in 1978, boys were once again enrolled at the School.
At the beginning of 1992, the School's senior administration was returned to Newcastle and Newcastle Grammar School is now conducted by Newcastle Grammar School Limited, a non-profit Company limited by guarantee. Newcastle Grammar School maintains strong links with the Anglican Church. Today it is a leading independent school in the Hunter Valley
Hunter Valley
The Hunter Region, more commonly known as the Hunter Valley, is a region of New South Wales, Australia, extending from approximately to north of Sydney with an approximate population of 645,395 people. Most of the population of the Hunter Region lives within of the coast, with 55% of the entire...
Region.
Campuses
Today, Newcastle Grammar School features three campuses.Park Campus - Cooks Hill (Pre-School – Year 4)
Located two kilometres from the Hill Campus, the Junior School at Park Campus features a library, music room and computer rooms. Every classroom is equipped with a computer and interactive Whiteboard. The Sandi Warren Performance Centre serves as the focal point for many musical and dramatic productions, assemblies, physical education lessons, lectures and dinners.
Hill Campus - The Hill (Years 5 – 12)
In late 2005, following approval from the Newcastle City Council
City of Newcastle
Newcastle City Council is a Local Government Area in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia.-Demographics:According to the Australian Bureau Statistics the City of Newcastle had an estimated resident population of 154,777 as of 30 June 2008...
, Newcastle Grammar School embarked on a $10.5 million building project, replacing obsolete buildings and with the intention of offering the best possible standard of school facilities. Named Holland House, Stage I opened in 2007 with Technological and Applied Studies facilities including for Industrial Technology and Food Technology, computer laboratories and spaces for the Service and Adventure Training Unit, Maintenance and English, History and Drama departments.
Stage II opened in August 2007, and Holland Building was officially opened in February 2008, in a ceremony which featured the Governor of New South Wales Marie Bashir
Marie Bashir
Marie Roslyn Bashir AC, CVO is the present Governor of New South Wales since 2001 and also the Chancellor of the University of Sydney since 2007. Born in Narrandera, New South Wales, Bashir graduated from the University of Sydney in 1956 and held various medical positions, with a particular...
as the Guest of Honour. Stage II features facilities for Drama, Physical Education, change rooms, a second stage of computer laboratories, a Year 12 common room, staff common room, general classrooms and a student terrace.
There is also a fully equipped library which is open from 8.00 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. on weekdays during the school term, and for more limited hours during the school holidays. The Visual Arts centre features a print making room, a dark room, a ceramics area and Apple computers with Photoshop.
The Horbury Hunt Hall provides a venue for drama classes in the middle and senior school, assemblies, and other functions. The Merrick Lecture Theatre has a seating capacity of seventy. Virtually every teaching area on the Hill Campus now features a computer and interactive Whiteboard.
Howzat Sports and Fitness Centre was purchased by the school in 2000. It is a 10,000 square metre facility with indoor sports courts for basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, soccer, netball
Netball
Netball is a ball sport played between two teams of seven players. Its development, derived from early versions of basketball, began in England in the 1890s. By 1960 international playing rules had been standardised for the game, and the International Federation of Netball and Women's Basketball ...
, cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
and beach volleyball
Beach volleyball
Beach volleyball, or sand volleyball, is an Olympic team sport played by two teams of two players on a sand court divided by a net.Like volleyball, the object of the game is to send the ball over the net in order to ground it on the opponent’s court, and to prevent the same effort by the opponent....
, and a fully equipped gym.
Christ Church Cathedral
The neighbouring Christ Church Cathedral serves as the chapel for students at the Hill Campus, in addition to being a venue for important events such as periodic eucharists, dedication and induction of student leaders, Founders Day, the Year 12 Valedictory, ANZAC Day
ANZAC Day
Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand, commemorated by both countries on 25 April every year to honour the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps who fought at Gallipoli in the Ottoman Empire during World War I. It now more broadly commemorates all...
, Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth countries since the end of World War I to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty. This day, or alternative dates, are also recognized as special days for war remembrances in many non-Commonwealth...
and Carol Services.
