St Michael's Grammar School
Encyclopedia
St Michael's Grammar School is a co-educational independent
day school
located in St Kilda, Victoria
, Australia
.
The school was founded in 1895 by the Community of the Sisters of the Church
and is associated with the Anglican Church of Australia
. St Michael's is located on a single campus, its original location, and covers all schooling years from Kindergarten to Year 12. The school is a member of the Association of Coeducational Schools (ACS).
and Canada
.
On 23 April 1895, the sisters opened St Michael's in a converted 1870s mansion. The school's first building, constructed in grey stone, faces Marlton Crescent and is now known as St Michael's House.
In 1972, the sisters transferred the management of St Michael's to a school council and the school was incorporated. In the early 1980s the school was close to bankruptcy
. With the appointment of a new headmaster, Anthony Hewison, the decision was taken to admit boys to all levels of the school, thus making it fully coeducational, and to embark on "modernisation" of the school.
In 1985 the school became a company limited by guarantee. Since that date the sisters have retained their interest in the school but no longer play a part in its governance. The school is managed by the head of the school who is appointed by the board of directors.
St Michael's is one of the very few schools in Melbourne over 100 years old and still on its original site. It is possible to trace the history of the school, building by building, from Marlton Crescent to the modern senior school in Redan Street. Today, the school provides a comprehensive education for both boys and girls from kindergarten to the Victorian Certificate of Education
.
On 6 December 2007, St Michael's purchased The Astor Theatre
building in St Kilda, to be renovated and restored. The theatre still operates as usual, with film showings though most afternoons and nights, but is often used by the School for assemblies and events, such as the House Singing festival.
, science
, English
, IT
, LOTEs (Languages Other Than English), arts
and humanities
courses. At primary level, students all study basic subjects including mathematics, English, science, history, Japanese, music and sport. A major focus of the school is drama
.
All Year 12 students study for the Victorian Certificate of Education
(VCE) as the IB Diploma Programme
is not offered.
system is based on a house
structure which deals with all matters relating to a student's wellbeing or curriculum
needs. Each student is placed in a house tutorial group which is overseen by a house tutor. There are five houses and therefore five house tutorial groups at each year level. A house contains students from Years 7 to 12. Each house is led by two co-heads. The members of each house are led by co-house captains and co-vice-captains. The houses meet on a regular basis.
The house tutor and heads of house work as a team to monitor the academic and personal progress of each student in the house tutorial group and house. Generally, the house tutor is the first and main point of contact between the parent and the school. For more serious issues a head of house is usually contacted.
With the introduction of the new headmaster, Simon Gipson, the administration adopted new approaches to the functioning of the school. Many of these have been created to support the school's marketing campaigns. Changes include:
St Michael's also conducts an annual compulsory House Singing competition, in which all five of the school houses perform a musical item. The winner of this contest in 2011 was Mitre House. Many other musical ensembles perform regularly throughout the year, including the 7-12 Harrison Choir, which each year performs a large choral work, and the Grigoryan Orchestra (named for school alumnus, guitarist Slava Grigoryan
).
project, known commonly to the students as 'Barrier', involves year 10 students studying Units 1&2 Biology in Far North Queensland
, participating in a month of research on the Great Barrier Reef. Activities include daily snorkeling
from St Michael's Orpheus Island Research Campus.
Originally the program ran for a duration of one month, but has since been extended to include days in Townsville, Paluma, and Tully
, to study Australian aboriginal culture. Palm Island
, nearby Orpheus Island, has been removed from the itinerary after riots by the local aboriginal population in 2004.
s to celebrate the Eucharist
at camp. Each student from Year 7 to Year 11 experiences a minimum of five days of Outdoor Education each year, with the programs run by the Outdoor Education Group
. Junior School programs mainly involve staying in cabins (although part of the year 6 Exodus involves sleeping in tents) and participating in various activities. Senior School programs are quite diverse, ranging from bush walking in year 7 to choices including rafting, kayaking, rock-climbing, tree-planting or cycling in year 11. Year 10 students may also have great choice in their Exoduses, including Hattah Solo, a popular program involving students spending 24 hours out of the week-long program alone (albeit in close proximity to other students and supervisors) for the purposes of reflection and learning self-sufficiency. Exodus for each year level is slightly more challenging than the last, and there is a different theme for each year level.
