Warrandyte High School
Encyclopedia
Warrandyte High School (or WHS) is a high school
in Warrandyte, Victoria
, Australia
. Established as only a few portable classrooms in 1978, it now comprises two main buildings and many semi-permanent portables set amongst many types of eucalyptus, native wildlife and other native vegetation, on a hillside on the southern slopes of the Yarra River
, west of the main township of Warrandyte. The majority of its 600 students live in Warrandyte and the surrounding region. The school is known primarily for its art and music curriculum and natural setting, and it has a long history of annual musical theatre productions.
study area (a project with a budget of $260,000) was undertaken and completed during 2004. In excess of $100,000 of locally raised funds was committed to the project together with a grant of $85,000 through the Department of Education and Training, as well as $77,000 from the ICT Modernization Project.
There were also a number of modifications to the school's grounds. The outdoor sports complex (now the Michael J. Blake Sports Complex) was completed and opened by Judy Green. The school's canteen was extended and renovated. The Federation Garden Project was completed with the planting of a 'Bush Tucker Garden'. The top driveway and bus bay was sealed, the gardens surrounding it landscaped and a new school sign erected on the corner of Alexander and Warrandyte Road. New indigenous garden areas at the front of the school and between the portable classrooms were planted. Large shade sail
s were also erected over the outdoor amphiteatre.
. It has a sister school 'Hazu High School' in Japan
. The school hosts several orchestras and ensembles and has a long history involving music and theatre (see Extracurricular Activities). Warrandyte High teacher, Joe Ferrante, was awarded the teacher of the year by the school in 2010 after he donated $10,000 to keep the school's music department alive.
School sport competitions are divided into 4 houses:
Warrandyte is situated in the outer north-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, 27 km east-north-east of the Melbourne Central Business District. Warrandyte was founded as a Victorian town during the Victorian gold rush
, and is now generally considered part of greater Melbourne.
The nearest major suburbs are Ringwood
to the east and Eltham
to the north. The catchment area for Warrandyte High School is extremely wide, with students coming from as far as Christmas Hills and Hurstbridge.
The National Bus Company
, Panorama Coaches
and Invicta Bus Service all provide public transport to and from the school. The school also offers a walking school bus program for their students from the school to the Warrandyte town complex.
Year 12 theatre studies productions:
Notable Personnel:
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 Warrandyte, Victoria
Warrandyte, Victoria
Warrandyte is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 24 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Manningham...
, 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 as only a few portable classrooms in 1978, it now comprises two main buildings and many semi-permanent portables set amongst many types of eucalyptus, native wildlife and other native vegetation, on a hillside on the southern slopes of the Yarra River
Yarra River
The Yarra River, originally Birrarung, is a river in east-central Victoria, Australia. The lower stretches of the river is where the city of Melbourne was established in 1835 and today Greater Melbourne dominates and influences the landscape of its lower reaches...
, west of the main township of Warrandyte. The majority of its 600 students live in Warrandyte and the surrounding region. The school is known primarily for its art and music curriculum and natural setting, and it has a long history of annual musical theatre productions.
History
Warrandyte High School was opened in 1978 with 43 students, initially the hillside was quite bare as new vegetation was planted, this initial planting has since matured and created the dense vegetation that surrounds the school today. The first permanent buildings were built in 1987. When the Triennial Review in 1994 was completed the school enrolment was 490, in 2000 it was 691 and by 2003 it was around 750 where it remains as of 2008. Around 600 students currently attend Warrandyte High School.2004 Development
From 2002-2004 a number of construction works were undertaken. A Library extension/VCEVictorian 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...
study area (a project with a budget of $260,000) was undertaken and completed during 2004. In excess of $100,000 of locally raised funds was committed to the project together with a grant of $85,000 through the Department of Education and Training, as well as $77,000 from the ICT Modernization Project.
There were also a number of modifications to the school's grounds. The outdoor sports complex (now the Michael J. Blake Sports Complex) was completed and opened by Judy Green. The school's canteen was extended and renovated. The Federation Garden Project was completed with the planting of a 'Bush Tucker Garden'. The top driveway and bus bay was sealed, the gardens surrounding it landscaped and a new school sign erected on the corner of Alexander and Warrandyte Road. New indigenous garden areas at the front of the school and between the portable classrooms were planted. Large shade sail
Shade sail
A shade sail is a device to create outdoor shade based on the basic technology as a ship's sail. Shade sails use a flexible membrane tensioned between several anchor points. While generally installed permanently, they are cheap and easy to set up...
s were also erected over the outdoor amphiteatre.