Heads of school
| Headmaster/Headmistress | Duration |
|---|---|
| E K Yeatman | 1859–unknown |
| HS Millard | |
| M E Lawrance | 1918–1932 |
| Z E Martin | 1933–1951 |
| M Roberts | 1952–1959 |
| E Heath | 1960–1964 |
| L Thompson | 1965–1967 |
| K Stewart | 1968–1976 |
| R H Morgan (Executive Principal) | 1977–1991 |
| D Lloyd | 1977 |
| A Coombes | 1978–1985 |
| B L Charlton | 1986–1988 |
| A Green | 1989–present |
Today
Newcastle Grammar School is a medium-sized school with over 800 students spread over two city campuses. It consistently performs well in external examinations, including the School Certificate and Higher School Certificate. According to the recently launched My SchoolMy School
My School is a website administered by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority which provides access to information about Australian schools...
website, at the primary level Newcastle Grammar was ranked 32nd in the State overall. At the secondary level Newcastle Grammar was ranked 41st in the State overall, 48th in the State in Writing and 34th in the State in Reading .
It offers Academic Scholarships for students entering Years 5 to 11, Music Scholarships for students entering Years 5, 7 and 11 and Visual Arts scholarships for students entering Years 9 and 11. Scholarships come in the form of remission of school fees and the provision of academic scholarships are based on financial need and examination results administered by the Australian Council for Educational Research
Australian Council for Educational Research
The Australian Council for Educational Research , established in 1930, is an independent educational research organisation based in Camberwell, Victoria and with offices in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Dubai and India...
, reviewed on an annual basis. In practice, however, a student will retain their scholarship for the duration of their education at the school. To celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Newcastle Church of England Girls' Grammar School and the 150th anniversary of the founding of Newcastle Boys' Grammar School, it was decided that a number of Anniversary Scholarships would be offered to students entering Year 4 at Newcastle Grammar School in 2009, with selection criteria based on academic merit and all-round achievement. In 2010, it was announced that the school would be offering a number of 'Building Foundations' Scholarships for students entering Year 3 or Year 4 in 2011, to celebrate recent improvements in school buildings.
In the 2010 Higher School Certificate, Newcastle Grammar School was ranked 55th in the State, and the top non-selective school in the Hunter Region. 50% of students received an ATAR
Australian Tertiary Admission Rank
The Australian Tertiary Admission Rank is the primary criterion for entry into most undergraduate-entry university programs in Australia, it was gradually introduced during 2009 and 2010 to replace the Universities Admission Index, Equivalent National Tertiary Entrance Rank and Tertiary Entrance...
over 88, and 92% of students received an ATAR over 60. 1 student obtained an ATAR of 99.45. One student was nominated for ENCORE, two students' artworks were selected for ArtExpress and three students were nominated for the DesignTech Exhibition in 2011. One student came first in the State in Music 1, and one student came third in the State in Geography. Newcastle Grammar School had 98 mentions on the Distinguished Achievers' List.
In the 2009 Higher School Certificate, Newcastle Grammar School was ranked 46th in the State, and the top non-selective school in the Hunter Region. 45% of students received an ATAR over 90, and 93% of students received an ATAR over 60. Four students obtained an ATAR over 99, with the top ATAR of 99.65. Seven students were on the All-Round Achievers' List (over 90% in 10 or more units), one student was selected to perform at ENCORE, two students' artworks were selected for ArtExpress and one student selected to perform at Callback. One student came eleventh in the State in Ancient History. Newcastle Grammar School had 126 mentions on the Distinguished Achievers' List.
In late 2007, Newcastle Grammar School, in collaboration with World Vision Australia, embarked on a three-year fundraising scheme to raise $150,000 in order to fund the construction of a school in Farkwa, Tanzania, comprising three boarding houses (two for girls and one for boys). Funds have been raised by various means, including sponsorships, donations, raffles, barbecue
Barbecue
Barbecue or barbeque , used chiefly in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia is a method and apparatus for cooking meat, poultry and occasionally fish with the heat and hot smoke of a fire, smoking wood, or hot coals of...
s, sale of t-shirts, recycling old and unused mobile phones, a film night and dinners. Fundraising was successfully concluded in late 2010. A cultural exchange group consisting of two teachers and eight students travelled to Farkwa
Farkwa
Farkwa is an administrative ward in the Kondoa district of the Dodoma Region of Tanzania. According to the 2002 census, the ward has a total population of 9,110.-References:...
in January 2010.