In 2004 the school announced the removal of the annual Year 12 Exodus, where students were given the opportunity to design their own camp, with the school suggesting students required this time to study for VCE exams.
The European Touring Choir consists of boys and girls in Years 8-12, and the group travels to Europe to compete in international choir competitions and perform on world stages biannually. Students participating in the European Tour Choir will also receive masterclasses with professionals. The most recent "Euro Choir" travelled to France
, Germany
, Denmark
and Iceland
, performing at the Llangollen
International Eisteddfod
and at locations all around Europe, to great popularity and recognition. The next Euro Choir leaves in 2012. Locations the choir has visited include Rome
, Carrara
, Pisa
, Venice
, Vicenza
, Nördlingen
, Reykjavik
, Copenhagen
, Berlin
, Leipzig
, Hagen
, Cologne
, Voorburg
, Amsterdam
, Paris
, London
, Florence
, York
, Croissy
, Munich
, & Vienna
.
, camping along the way. The trip has become an extremely popular program, with the 2011 group, leaving in September, consisting of almost 30 students.
s, with schools in Japan, France and Italy.
The Japanese exchange with Keio Shonan-Fujisawa Junior & Senior High School
in Fujisawa
, Kanagawa Prefecture
has been operating for 10 years. As of 2006 it is to be run in January, before the commencement of the school year.
The French exchange began in 1999 and takes place every two years, with Le Bon Sauveur in Paris
. The St Michael's students usually go to France for five to six weeks, during their summer holiday (December–January). The return trip to Australia by the students of Le Bon Sauveur usually happens in July-August of the following year.
The Italian exchange is with the Liceo Scientifico G. Marconi in Carrara
, Tuscany
.
, requires students to wear school uniform
s.
The uniform for male and female students is different and there are two varieties - both summer (Terms 1 and 4) and winter or formal (Terms 2 and 3, but required to be worn on all formal occasions). The female school summer uniform consists of a dress to be worn with white socks, while the winter uniform is a red and navy skirt, white shirt, red and navy tie, navy woollen sweater and navy blazer, all to be worn with navy tights or white socks. The boys' uniform consists of navy pants, white shirt, red and navy tie, navy sweater and red and navy striped blazer, with an optional red and navy checked shirt for summer. School prefects (school captains, school vice-captains and house captains) wear a tie with the school logo printed on. The school captains and school vice-captains also wear a different blazer pocket with the school logo embroidered in gold and also gold embroidered writing to indicate their leadership position. All leaders in the school also wear relevant badges on their blazer lapels. The school sports uniform consists of a number of different parts relevant to the sport being played, all in the school colours of red and navy. Jewellery and makeup are strictly forbidden at the school, with the exception of appropriate religious necklaces (usually crucifixes) and charity wristbands.
Students who perform well in extracurricular activities may be awarded colours, pockets and certificates.
Principals
Headmistresses
Headmaster
Head of the School
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...
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 St Kilda, Victoria
St Kilda, Victoria
St Kilda is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 6 km south from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Port Phillip...
, 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...
.
The school was founded in 1895 by the Community of the Sisters of the Church
Community of the Sisters of the Church
The Community of the Sister of the Church is a religious order of women in various Anglican provinces who live the vowed life of poverty, chastity and obedience...
and is associated with the Anglican Church of Australia
Anglican Church of Australia
The Anglican Church of Australia is a member church of the Anglican Communion. It was previously officially known as the Church of England in Australia and Tasmania...
. St Michael's is located on a single campus, its original location, and covers all schooling years from Kindergarten to Year 12. The school is a member of the Association of Coeducational Schools (ACS).
History
In 1870, Mother Emily Ayckbowm founded a new Anglican religious order in England - the Community of the Sisters of the Church. The order had been invited to Australia to further educational work for girls and St Michael's was one of six schools established in different parts of Australia. They also founded schools in England, New ZealandNew 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 Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
In 1972, the sisters transferred the management of St Michael's to a school council and the school was incorporated. In the early 1980s the school was close to bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
. With the appointment of a new headmaster, Anthony Hewison, the decision was taken to admit boys to all levels of the school, thus making it fully coeducational, and to embark on "modernisation" of the school.
In 1985 the school became a company limited by guarantee. Since that date the sisters have retained their interest in the school but no longer play a part in its governance. The school is managed by the head of the school who is appointed by the board of directors.
