Reece High School
Encyclopedia
Reece High School is a high school
in Devonport
on the North West coast of Tasmania
, Australia
.
s from Reece High School co-located with Devonport High School
with both schools operating independently from the one campus.
s, and allowance was made to enable wireless internet
access throughout the school. Of the school's $10,000,000 rebuild budget, a significant portion was spent on computing and AV equipment. The most notable purchases being the introduction of laptop
s for student use and television
s replacing the PA system
found in most schools. This action was made in order to better prepare students for a world where technology is the norm.
The year 7 and 8 classroom
s or PLA's (Primary Learning Areas) were built in clusters of four linked by movable walls, so as to allow interaction between classes. These walls were more soundproof then conventional walls, and stopped excessive noise between classrooms. The other home rooms in the school were of more conventional design, but more spacious and revamped to take advantage of the school's technological renovations. All rooms in the school are well lit and most have large windows, unlike many other schools.
Reece High's motto - Realising Potential - is both a reference to the 2000 fire and to the teaching goals of Reece High's staff. The former is a mention to the way that the school managed to successfully relocate during after the fire. The latter is the conviction that every student has the right to achieve and realise their own potential in what they do. This extends past the walls of the classroom, into both personal life and careers. Without undermining the importance of academic achievement, this philosophy alleviates the competitiveness between students that is the hallmark of an academic institution
, and allows students to focus on achieving their potential.
. Reece High was one of the first schools to use the EL's system, and due to its successes caused the system to be implemented nationally. Principal, Sheree Vertigan, praises the EL's system and encouraged its use in other schools. Although there was some discussion of the EL's effectiveness at first, most people are now in favour of the system.
policy. Boy's wear blue shirt
s and grey trousers
or shorts
. Girls wear either the winter skirt
and blue shirt, or the summer dress
.
Reece High School has been identified as one of two high demand schools in Tasmania by the Australian Government
.
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
in Devonport
Devonport, Tasmania
-Sport:The Devonport Football Club is an Australian Rules team competing in the Tasmanian Statewide League. The Devonport Rugby Club is a Rugby Union team competing in the Tasmanian Rugby Union Statewide League...
on the North West coast of Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
, 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...
.
Old Reece High (Pre 2000)
The 'Old Reece High School' was destroyed (90%)in December 2000 by fire. The cause was unknown but is stated to be arson on the Reece High School Website http://www.reece.tased.edu.au. Planning and reconstruction of a new school began soon after, however during the two years of reconstruction, studentStudent
A student is a learner, or someone who attends an educational institution. In some nations, the English term is reserved for those who attend university, while a schoolchild under the age of eighteen is called a pupil in English...
s from Reece High School co-located with Devonport High School
Devonport High School
Devonport High School is a co-educational public 7-10 high school in Devonport, Tasmania....
with both schools operating independently from the one campus.
New Reece High School (Post 2003)
Reece High School reopened its doors to students in 2003. The new school was designed to take advantage of technology and facilities unimagined in the previous institution. Classrooms were equipped with sufficient power outlets for computerComputer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
s, and allowance was made to enable wireless internet
Wireless Internet Protocol
Wireless Internet Protocols are the suite of wireless protocols after Wireless Application Protocol 2.0 . It includes XHTML Basic, Nokia's XHTML Mobile Profile, and future developments of WAP by the Open Mobile Alliance....
access throughout the school. Of the school's $10,000,000 rebuild budget, a significant portion was spent on computing and AV equipment. The most notable purchases being the introduction of laptop
Laptop
A laptop, also called a notebook, is a personal computer for mobile use. A laptop integrates most of the typical components of a desktop computer, including a display, a keyboard, a pointing device and speakers into a single unit...
s for student use and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
s replacing the PA system
Public address
A public address system is an electronic amplification system with a mixer, amplifier and loudspeakers, used to reinforce a sound source, e.g., a person giving a speech, a DJ playing prerecorded music, and distributing the sound throughout a venue or building.Simple PA systems are often used in...
found in most schools. This action was made in order to better prepare students for a world where technology is the norm.