Junior school
Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2:English (Reading, Writing, Listening, Library), Mathematics (Working Mathematically, Space and Geometry, Measurement, Number, Patterns and Algebra and Data), Human Society and Its Environment, Social Studies - Including French, Science and Technology - Including Computers, Creative Arts
(Music, Visual Arts, Dance and Drama - Including Choirs), Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (Physical Education and Sport Including Divinity)
Year 3 and Year 4: English (Reading, Writing, Listening, Talking, Library), Mathematics (Working Mathematically, Space and Geometry, Measurement, Number, Patterns and Algebra and Data), Human Society and Its Environment (Social Studies - Including French), Science and Technology -
Including Computers, Creative and Practical Art, Music, Creative Arts, Drama -
Including Choir and Strings Program, Personal Development, Health and Physical Education, Physical Education and Sport - Including Divinity
Middle school
Year 5 and Year 6: English (Reading, Writing, Talking, Listening, Library), Mathematics (Working Mathematically, Numbers, Patterns and Algebra, Data, Geometry, Measurement and Space), Human Society and Its Environment (Social Studies - Including French), Science and Technology (Including Computers), Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (Physical Education, Health and Personal Development as well as Divinity and Dance), Creative Arts (Music, Visual Arts, Drama - including Choir and Group Ensembles, Woodwind and Brass)Year 7 and Year 8: English, Mathematics, Science, French, Geography, History, Japanese, Music, Personal Development, Health and Physical Education, Visual Arts, Technology
Senior school
Students are offered Elective MusicMusic
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
in Years 9 and 10 and in Years 11 and 12 both Course Music I and Music II and Extension are offered. All students who undertake Music Electives are encouraged to be involved in the School's co-curricular programme and are given many performance opportunities. Other subjects available to students include:
Years 9 & 10: English, Mathematics, Science, French, Japanese, Australian History and Geography, Commerce, Drama, Visual Arts, Music, Information and Software Technology, Food Technology, Industrial Technology (Timber in Yr 10), Personal Development, Health and Physical Education. Computer Skills is offered in Year 10 only.
In Years 11 to 12, students are prepared for the Higher School Certificate (HSC). Subjects offered to students at this stage include: English (Advanced, Extension 1 and 2), Mathematics, General Mathematics, Mathematics Extension 1 and 2, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Modern History, French Continuers, Japanese Continuers, Drama, Economics, Geography, Visual Arts, Music (1 and 2), Personal Development, Health and Physical Education, Business Studies, Legal Studies, Studies of Religion, Design and Technology, Hospitality, Information Technology
For the HSC, Extension Courses are available in History, French, Music and Japanese.
Co-curricular and extra-curricular activities
Students are required to take part in a variety of co-curricular activities, including Musical Groups, Debating, Drama Productions, Tournament of Minds, Mock Trial, Camping, Young Achievers, Lions Youth of the Year Quest, Duke of Edinburgh SchemeThe Duke of Edinburgh's Award
The Duke of Edinburgh's Award , is a programme of activities that can be undertaken by anyone aged 14 to 24, regardless of personal ability....
, Service and Adventure Training Unit and various team sports. Students are involved in community service and support charities in their work. Students are expected to participate in a minimum of one co-curricular activity from Years 5 to 12.
Public speaking and debating
Within the school, there are many opportunities for students to participate in debating. Middle School students can participate in inter-house debating in Years 6, 7 and 8, culminating in the finals on Founders' Day. Senior School students can also participate in inter-house debating in either the Junior Debating Competition (Years 9 and 10) or the Senior Debating Competition (Years 11 and 12).An annual school tradition is the fielding of a team of Year 10 or 11 students to debate against the Newcastle Rotary Club. In 2007, a team of Year 11 students opposed the Newcastle Rotary Club to debate the topic A bee in the bonnet is better than a chip on the shoulder, and were adjudicated by the New South Wales Minister for Tourism, the Hunter, Science and Medical Research and Women, Jodi McKay
Jodi McKay
Jodi 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...
.
At the representative level, students participate in HRIS (Hunter Region Independent Schools) Debating and Chapman Cup HICES (Head of Independent Co-Educational Schools) Debating, debating various independent schools in the Hunter Valley
Hunter Valley
The Hunter Region, more commonly known as the Hunter Valley, is a region of New South Wales, Australia, extending from approximately to north of Sydney with an approximate population of 645,395 people. Most of the population of the Hunter Region lives within of the coast, with 55% of the entire...
region and New South Wales, including Bishop Tyrrell Anglican College, Lakes Anglican Grammar School, Central Coast Grammar School
Central Coast Grammar School
Central Coast Grammar School is a K–12, co-educational, independent, nondenominational, private day school located in Erina Heights, New South Wales, Australia...
, Hunter Valley Grammar School
Hunter Valley Grammar School
Hunter Valley Grammar School is an independent, co-educational, non-denominational, day school, located in Ashtonfield, a suburb in the city of Maitland, in the lower Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia....