St Michael's is one of the very few schools in Melbourne over 100 years old and still on its original site. It is possible to trace the history of the school, building by building, from Marlton Crescent to the modern senior school in Redan Street. Today, the school provides a comprehensive education for both boys and girls from kindergarten to the Victorian Certificate of Education
Victorian Certificate of Education
The Victorian Certificate of Education or VCE is the credential awarded to secondary school students who successfully complete high school level studies in the state of Victoria, Australia. Study for the VCE is usually completed over two years, but it can be spread over a longer period in some cases...
.
On 6 December 2007, St Michael's purchased The Astor Theatre
The Astor Theatre
The Astor Theatre is a classic, single-screen cinema located in the inner Melbourne suburb of St Kilda, that has a long and illustrious history....
building in St Kilda, to be renovated and restored. The theatre still operates as usual, with film showings though most afternoons and nights, but is often used by the School for assemblies and events, such as the House Singing festival.
Academics
St Michael's offers a wide range of subjects including core mathematicsMathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
, science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
, English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, IT
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
, LOTEs (Languages Other Than English), arts
ARts
aRts, which stands for analog Real time synthesizer, is an audio framework that is no longer under development. It is best known for previously being used in KDE to simulate an analog synthesizer....
and humanities
Humanities
The humanities are academic disciplines that study the human condition, using methods that are primarily analytical, critical, or speculative, as distinguished from the mainly empirical approaches of the natural sciences....
courses. At primary level, students all study basic subjects including mathematics, English, science, history, Japanese, music and sport. A major focus of the school is drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
.
All Year 12 students study for the Victorian Certificate of Education
Victorian Certificate of Education
The Victorian Certificate of Education or VCE is the credential awarded to secondary school students who successfully complete high school level studies in the state of Victoria, Australia. Study for the VCE is usually completed over two years, but it can be spread over a longer period in some cases...
(VCE) as the IB Diploma Programme
IB Diploma Programme
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is a two-year educational programme for students aged 16–19that provides an internationally accepted qualification for entry into higher education, and is recognised by universities worldwide. It was developed in the early to mid-1960s in Geneva by...
is not offered.
House system
The pastoral carePastoral care
Pastoral care is the ministry of care and counseling provided by pastors, chaplains and other religious leaders to members of their church or congregation, or to persons of all faiths and none within institutional settings. This can range anywhere from home visitation to formal counseling provided...
system is based on a house
House 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...
structure which deals with all matters relating to a student's wellbeing or curriculum
Curriculum
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...
needs. Each student is placed in a house tutorial group which is overseen by a house tutor. There are five houses and therefore five house tutorial groups at each year level. A house contains students from Years 7 to 12. Each house is led by two co-heads. The members of each house are led by co-house captains and co-vice-captains. The houses meet on a regular basis.
The house tutor and heads of house work as a team to monitor the academic and personal progress of each student in the house tutorial group and house. Generally, the house tutor is the first and main point of contact between the parent and the school. For more serious issues a head of house is usually contacted.
| Breen House |
|
|---|---|
| Hughes House |
|
| Kilburn House |
|
| Mitre House |
Archbishop An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop... of Melbourne. |
| Sarum House |
|
Reforms after 2000
- changing of traditional terminology (i.e. "Headmaster" to "Head of the School", "Homework" to "Out of Class Work", and "first form" to "Year 7".
- removal of corporal punishmentCorporal punishmentCorporal punishment is a form of physical punishment that involves the deliberate infliction of pain as retribution for an offence, or for the purpose of disciplining or reforming a wrongdoer, or to deter attitudes or behaviour deemed unacceptable...
. - removal of the Year 12 Exodus (Outdoor EducationOutdoor educationOutdoor education usually refers to organized learning that takes place in the outdoors. Outdoor education programs sometimes involve residential or journey-based experiences in which students participate in a variety of adventurous challenges in the form of outdoor activities such as hiking,...
) program. - introduction of a new school uniformSchool uniformA 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...
