Taroona High School
Encyclopedia
Taroona High School is a co-educational state high school
located in Taroona, a southern riverside suburb of greater Hobart
, the capital of the island state Tasmania
. The school has approximately 740 students in grades 7 to 10. In 2003, Taroona High School underwent a major redevelopment. The school's current principal is David Hamlett, after the departure of Brendan Kelly at the end of 2006. The school caters for students in the southern suburbs of Hobart such as Taroona
, Dynnyrne
and Sandy Bay
but students also come from a wide range of other areas such as West Hobart
and Blackmans Bay. The school's most notable former student is Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark
.
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....
located in Taroona, a southern riverside suburb of greater Hobart
Hobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
, the capital of the island state 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...
. The school has approximately 740 students in grades 7 to 10. In 2003, Taroona High School underwent a major redevelopment. The school's current principal is David Hamlett, after the departure of Brendan Kelly at the end of 2006. The school caters for students in the southern suburbs of Hobart such as Taroona
Taroona, Tasmania
Taroona is a major residential suburb approximately 15 minutes drive from the centre of Hobart, Tasmania on the scenic route between Hobart and Kingston...
, Dynnyrne
Dynnyrne, Tasmania
Dynnyrne is a suburb of Hobart, Tasmania. It is situated in the hills south-west of the city, surrounded by the suburbs of Sandy Bay, South Hobart and Tolmans Hill. Dynnyrne is Tasmania's second most affluent suburb according to documents released by the Australian Taxation Office. The postal code...
and Sandy Bay
Sandy Bay, Tasmania
Sandy Bay is a suburb of the city of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, located immediately south of the central business district.The suburb is home to many large homes, and adjoins the waterfront Salamanca area and Battery Point. The suburb is known as one of the city's prestigious areas...
but students also come from a wide range of other areas such as West Hobart
West Hobart, Tasmania
West Hobart is an inner-city suburb of Hobart, Tasmania . It is located in the hills immediately west of the city centre, and shares the postcode 7000 with that district....
and Blackmans Bay. The school's most notable former student is Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark
Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark
Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark, Countess of Monpezat, is the wife of Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark...
.
Facilities
Taroona High School features four building areas each with two or more levels:- A Block contains general classrooms on the top two floors and a Learning Centre, used for teaching children with special needs in the lower ground floor. The lower floor also houses the LibraryLibraryIn a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
. - B Block is composed of a mixture of general classes as well as kitchens for food based courses, general purpose classrooms on the ground floor, with D&T workshop facilities and a fully equipped Canteen on the lower ground floor.
- C Block is mainly devoted to both MusicMusicMusic 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...
and DramaDramaDrama 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...
classes, with all music rooms on the top floor, and Drama facilities below. C Block also contains three computer labs, as well as a computer hardware study room and a small room used for the development of projects in conjunction with an Xbox 360 Kinect unit. - Gym is, as the name suggests. The gym is used for whole school assemblies, but mainly for the use of indoor Physical EducationPhysical educationPhysical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
classes. - D Block contains ScienceScienceScience is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
labs and classrooms as well as two mobile computer labs contained within the science prep room.
Curriculum
Taroona High School is committed to transforming the learning environment of the school to promote innovation, creativity and excellence in all aspects of its operations. Mandatory subjects within the school vary depending on grade.- Core subjects: Maths, EnglishEnglish languageEnglish 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...
, ScienceScienceScience is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
, Society & History, and WellnessPhysical educationPhysical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
. - Grade Sevens must participate in all core subjects, as well as half-year courses in ArtArtArt is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
, D&T, DramaDramaDrama 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...
, MusicMusicMusic 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...
, FrenchFrench languageFrench is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
and Home EconomicsHome EconomicsHome economics is the profession and field of study that deals with the economics and management of the home and community...
. - Grade Eights must participate in all core subjects, however they can select three out of the six electives above to complete in a full year course.
- Grade Nine & Tens must participate in maths and English in both years and a Science and Society & History at lest once in grade nine and ten. They select several subjects on a semester or full year basis. Due to the complexity in the selection of these subjects, a Course Selection Guide is given to each Grade Eight and Nine student every year, usually on the return to third term.
- Music students can study Rock/Music Industry studies or participate in the Senior Concert Band, as well as having the option of participating in the Senior Stage Band.
- There are courses unique to this school (unincluded in any other public schools in Australia) named exploring the ocean, exploring the ocean advanced and exploring the coastline these can include SCUBA diving and snorkeling and as part of these courses students can receive Padi Open Water Diver, first aid and CPR qualifications as well as teaching marine biology as a science course.
- There is also a special course in Grade 10 for students who can not keep up with the requirements of their normal class studies.
- In past years there have also been quarter-year courses called 'Short Courses' although these are not offered within the current time-table.
Taroona Primary School
Taroona High School participates a great deal with the Taroona Primary School, its neighbouring school, the two education facilities making up the Taroona Learning Centre. As a result, a large number of Taroona High students come from Taroona Primary School. The Taroona Learning Centre thus provides schooling from K - 10. .Notable alumni
- Eric AbetzEric AbetzEric Abetz , has been a Liberal Party member of the Australian Senate since February 1994, representing the state of Tasmania. He is currently Leader of the Opposition in the Senate. He was educated at the University of Tasmania and was a barrister and solicitor before entering politics...
, Tasmanian Senator. - David BartlettDavid BartlettDavid John Bartlett is an Australian former politician in the state of Tasmania, serving as the 43rd Premier of Tasmania from May 2008 until January 2011. He was an Australian Labor Party member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly seat of Denison from 2004 to 2011.-Early life:He has been a resident...
, Premier of Tasmania. - Mary Donaldson, Crown Princess of Denmark.
- Rob ValentineRob ValentineRob Valentine is the current Lord Mayor of the City of Hobart Local Government Area, in the State of Tasmania, Australia.Valentine is the great-great-grandson of Francis Valentine, who was lord mayor in 1925-26.-References:...
, Lord Mayor of Hobart.