, Arden Anglican School
Arden Anglican School
Arden Anglican School is an independent, Anglican, co-educational day school, located in Beecroft and Epping, both north-western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
and International Grammar School
International Grammar School
International Grammar School is an independent, coeducational, secular, day school, located in Ultimo, an inner city of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
.
For the first time in 2008, Newcastle Grammar School students sponsored by Newcastle Sunrise Rotary Club, participated in a Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA) Debate, hosted by Muswellbrook Rotary Club.
In addition, in 2008, two students for the junior division and two students in the senior division, participated in the Rostrum Voice of Youth Public Speaking Competition, opposing schools including St. Paul's High School, Merewether High School
Merewether High School
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....
and St Francis Xavier College. In 2009, the school fielded three students for the competition, with one gaining second place and progressing to the Regional Round of the competition.
Other public speaking competitions in which students have been involved in recent years include the Lions Youth of the Year Quest and Sydney Morning Herald Plain English Speaking competitions. In 2008, a Newcastle Grammar School student reached the state finals of the Sydney Morning Herald Plain Speaking Competition, while in 2009 at the regional finals, the only students to be awarded High Distinctions by the adjudicators were from Newcastle Grammar School.
In 2009, Newcastle Grammar School hosted the Newcastle round of The United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Youth Association of NSW Junior Public Speaking Competition. In March 2010, Newcastle Grammar School hosted the UNYA (United Nations Youth Association) public speaking competition, The Perez de Cuellar Shield, one of NSW's premier senior school debating competitions modelled on sessions from the United Nations Security Council
United Nations Security Council
The United Nations Security Council is one of the principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. Its powers, outlined in the United Nations Charter, include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of...
.
Music
Musical groups available to students include:- String Orchestras
- Wind Orchestras
- Concert Bands
- Choral groups, including Minims (Kindergarten), Semitones (Years 1 and 2), Tones (Years 3 and 4), Middle C's (Year 5), Sixes (Year 6 - auditioned), Grammarphones (Years 5, 6, 7 & 8 - auditioned), the Senior ChoirChoirA choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
(Years 9, 10, 11 & 12), Chamber Choir (auditioned) and Britten Choir (auditioned, trebles only) - ClarinetClarinetThe clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
Ensemble - Classical GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
Ensemble - Percussion Ensemble
- String Quartet
- String Ensemble
- FluteFluteThe flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
Ensemble - SaxophoneSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
Ensemble - Blues Guitar Ensemble
- Brass Ensemble
Music is encouraged from an early age and students are given opportunities to try different instruments and styles of music. Music is a compulsory part of the classroom curriculum from Kindergarten to Year 8, and is offered as an elective subject from Years 9 to 12. An annual camp is held away from the school for all students (Years 7-12) who are part of a music group or choir. This gives them an enjoyable opportunity to devote time to making music. There are opportunities to perform at functions both in and outside the School, including the Newcastle Show and at Christ Church Cathedral. The senior and junior jazz bands, Brass Razoo and Bamboozle are made up of musicians from Years 7 to 12. In 2007, Brass Razoo competed in the Aurora Festival in Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, and were the only competitors to win a Gold Award. In 2008, the Newcastle Grammar School Chamber Ensemble travelled to China, participating in four school exchanges and two public concerts, as well as touring local sights. In 2011, a group of forty students traveled to China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and performed at numerous schools and venues including Hong Kong Disneyland
Hong Kong Disneyland
Hong Kong Disneyland is located on reclaimed land in Penny's Bay, Lantau Island. It is the first theme park located inside the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort and is owned and managed by the Hong Kong International Theme Parks. The park opened to visitors on 12 September 2005...
. The tour was in lieu of the Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
Tour due to the Japan Earthquake. In 2009, a cellist with the Newcastle Grammar School String Orchestra was admitted into the prestigious Australian Youth Orchestra
Australian Youth Orchestra
The Australian Youth Orchestra is an Australian organisation for young musicians. It operates the flagship Youth Orchestra as well as Camerata Australia, Young Australian Concert Artists and Young Symphonists. It also runs several other activities including master classes, outreach programmes and...
.
Junior School students are all involved in class music lessons for thirty minutes every week. Choirs from the Junior School perform regularly at major school calendar events. Variety Night is an evening featuring music items from all students at Junior School. End of term assemblies, an Easter
Easter
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
breakfast, Founders' Day and Grandparents' Day all provide opportunities for students to perform.