. The uniform was launched with a professionally-choreographed catwalk display, gaining much media attention. - introduction of a six stage building plan (including the recently built "Sisters of the Church Learning Centre" and the new playing surface for the oval)
- increased community relations spending
Community relations and admissions
St Michael's has a community relations and admissions team of eight full-time staff members. Their responsibilities include raising awareness of the school, processing and monitoring student applications (local and international) and enriching educational programs by supporting community engagement and contributing citizenship programs. A decade ago, a key goal was to raise awareness of the school as it had capacity to enrol more students. More recently, the team's focus has been on supporting educational programs, facilitating major development projects for the school, and building community. Some recent achievements under Simon Gipson include the development of a scholarship fund to provide more opportunities for families who would otherwise not be able to afford a St Michael's education.Extra-curricular activities
Drama has one of the highest voluntary participation numbers amongst students of any department of the school. St Michael's is well-known for its drama program. Each year, the school performs a large number of professional-standard productions, including Years 10 to 12 Senior Musical; the Years 7 to 9 musical and play; 'Dance Fusion' (a contemporary dance production); a student production; a house drama festival and three yearly senior plays. The school performed 'The Crucible' in 2009 and was the only school in Australia to legally have the performance rights. The 2010 Senior Musical, '13', was the Australian premiere of the musical and won Best Production at the Victorian Musical Theatre Guild awards (the fourth St Michael's musical to do so). The Senior Musical in 2011 was 'Parade'. 2011 also saw the performance of 'Venus and Adonis' by John Blow during the senior drama festival, while the year 7-9 drama festival during mid-October saw the performance of 'The Music Man Jr.' and an original play, 'The Sadness of Mr Saisson'.St Michael's also conducts an annual compulsory House Singing competition, in which all five of the school houses perform a musical item. The winner of this contest in 2011 was Mitre House. Many other musical ensembles perform regularly throughout the year, including the 7-12 Harrison Choir, which each year performs a large choral work, and the Grigoryan Orchestra (named for school alumnus, guitarist Slava Grigoryan
Slava Grigoryan
Slava Grigoryan is an Australian classical guitarist and recording artist of Armenian heritage.He was born in Kazakhstan to Eduard and Irina Grigoryan, both professional violinists. His family emigrated to Australia in 1981 and he was raised in Melbourne. Grigoryan began to study guitar with his...
).
Great Barrier Reef project
The Great Barrier ReefGreat Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is the world'slargest reef system composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 2,600 kilometres over an area of approximately...
project, known commonly to the students as 'Barrier', involves year 10 students studying Units 1&2 Biology in Far North Queensland
Far North Queensland
Far North Queensland, or FNQ, is the northernmost part of the Australian state of Queensland. The region, which contains a large section of the Tropical North Queensland area, stretches from the city of Cairns north to the Torres Strait...
, participating in a month of research on the Great Barrier Reef. Activities include daily snorkeling
Snorkeling
Snorkeling is the practice of swimming on or through a body of water while equipped with a diving mask, a shaped tube called a snorkel, and usually swimfins. In cooler waters, a wetsuit may also be worn...
from St Michael's Orpheus Island Research Campus.
Originally the program ran for a duration of one month, but has since been extended to include days in Townsville, Paluma, and Tully
Tully, Queensland
Tully is a small town in Queensland, Australia, adjacent to the Bruce Highway approximately south of Cairns by road and north of Townsville. At the 2006 census, Tully had a population of 2,457....
, to study Australian aboriginal culture. Palm Island
Palm Island, Queensland
Palm Island is an Aboriginal community located on Great Palm Island, also called by the Aboriginal name "Bwgcolman", an island on the Great Barrier Reef in North Queensland, Australia The settlement is also known by a variety of other names including "the Mission", Palm Island Settlement or Palm...
, nearby Orpheus Island, has been removed from the itinerary after riots by the local aboriginal population in 2004.
Exodus program
When St Michael's student body was much smaller, the entire Senior School went on school camp together; this was the first "Exodus". As of 2005, "Exodus" camps have been split up between year and house groups for students in Years 7 to 11. Most groups are visited by one of the School ChaplainChaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
s to celebrate the Eucharist
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
at camp. Each student from Year 7 to Year 11 experiences a minimum of five days of Outdoor Education each year, with the programs run by the Outdoor Education Group
Outdoor Education Group
The Outdoor Education Group is a non-profit, independent educational organisation which is one of the largest providers of outdoor education programs for school students in Australia....
. Junior School programs mainly involve staying in cabins (although part of the year 6 Exodus involves sleeping in tents) and participating in various activities. Senior School programs are quite diverse, ranging from bush walking in year 7 to choices including rafting, kayaking, rock-climbing, tree-planting or cycling in year 11. Year 10 students may also have great choice in their Exoduses, including Hattah Solo, a popular program involving students spending 24 hours out of the week-long program alone (albeit in close proximity to other students and supervisors) for the purposes of reflection and learning self-sufficiency. Exodus for each year level is slightly more challenging than the last, and there is a different theme for each year level.