Frowd-Brown Mining Award
Frowd-Brown Mining Company has sponsored the achievements of students at WHS which have succeeded in trying schooling conditions to overcome the odds and succeed with an outstanding display of courage and drive bringing a great deal of respect back to the school. The most famous recipient of this prestige’s award is that of Benjamin Baragwanath, who won the F.B.M.C after a motivational movie display that took Australia by storm. Mr. Baragwanath, remembering his roots, has been known to return to WHS to provide the senior students with an inspirational speech every year. This award is presented to the student that is seen to best capture and represent the schools values. As of yet there has not been a winner of this award that has not gone on to provide a vital service to the Australian society that we live in today.Another notable award sponsored by Frowd-Brown Mining Company and presented to the student of Warrandyte High School is the “Benjamin Baragwanath Top Bloke Award” formally known as the Top Bloke Award it was renamed in 2001 to honour the greatness of an extremely successful student. This award is presented to the student that is seen to display the attitude of a Top Bloke. Unfortunately this award cannot be given to a female because they are not regarded as ‘Blokes’.Other information
There is no year level camp, rather a year 7 camp, annual music camps and a Year 11 trip to the Northern TerritoryNorthern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
. It has a sister school 'Hazu High School' in 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...
. The school hosts several orchestras and ensembles and has a long history involving music and theatre (see Extracurricular Activities). Warrandyte High teacher, Joe Ferrante, was awarded the teacher of the year by the school in 2010 after he donated $10,000 to keep the school's music department alive.
School sport competitions are divided into 4 houses:
- Newman (Yellow or Purple)
- Stiggant (Blue) - traditionally successful in swimming competitions (proving this in 2008-9 by winning the swimming and athletics)
- Anderson (Green)
- Michel (Red) - Won their first ever house event in 2010.
Facilities
The school has two outdoor basketball courts, four tennis courts and a football/cricket oval with cricket nets. The school has a separate building for art and design including a dark room, two art studios, Design studio (Used for wood, metal, plastic and more) it also has a visual design studio. School buildings are organised alphabetically in the order that they were built:- A Block - administration, theatre, music rooms, indoor sports stadium and facilities. (1980s)
- B Block - Art and Design studios. (1980s)
- C Block - library, VCE centre, science rooms, textiles, home economics. (1980s)
- D Block - semi-permanent portables, language rooms. (1990s)
- E Block - semi-permanent portables, general classrooms. (2000s)
Location
See: WarrandyteWarrandyte is situated in the outer north-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, 27 km east-north-east of the Melbourne Central Business District. Warrandyte was founded as a Victorian town during the Victorian gold rush
Victorian gold rush
The Victorian gold rush was a period in the history of Victoria, Australia approximately between 1851 and the late 1860s. In 10 years the Australian population nearly tripled.- Overview :During this era Victoria dominated the world's gold output...
, and is now generally considered part of greater Melbourne.
The nearest major suburbs are Ringwood
Ringwood, Victoria
Ringwood is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, east of Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Maroondah. At the 2006 Census, Ringwood had a population of 15,185....
to the east and Eltham
Eltham, Victoria
Eltham is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 20 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Nillumbik. At the 2006 Census, Eltham had a population of 17,581....
to the north. The catchment area for Warrandyte High School is extremely wide, with students coming from as far as Christmas Hills and Hurstbridge.
The National Bus Company
National Bus Company
The National Bus Company, or NBC, was the Australian brand for National Express Group's mass transit bus services in Melbourne and Brisbane. Its sister companies were Westbus, Hillsbus, and Glenorie in Sydney, Southern Coast Transit in Perth.-Routes:...
, Panorama Coaches
Panorama Coaches
Panorama Coaches is a bus and coach operator in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. As a Melbourne bus company, it operates a number of bus routes under contract from the Victorian State Government.-Routes:...
and Invicta Bus Service all provide public transport to and from the school. The school also offers a walking school bus program for their students from the school to the Warrandyte town complex.
Theatre studies
Year 11 theatre studies productions:- Man the Balloon (2005)
- The Fire RaisersThe Fire RaisersThe Fire Raisers may refer to* The Fire Raisers , a 1933 British film starring Leslie Banks* The Fire Raisers , aka "The Firebugs", a 1953 German play...
(2007) - UBUREX (2007)
- Blood Wedding (2010)
- Hit the Zoo!
Year 12 theatre studies productions:
- Imaginary InvalidLe Malade imaginaireThe Imaginary Invalid is a three-act comédie-ballet by the French playwright Molière. It was first performed in 1673 and was the last work he wrote. In an ironic twist of fate, Molière collapsed during his fourth performance as Argan on 17 February and died soon after...
(2005) - Caucasian Chalk Circle (2006)
- The CrucibleThe CrucibleThe Crucible is a 1952 play by the American playwright Arthur Miller. It is a dramatization of the Salem witch trials that took place in the Province of Massachusetts Bay during 1692 and 1693. Miller wrote the play as an allegory of McCarthyism, when the US government blacklisted accused communists...
(2008) - Epic Theatre (2011)
Theatre
The school is widely known for its yearly musical productions featuring students and occasionally staff members, which have run since 1983. The productions are notable for the high level of professionalism by the students, many of which attend the school for its music & theatre curriculum. In 1987 a dedicated theatre was built, the second largest school theatre in the region. Chris White directed 20 productions between 1983 and 2004. Most productions have involved multiple performances held over the course of 2 weekends.- 1983 - H.M.S. PinaforeH.M.S. PinaforeH.M.S. Pinafore; or, The Lass That Loved a Sailor is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and a libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It opened at the Opera Comique in London, England, on 25 May 1878 and ran for 571 performances, which was the second-longest run of any musical...