As part of the middle school curriculum, all students in Year 5 and 6 have weekly music lessons and are involved in a Wind and Brass programme where they have an opportunity to try an instrument for a year. Keyboard
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
classes are offered as part of the curriculum to all Year 7 students. In Year 8, the practical component entails learning the guitar.
Students from Year 10 produce an annual musical. Many different productions have been performed over the years, including: Guys and Dolls
Guys and Dolls
Guys and Dolls is a musical with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows. It is based on "The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown" and "Blood Pressure", two short stories by Damon Runyon, and also borrows characters and plot elements from other Runyon stories, most notably...
, Cabaret
Cabaret (musical)
Cabaret is a musical based on a book written by Christopher Isherwood, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb. The 1966 Broadway production became a hit and spawned a 1972 film as well as numerous subsequent productions....
, His Majesty's Pleasure, Little Shop of Horrors
Little Shop of Horrors (musical)
Little Shop of Horrors is a rock musical, by composer Alan Menken and writer Howard Ashman, about a hapless florist shop worker who raises a plant that feeds on human blood. The musical is based on the low-budget 1960 black comedy film The Little Shop of Horrors, directed by Roger Corman...
, The Pyjama Game
The Pajama Game
The Pajama Game is a musical based on the novel 7½ Cents by Richard Bissell. It features a score by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. The story deals with labor troubles in a pajama factory, where worker demands for a seven-and-a-half cents raise are going unheeded...
, Fame
Fame (musical)
A stage musical based on the 1980 musical film Fame has been staged under two titles. The first, 'Fame – The Musical' conceived and developed by David De Silva, is a musical with a book by Jose Fernandez, music by Steve Margoshes and lyrics by Jacques Levy. The musical premiered in 1988 in Miami,...
, Noye's Fludde
Noye's Fludde
Noye's Fludde is an early 15th century mystery play from the Chester Mystery Cycle. It was set to music by Benjamin Britten in 1957 based on an edition by Alfred W. Pollard...
, Pippin
Pippin (musical)
Pippin is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Roger O. Hirson. Bob Fosse, who directed the original Broadway production, also contributed to the libretto...
, Sweeney Todd and Les Misérables
Les Misérables (musical)
Les Misérables , colloquially known as Les Mis or Les Miz , is a musical by Claude-Michel Schönberg, based on the novel of the same name by Victor Hugo....
.
Private tuition, including instrumental, voice, or speech and drama, is available to all students enrolled at the school. Private tuition is also available for piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
, flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
, french horn, guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, oboe
Oboe
The oboe is a double reed musical instrument of the woodwind family. In English, prior to 1770, the instrument was called "hautbois" , "hoboy", or "French hoboy". The spelling "oboe" was adopted into English ca...
, percussion
Percussion instrument
A percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
, saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
, trombone
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
, trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
, and tuba
Tuba
The tuba is the largest and lowest-pitched brass instrument. Sound is produced by vibrating or "buzzing" the lips into a large cupped mouthpiece. It is one of the most recent additions to the modern symphony orchestra, first appearing in the mid-19th century, when it largely replaced the...
. Voice
Voice
Voice may refer to:* Human voice* Voice control or voice activation* Writer's voice* Voice acting* Voice vote* Voice message-In film:* Voice , a 2005 South Korean film* The Voice , a 2010 Turkish horror film directed by Ümit Ünal...
tuition and musicianship classes are also available.
Sport
Sports offered as co-curricular activities by the school include aerobicsAerobics
Aerobics is a form of physical exercise that combines rhythmic aerobic exercise with stretching and strength training routines with the goal of improving all elements of fitness...
, hockey
Hockey
Hockey is a family of sports in which two teams play against each other by trying to maneuver a ball or a puck into the opponent's goal using a hockey stick.-Etymology:...
, soccer, futsal
Futsal
Futsal is a variant of association football that is played on a smaller pitch and mainly played indoors. Its name is a portmanteau of the Portuguese futebol de salão and the Spanish fútbol de salón , which can be translated as "hall football" or "indoor football"...
, touch football
Touch football
Touch football may refer to:* Touch football , a variant of American football where players touch, rather than tackle, their opponents* Touch rugby, games derived from rugby football in which players touch, rather than tackle, their opponents...
, cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, netball
Netball
Netball is a ball sport played between two teams of seven players. Its development, derived from early versions of basketball, began in England in the 1890s. By 1960 international playing rules had been standardised for the game, and the International Federation of Netball and Women's Basketball ...
, tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
, surfing
Surfing
Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
and rowing
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
. Dance
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
was introduced as an extra-curricular activity in 2010.