In 2004 the school announced the removal of the annual Year 12 Exodus, where students were given the opportunity to design their own camp, with the school suggesting students required this time to study for VCE exams.
European Tour Choir (Euro Choir)
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...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
and Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
, performing at the Llangollen
Llangollen
Llangollen is a small town and community in Denbighshire, north-east Wales, situated on the River Dee and on the edge of the Berwyn mountains. It has a population of 3,412.-History:...
International Eisteddfod
International Eisteddfod
The Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod is a music festival which takes place every year during the second week of July in Llangollen, North Wales. Singers and dancers from around the world are invited to take part in over 20 high quality competitions followed each evening by concerts where...
and at locations all around Europe, to great popularity and recognition. The next Euro Choir leaves in 2012. Locations the choir has visited include Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, Carrara
Carrara
Carrara is a city and comune in the province of Massa-Carrara , notable for the white or blue-grey marble quarried there. It is on the Carrione River, some west-northwest of Florence....
, Pisa
Pisa
Pisa is a city in Tuscany, Central Italy, on the right bank of the mouth of the River Arno on the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Pisa...
, Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
, Vicenza
Vicenza
Vicenza , a city in north-eastern Italy, is the capital of the eponymous province in the Veneto region, at the northern base of the Monte Berico, straddling the Bacchiglione...
, Nördlingen
Nördlingen
Nördlingen is a town in the Donau-Ries district, in Bavaria, Germany, with a population of 20,000. It is located in the middle of a complex meteorite crater, called the Nördlinger Ries. The town was also the place of two battles during the Thirty Years' War...
, Reykjavik
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
, Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
, Hagen
Hagen
Hagen is the 39th-largest city in Germany, located in the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It is located on the eastern edge of the Ruhr area, 15 km south of Dortmund, where the rivers Lenne, Volme and Ennepe meet the river Ruhr...
, Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
, Voorburg
Voorburg
Voorburg is a Dutch town and former municipality in the western part of the province of South Holland, the Netherlands. As also Leidschendam and Stompwijk, it is part of the municipality Leidschendam-Voorburg. It has approximately 39,000 inhabitants....
, Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
, York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
, Croissy
Croissy-sur-Seine
Croissy-sur-Seine is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France. It is a small but affluent suburban town on the western outskirts of Paris.-Geography:...
, Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, & Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
.
Kosciuszko to the Coast
Every year St Michael's students in year 11 have to option to take part in the Kosciuszko to the Coast program in lieu of the year 11 Exodus (School camp). This is a challenging 21 day expedition where students travel (through various methods including hiking, kayaking and biking) from Mount Kosciuszko to the coast of New South WalesNew 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...
, camping along the way. The trip has become an extremely popular program, with the 2011 group, leaving in September, consisting of almost 30 students.
Exchanges
Currently, St Michael's have three student exchange programStudent exchange program
A student exchange program generally could be defined as a program where students from secondary school or university choose to study abroad in partner institutions...
s, with schools in Japan, France and Italy.
The Japanese exchange with Keio Shonan-Fujisawa Junior & Senior High School
Keio Shonan-Fujisawa Junior & Senior High School
is located on the Shonan Fujisawa Campus of Keio University in Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. Since its founding in 1992, the school has been commonly known as Keio SFC, or simply SFC....
in Fujisawa
Fujisawa, Kanagawa
is a city located in Kanagawa, Japan. As of 2010, the city had an estimated population of 407,731 and a population density of 5,870 people per km². The total area is 69.51 km²-Geography:...
, Kanagawa Prefecture
Kanagawa Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the southern Kantō region of Japan. The capital is Yokohama. Kanagawa is part of the Greater Tokyo Area.-History:The prefecture has some archaeological sites going back to the Jōmon period...
has been operating for 10 years. As of 2006 it is to be run in January, before the commencement of the school year.
The French exchange began in 1999 and takes place every two years, with Le Bon Sauveur in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. The St Michael's students usually go to France for five to six weeks, during their summer holiday (December–January). The return trip to Australia by the students of Le Bon Sauveur usually happens in July-August of the following year.
The Italian exchange is with the Liceo Scientifico G. Marconi in Carrara
Carrara
Carrara is a city and comune in the province of Massa-Carrara , notable for the white or blue-grey marble quarried there. It is on the Carrione River, some west-northwest of Florence....