The year 7 and 8 classroom
Classroom
A classroom is a room in which teaching or learning activities can take place. Classrooms are found in educational institutions of all kinds, including public and private schools, corporations, and religious and humanitarian organizations...
s or PLA's (Primary Learning Areas) were built in clusters of four linked by movable walls, so as to allow interaction between classes. These walls were more soundproof then conventional walls, and stopped excessive noise between classrooms. The other home rooms in the school were of more conventional design, but more spacious and revamped to take advantage of the school's technological renovations. All rooms in the school are well lit and most have large windows, unlike many other schools.
Reece High's motto - Realising Potential - is both a reference to the 2000 fire and to the teaching goals of Reece High's staff. The former is a mention to the way that the school managed to successfully relocate during after the fire. The latter is the conviction that every student has the right to achieve and realise their own potential in what they do. This extends past the walls of the classroom, into both personal life and careers. Without undermining the importance of academic achievement, this philosophy alleviates the competitiveness between students that is the hallmark of an academic institution
Academic institution
Academic institution is an educational institution dedicated to education and research, which grants academic degrees. See also academy and university.- Types of academic institutions include :...
, and allows students to focus on achieving their potential.
Curriculum
Reece High is a public school, and so receives funding from the federal government. It follows the national curriculum, meaning that it teaches, assesses and reports using the Essential Learnings (EL's) system. These focus on skill and ability acquisition rather learning by roteRote learning
Rote learning is a learning technique which focuses on memorization. The major practice involved in rote learning is learning by repetition by which students commit information to memory in a highly structured way. The idea is that one will be able to quickly recall the meaning of the material the...
. Reece High was one of the first schools to use the EL's system, and due to its successes caused the system to be implemented nationally. Principal, Sheree Vertigan, praises the EL's system and encouraged its use in other schools. Although there was some discussion of the EL's effectiveness at first, most people are now in favour of the system.
Events
Reece High's chief fundraising event is the two-day Garden Weekend, held every year at the school. Individuals and classes contribute to running the event, which often includes musical and dramatic numbers performed during the event.Uniform
Reece High School, like most Australian schools, has a uniformSchool uniform
A school uniform is an outfit—a set of standardized clothes—worn primarily for an educational institution. They are common in primary and secondary schools in various countries . When used, they form the basis of a school's dress code.Traditionally school uniforms have been largely subdued and...
policy. Boy's wear blue shirt
Shirt
A shirt is a cloth garment for the upper body. Originally an undergarment worn exclusively by men, it has become, in American English, a catch-all term for almost any garment other than outerwear such as sweaters, coats, jackets, or undergarments such as bras, vests or base layers...
s and grey trousers
Trousers
Trousers are an item of clothing worn on the lower part of the body from the waist to the ankles, covering both legs separately...
or shorts
Shorts
Shorts are a bifurcated garment worn by both men and women over their pelvic area, circling the waist, and covering the upper part of the legs, sometimes extending down to or even below the knee, but not covering the entire length of the leg. They are called "shorts" because they are a shortened...
. Girls wear either the winter skirt
Skirt
A skirt is a tube- or cone-shaped garment that hangs from the waist and covers all or part of the legs.In the western world, skirts are usually considered women's clothing. However, there are exceptions...
and blue shirt, or the summer dress
Dress
A dress is a garment consisting of a skirt with an attached bodice or with a matching bodice giving the effect of a one-piece garment.Dress may also refer to:*Clothing in general*Costume, fancy dress...
.
Awards
- 2004 Tasmanian Department of Education - Learning Together Award
- 2003 James D. MacConnell Award from the Council of Educational Facilities Planners InternationalCouncil of Educational Facilities Planners InternationalThe Council of Educational Facility Planners International is a non-profit association of a diverse, worldwide group of individuals interested in the planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of schools and higher educations facilities...
for Building DesignBuilding designBuilding design refers to the broadly based architectural, engineering and technical applications to the design of buildings. All building projects require the services of a building designer, typically a licensed architect or structural engineer...
excellence
- 2002 School Construction News and Design Share Award for Innovative Learning Environments
Reece High School has been identified as one of two high demand schools in Tasmania by the Australian Government
Government of Australia
The Commonwealth of Australia is a federal constitutional monarchy under a parliamentary democracy. The Commonwealth of Australia was formed in 1901 as a result of an agreement among six self-governing British colonies, which became the six states...
.