Service and Adventure Training Unit
Newcastle Grammar School has an Australian Army Cadet Unit, the Newcastle Grammar School Service and Adventure Training Unit (SATU). SATU is offered as a co-curricular activity for both male and female students from Year 7 Term 4 to Year 12.The Service and Adventure Training Unit seeks to foster in its members qualities including leadership, discipline, teamwork, initiative, independence, adventure, community service, proficiency in outdoor pursuits and an awareness of the organisation and training methods of the Australian Army.
Regular bivouac
Military camp
A military camp or bivouac is a semi-permanent facility for the lodging of an army. Camps are erected when a military force travels away from a major installation or fort during training or operations, and often have the form of large campsites. In the Roman era the military camp had highly...
s are conducted, including two compulsory weekend camps and a compulsory five-day Annual Camp. At the bivouacs and annual camps, activities include living in the field, navigation activities, abseiling, first aid and radio operating procedures, initiative exercises, use of army facilities such as the Singleton School of Infantry, visits to RAAF Williamtown and administrative practice such as Headquarters and Q-Store duties. Through membership of the SATU, members may also be able to fulfill some of the requirements for the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.
Notable events that the Service and Adventure Training Unit are involved include ANZAC Day ceremonies and the Passing Out Parade on Founders Day, when Year 12 cadets are farewelled as they conclude their formal association with the Cadet Unit and prepare for their Higher School Certificate examinations, and the school has an opportunity to observe a military parade.
In 2008, students from Ancient History, Modern History and the Service and Adventure Training Unit travelled through Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
during the school holidays, participating in a series of commemorative marches and services. This notably included being involved in Australia's First ANZAC Dawn Service in France, at Villers-Bretonneux
Villers-Bretonneux
Villers-Bretonneux is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:Villers-Bretonneux is situated some 19 km due east of Amiens, on the D1029 road and the A29 motorway.-History - World War I:...
. In 2010, a History study group travelled during the Easter
Easter
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
break through Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
and the United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
. In June to July next year, a group, including members of the SATU, will be travelling to Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
to trek the Kokoda Track
Kokoda Track
The Kokoda Trail or Track is a single-file foot thoroughfare that runs overland — in a straight line — through the Owen Stanley Range in Papua New Guinea...
.
Robotics
Robotics was recently introduced as an extra-curricular program at Newcastle Grammar School. In December 2010, a team of 10 students travelled to Macquarie UniversityMacquarie University
Macquarie University is an Australian public teaching and research university located in Sydney, with its main campus situated in Macquarie Park. Founded in 1964 by the New South Wales Government, it was the third university to be established in the metropolitan area of Sydney...
to participate in the 2010 National Robotics Challenge. Out of 54 participating teams, the school came 34th.
Recent achievements
Notable extracurricular and co-curricular achievements of Newcastle Grammarians in recent years include the following:- In 2005, two Newcastle Grammarians delivered the Addresses at the City of Newcastle ANZAC Day United Commemoration Service. In 2006, again two Newcastle Grammarians delivered Addresses at the City of Newcastle ANZAC Day United Commemoration Service. In addition, the School's Service and Adventure Training Unit regularly features at the City of Newcastle's ANZAC Day Dawn Service and ANZAC Day Parade.
- Newcastle Grammar School has a good record with the Lions Youth of the Year Quest Competition. The School Vice-Captain in 2004 was a Lions Youth of the Year Quest Club Level and Public Speaking Winner. The School Captain in 2007 became a Regional Level Finalist and was both the Public Speaking and Overall Winner at Club Level. In 2009, of two students fielded by the school, one came second in the Charlestown Region final and the other won the Newcastle Region final, thereby progressing to the Newcastle District final.
- In 2007, the Newcastle Grammar School Senior Cadet of the Service and Adventure Training Unit was additionally appointed Senior Cadet in the Hunter Army Cadet Battalion.
- A Newcastle Grammarian won the UNSW Faculty of LawUNSW Faculty of LawThe Faculty of Law of the University of New South Wales is a law school situated in Sydney, Australia. The Faculty is one of the most innovative and prestigious law schools in Australia....
Essay Competition in 2007. - In 2008, a student was awarded third place in the Colin Doyle Mathematics Competition, a competition that attracts the best young mathematicians from the Central Coast to the Mid North Coast of New South Wales.
- In 2008, two Year 11 Geography Students from Newcastle Grammar School were winners in the Future Leaders Climate Writing Competition, with their essays to be published in a book which will be available in all libraries at all Secondary Schools throughout Australia.