, Tuscany
Tuscany
Tuscany is a region in Italy. It has an area of about 23,000 square kilometres and a population of about 3.75 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence ....
.
Social service and charity work
The school is heavily involved in social service, working all year to raise money for various charities. Once or twice a term a "Community Action Day" (previously called "Casual Clothes Day") is held, organised by the social service captains of each house, to raise money for a diverse number of charities, ranging from the Asylum Seekers Resource Centre (Sarum House) to a sponsor village in Bali (Mitre House). Every year in May, a prefect-organised program, entitled the "Merry Month of May", is held to raise money for social service. Activities such as a "Battle of the Bands", barbecues, dress-up days, movie viewings, novelty races, great bebates and theatresport contests are held each day. Also in conjunction with the Merry Month of May, the school participates in the "World's Greatest Shave" for the Leukaemia Foundation, in which participants shave their heads to show solidarity for leukaemia sufferers, raising money through collecting donations. In 2011, the Merry Month of May raised a record sum of $13 200. The school leadership teams in both the senior and junior schools in 2011 also raised money for relief for the Christchurch earthquake, Japanese tsunami and subsequent nuclear disaster and the bushfires in Victoria and Queensland.School uniform and awards
St Michael's Grammar School, like most other private schools in AustraliaAustralia
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...
, requires students to wear school uniform
School 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...
s.
The uniform for male and female students is different and there are two varieties - both summer (Terms 1 and 4) and winter or formal (Terms 2 and 3, but required to be worn on all formal occasions). The female school summer uniform consists of a dress to be worn with white socks, while the winter uniform is a red and navy skirt, white shirt, red and navy tie, navy woollen sweater and navy blazer, all to be worn with navy tights or white socks. The boys' uniform consists of navy pants, white shirt, red and navy tie, navy sweater and red and navy striped blazer, with an optional red and navy checked shirt for summer. School prefects (school captains, school vice-captains and house captains) wear a tie with the school logo printed on. The school captains and school vice-captains also wear a different blazer pocket with the school logo embroidered in gold and also gold embroidered writing to indicate their leadership position. All leaders in the school also wear relevant badges on their blazer lapels. The school sports uniform consists of a number of different parts relevant to the sport being played, all in the school colours of red and navy. Jewellery and makeup are strictly forbidden at the school, with the exception of appropriate religious necklaces (usually crucifixes) and charity wristbands.
Students who perform well in extracurricular activities may be awarded colours, pockets and certificates.
- Colours: The highest level of award in the school, awarded for outstanding achievement in a particular co-curricular field. Usually awarded only to students in Year 12. Outstanding Year 11 students may be awarded colours. This is in contrast with most other schools, who award their students colours for all-round participation and commitment.
- Blue pockets: For the second-highest level of achievement in a co-curricular field. Awarded to Years 11 or 12 students. Outstanding Year 10 students may be awarded blue pockets.
- Red pockets: For the next level of achievement in comparison with other students at the school. Awarded more liberally than blue pockets or colours, predominantly to Years 10 or 11 students.
- White pockets: These are awarded only to students in Year 9 at the end of the school year. Few awards are given.
- Head of the school's certificates: For a display of particular commitment and excellence in other areas of the school service or achievement which are not recognised in any other way. Usually awarded to students in Years 7 to 9.
- Service awards: Where a student makes some contribution in an activity peripheral to one in which colours and pockets are usually awarded (e.g. assisting in coaching a sporting team; refereeing or officiating at sporting fixtures), a service award may be given. Service awards are given at two levels, gold and silver.
- Green pockets: For participation in a major school trip such as European Tour Choir or the "Kosciuszko to the Coast" expedition. In recognition of a student's high level of skill, effort and contribution.
- House awards: House certificates and house colours recognise the achievements of students within the house. House certificates are similar to head of the school's certificates and are awarded for contributions to house activities. House colours consist of a badge with the house crest on it, which is worn on the blazer pocket.