- In 2008, two teams from Newcastle Grammar School competed in the Chapman Cup HICES Debating Finals. Both teams were successful, with the junior team finishing first in their division and the senior team finishing second. In 2009, the HICES Open Debating Team for Newcastle Grammar School will be competing on 10 September in the State Finals against The Kinross Wolaroi SchoolKinross Wolaroi SchoolKinross Wolaroi School is an independent, Uniting church, co-educational, day and boarding school, located in Orange, a provincial city west of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
. - In 2008, a Year 5 student was selected as a finalist in the National Trust Schools Writing Competition.
- In 2009, Year 12 Chemistry students will be competing in the National Final of the National Titration Competition, after having participated in the Newcastle and Hunter Region National Titration Competition, and gaining second, third, fifth, seventh and eight places.
- Including 2009, for the past three years, Newcastle Grammar School has fielded students to the National Youth Science ForumNational Youth Science ForumThe National Youth Science Forum is a prestigious Australian program dedicated to exposing year eleven students who are heading into year twelve and are thinking about a career in science, engineering and related disciplines to major scientific institutions and researchers, so that they may make...
, held at Australian National UniversityAustralian National UniversityThe Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
in CanberraCanberraCanberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
. - In 2009, a Year 12 student was placed eighth in the finals of the boys' discus throw at the 2009 World Youth Championships in Athletics2009 World Youth Championships in AthleticsThe 2009 World Youth Championships in Athletics is the sixth edition of the World Youth Championships in Athletics. They were held in Brixen, Italy from 8–12 July 2009. Athletes must be aged 16 or 17 on 31 December 2009 to compete....
, held in BrixenBrixenBrixen is the name of two cities in the Alps:*Brixen, South Tyrol, Italy*Brixen im Thale, Tyrol, AustriaBrixen may also refer to:*Bishopric of Brixen, the former north-Italian state....
, ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. - In 2008, the NGS rowing team won their first national medal at the Australian Rowing Championships, in the Under 17 Mens Coxed Quad winning a silver medal.
- In 2009, the rowing team attended the Australian Rowing Championships, this time taking out 2 championships, the Under 17 mens Coxed Quad in record time, the Under 17 Mens Single Scull, winning gold and also won a silver medal in the Schoolboy Coxed Quad.
- Again in 2010, The NGS rowing team travelled to the Australian Rowing Championships and broke the record in the Schoolboy Coxed Quad Scull.
- In 2011, the rowing team won the Under 17 Coxed Quad Scull again at the Australian National Rowing Championships.
Leadership
The Senior Leadership Body consists of two school captains (one male, one female), two school vice-captains (one male, one female) and two senior prefects (one male, one female). It is traditional for the school captains to deliver keynote speeches at Speech Day and the Year 12 Graduation, and carry the cross and banner at the Hill Campus ANZAC DayANZAC Day
Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand, commemorated by both countries on 25 April every year to honour the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps who fought at Gallipoli in the Ottoman Empire during World War I. It now more broadly commemorates all...
Service and prefect induction. The middle school is led by two "Stewart Council" leaders (one male, one female). A male and female representative are elected to each of Years 5, 6, 7 and 8, who, together with the house captains and Stewart Council leaders form the Stewart Council leadership body. These leaders meet on a fortnightly basis to discuss the organisation of activities pertaining to the middle school.
Captains are appointed for Tyrrell, Shortland, Macquarie
Macquarie
Macquarie is a commonly encountered name for geographical and business entities in Australia, all of which are directly or indirectly named after Lachlan Macquarie, early colonial administrator and governor of New South Wales.Macquarie may refer to:...
and Hunter houses in both the middle and senior schools to facilitate various house activities throughout the year, particularly the swimming and athletics carnivals. House vice-captains are elected early in Year 11 to assist the house captains. Once the house captains depart the school in October, the house vice-captains assume the leadership responsibilities of the house for the remainder of the year. To assist the house vice-captains, four house leaders (2 male, 2 female) are elected from Year 10 in Term 4. Prefects are appointed by the headmaster, in consultation with senior students and staff.
There are also leadership opportunities in the music department, as ensemble leaders for Brass Razoo, Wind Orchestra, String Orchestra, Senior Choir, Chapel Choir and Britten Choir. Two to four senior musicians are appointed to represent the music department in their final year. The Service and Adventure Training Unit also offers those involved various leadership opportunities. The leading student of the SATU is appointed as the Senior Cadet
Cadet
A cadet is a trainee to become an officer in the military, often a person who is a junior trainee. The term comes from the term "cadet" for younger sons of a noble family.- Military context :...
in Year 12. In addition, captains are appointed by the masters/mistresses of the relevant sporting groups in the school, including athletics, swimming
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
, rowing
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
, hockey
Hockey
Hockey is a family of sports in which two teams play against each other by trying to maneuver a ball or a puck into the opponent's goal using a hockey stick.-Etymology:...