Principals
- Sister Hannah CSC (1895–1903)
- Sister Adele CSC (1903–1912)
- Sister Mildred CSC (1912–1925)
- Sister Persis CSC (1925–1933)
- Sister Dora Beatrice CSC (1934–1939)
- Sister Eudora CSC (1939–1944)
- Sister Karina CSC (1945–1949)
- Sister Shirley CSC (1950–1952)
- Sister Gabrielle CSC (1953–1954)
- Sister Patricia CSC (1955–1963)
- Sister Scholastica CSC (1963–1966)
- Sister Gabrielle CSC (1966–1967)
- Sister Scholastica CSC (1967–1968)
- Sister Elizabeth May CSC (1968–1970)
- Sister Scholastica CSC (1971–1972)
Headmistresses
- May Vicars Foote (1937–1946)
- Dorothy Benson (1963–1965)
- Margaret Thomas (1965–1979)
Headmaster
- Anthony Hewison, AM (1980–1999)
Head of the School
- Simon GipsonSimon GipsonSimon Gipson, of Perth, Western Australia, has worked in education as a teacher, administrator and consultant in Australia, Thailand, Hong Kong, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States...
(2000-present)
Notable alumni
- Marie BreenMarie BreenDame Marie Breen, DBE was an Australian Senator representing the Liberal Party of Australia in the state of Victoria.-Biography:She was born in St Kilda, Melbourne. and christened Marie Freda Chamberlin...
, politician - Renee Veloce-Jones, wife of Prince Gaiardo of Monaco
- Slava GrigoryanSlava GrigoryanSlava Grigoryan is an Australian classical guitarist and recording artist of Armenian heritage.He was born in Kazakhstan to Eduard and Irina Grigoryan, both professional violinists. His family emigrated to Australia in 1981 and he was raised in Melbourne. Grigoryan began to study guitar with his...
, guitarist - Leonard Grigoryan, guitarist
- Asher KeddieAsher KeddieAsher Keddie is an Australian actress who is perhaps best known for her role in the Australian television series Offspring. She is also known for her theatre work and leading roles in the television series Paper Giants: The Birth of Cleo, Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities and Love My...
, actress - Andrew MacLeodAndrew MacLeodAndrew MacLeod is the CEO of the Committee for Melbourne, Foundation Chair of the United Nations Global Compact Principles for Social Investment and a member of the United Nations Expert Group on Responsible Business and Investment in High-Risk Areas...
, Former United Nations humanitarian expert, and CEO of the Committee for MelbourneCommittee For MelbourneThe Committee for Melbourne is a non-profit organisation based in Melbourne, Australia, made up of businesses and organisation. The Committee was founded in 1985 to bring together businesses, academia and non-profit organisations to do activities, networking, and policy advice to government... - Eloise MignonEloise MignonEloise Mignon is an Australian actress born in Kuwait.-Career:Mignon was educated at Melbourne Girls College, Wesley College and St Michael's Grammar School her screen credits include a role in Legacy of the Silver Shadow and a main character Mara Lomax in children's sci-fi series Silversun. She...
, actress (also attended Wesley College, MelbourneWesley College, MelbourneWesley College, Melbourne is an independent, co-educational, Christian day school in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Established in 1866, the college is a school of the Uniting Church in Australia. Wesley is the largest school in Australia by enrolment, with 3,511 students and 564 full-time staff...
) - Radha MitchellRadha MitchellRadha Rani Amber Indigo Anunda Mitchell is an Australian actress. Her film roles include Finding Neverland, Phone Booth, Man on Fire, Silent Hill, and the The Crazies-Early life:...
, actress - Samantha LaneSamantha LaneSamantha Jane Lane is an Australian television personality, sports reporter and daughter of football journalist and commentator Tim Lane....
, TV personality - Sean WroeSean WroeSean Wroe is an Australian sprinter. His personal best in the men's 400 metres is 45.17 ....
, sprinter - Dan SpielmanDan SpielmanDan Spielman is an Australian actor. He has no formal acting training and works in theatre, TV and film since graduating from high school in 1996 at St...
, actor - Jan Skubiszewski, member of Jackson JacksonJackson JacksonJackson Jackson is a hip-hop group from Melbourne, Australia consisting of Harry James Angus and Jan Skubiszewski .For live performances, they are joined by keyboards, bass, drums and backup vocalists.Jackson Jackson's first album,...
- Felix Charlesworth, cat enthusiast]
See also
- Victorian Certificate of EducationVictorian Certificate of EducationThe Victorian Certificate of Education or VCE is the credential awarded to secondary school students who successfully complete high school level studies in the state of Victoria, Australia. Study for the VCE is usually completed over two years, but it can be spread over a longer period in some cases...