, touch football
Touch football
Touch football may refer to:* Touch football , a variant of American football where players touch, rather than tackle, their opponents* Touch rugby, games derived from rugby football in which players touch, rather than tackle, their opponents...
and netball
Netball
Netball is a ball sport played between two teams of seven players. Its development, derived from early versions of basketball, began in England in the 1890s. By 1960 international playing rules had been standardised for the game, and the International Federation of Netball and Women's Basketball ...
.
House system
Upon entry to the School, each student is allocated, according to age and gender, or family tradition, to one of the four housesHouse system
The house system is a traditional feature of British schools, and schools in the Commonwealth. Historically, it was associated with established public schools, where a 'house' refers to a boarding house or dormitory of a boarding school...
: Hunter (green) - named after John Hunter
John Hunter (New South Wales)
Vice-Admiral John Hunter, RN was a British naval officer, explorer, naturalist and colonial administrator who succeeded Arthur Phillip as the second governor of New South Wales, Australia from 1795 to 1800.-Overview:...
Macquarie (red) - named after Governor Macquarie Shortland (yellow) - named after John Shortland
John Shortland
John Shortland was a naval officer, the eldest son of John Shortland. Shortland joined the Royal Navy as a midshipman and went to Quebec in a transport commanded by his father. From 1783 to 1787 he served in the West Indies. In 1787 he was master's mate in the Sirius when the First Fleet sailed...
Tyrrell (sky blue) - named after Bishop Tyrrell.
Houses form the basis for sporting and cultural competitions or interactions within the school, including:
- debating
- music festival
- cross country (years 2–12)
- swimming carnivals
- athletics carnivals.
The house system also facilitates the pastoral care programme of the senior school. Students in each house are placed in a single-sex, mixed age group led by one a mentor
Mentor
In Greek mythology, Mentor was the son of Alcimus or Anchialus. In his old age Mentor was a friend of Odysseus who placed Mentor and Odysseus' foster-brother Eumaeus in charge of his son Telemachus, and of Odysseus' palace, when Odysseus left for the Trojan War.When Athena visited Telemachus she...
teacher, and they remain with this group throughout their senior school years. Mentor groups meet twice each week and also sit together in assembly and chapel service. The mentor teacher and house patron work together to encourage and support each student in the House, and the house patron and student leaders are responsible for organising sporting teams for inter-house competitions as well as fund-raising activities, and various inter-house events. Each house is responsible for organising one themed chapel service annually, and sponsoring an activity for the Spring Fair.
Alumni
Ex-students of Newcastle Grammar School may elect to become life members of Newcastle Grammar School's alumni associationAlumni association
An alumni association is an association of graduates or, more broadly, of former students. In the United Kingdom and the United States, alumni of universities, colleges, schools , fraternities, and sororities often form groups with alumni from the same organisation...
, the Newcastle Old Grammarians' Association (NOGA). NOGA presently has about 2500 members.
Notable alumni of the school include:
Entertainment, media and the arts
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- actress - Gemma SandersonGemma SandersonGemma Sanderson is an Australian model, best known for winning the first cycle of the reality television show Australia's Next Top Model.-Early career:...
- model, winner of Australia's Next Top ModelAustralia's Next Top ModelAustralia's Next Top Model is an Australian reality television series, based on a franchise that was created by Tyra Banks with America's Next Top Model...
2005 - Tonia TodmanTonia TodmanTonia Todman AKA "The Rafia Queen" is an Australian television personality, who has appeared on Good Morning Australia, and also appeared on Rove Live. She is known for making craftwork....
- National television celebrity known for appearing in Janome commercials and Kresta Blinds ads, and on Good Morning AustraliaGood Morning AustraliaGood Morning Australia from Network Ten was the name of two different programs. This article is for Bert Newton's morning program, not to be confused with the breakfast news program of the same name.... - Tiffani WoodTiffani WoodTiffany "Tiffani" Jane Wood , briefly known as Tiffani Cummins, is an Australian singer-songwriter, who is a former member of female pop group Bardot. Wood later established an independent solo career, and released her debut solo album Bite Your Tongue in 2006.-Early life:Wood was born on 8...
- singer