(performed at the Warrandyte Mechanics Institute) - 1984 - The Pirates of PenzanceThe Pirates of PenzanceThe Pirates of Penzance; or, The Slave of Duty is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. The opera's official premiere was at the Fifth Avenue Theatre in New York City on 31 December 1879, where the show was well received by both audiences...
- 1985 - The GondoliersThe GondoliersThe Gondoliers; or, The King of Barataria is a Savoy Opera, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It premiered at the Savoy Theatre on 7 December 1889 and ran for a very successful 554 performances , closing on 30 June 1891...
- 1986 - New theatre under construction
- 1987 - Oklahoma!Oklahoma!Oklahoma! is the first musical written by composer Richard Rodgers and librettist Oscar Hammerstein II. The musical is based on Lynn Riggs' 1931 play, Green Grow the Lilacs. Set in Oklahoma Territory outside the town of Claremore in 1906, it tells the story of cowboy Curly McLain and his romance...
- 1988 - Sallow Wattle (written by WHS parent Cliff Green)
- 1989 - AnnieAnnie (musical)Annie is a Broadway musical based upon the popular Harold Gray comic strip Little Orphan Annie, with music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin, and the book by Thomas Meehan. The original Broadway production opened in 1977 and ran for nearly six years with a blonde Annie as the poster...
- 1990 - A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the ForumA Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the ForumA Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart....
- 1991 - My Fair LadyMy Fair LadyMy Fair Lady is a musical based upon George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion and with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe...
- 1992 - Anything GoesAnything GoesAnything Goes is a musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter. The original book was a collaborative effort by Guy Bolton and P.G. Wodehouse, heavily revised by the team of Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. The story concerns madcap antics aboard an ocean liner bound from New York to London...
- 1993 - The Pirates of PenzanceThe Pirates of PenzanceThe Pirates of Penzance; or, The Slave of Duty is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. The opera's official premiere was at the Fifth Avenue Theatre in New York City on 31 December 1879, where the show was well received by both audiences...
(only production to be performed twice) - 1994 - GreaseGrease (musical)Grease is a 1971 musical by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. The musical is named for the 1950s United States working-class youth subculture known as the greasers. The musical, set in 1959 at fictional Rydell High School , follows ten working-class teenagers as they navigate the complexities of love,...
- 1995 - Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor DreamcoatJoseph and the Amazing Technicolor DreamcoatJoseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical with lyrics by Tim Rice. The story is based on the "coat of many colors" story of Joseph from the Hebrew Bible's Book of Genesis. This was the first Lloyd Webber and Rice musical to be performed publicly...
- 1996 - Into the WoodsInto the WoodsInto the Woods is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine. It debuted in San Diego at the Old Globe Theatre in 1986, and premiered on Broadway in 1987. Bernadette Peters' performance as the Witch and Joanna Gleason's portrayal of the Baker's Wife brought acclaim...
- 1997 - Les MisérablesLes 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....
- 1998 - West Side StoryWest Side StoryWest Side Story is an American musical with a script by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and choreographed by Jerome Robbins...
- 1999 - Sweeney Todd (reprised with students & external cast in 2003)
- 2000 - The WizThe WizThe Wiz: The Super Soul Musical "Wonderful Wizard of Oz" is a musical with music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls and book by William F. Brown. It is a retelling of L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in the context of African American culture. It opened on October 21, 1974 at the Morris A...
- 2001 - ChicagoChicago (musical)Chicago is a musical set in Prohibition-era Chicago. The music is by John Kander with lyrics by Fred Ebb and a book by Ebb and Bob Fosse. The story is a satire on corruption in the administration of criminal justice and the concept of the "celebrity criminal"...
- 2002 - Little Shop of HorrorsLittle 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...
- 2003 - PippinPippin (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...
- 2004 - Oliver!Oliver!Oliver! is a British musical, with script, music and lyrics by Lionel Bart. The musical is based upon the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens....
- 2005 - It's Showtime (Musical compilation)
- 2006 - FootlooseFootloose (musical)Footloose is a 1998 musical based on the 1984 film of the same name. The music is by Tom Snow , the lyrics by Dean Pitchford , and the book by Pitchford and Walter Bobbie.-Act 1:...
- 2007 - BillyBilly (musical)Billy is a musical based on the novel and play Billy Liar by Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall. The book was written by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, the music is by John Barry, and the lyrics are by Don Black.-Production:...
- 2008 - Highlights (WHS 30th Anniversary)
- 2009 - Honk!Honk!Honk! is a musical adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen story The Ugly Duckling, incorporating a message of tolerance. The book and lyrics are by Anthony Drewe and music is by George Stiles...
- 2010 - Life Is a Musical (Jukebox musical)
- 2011 - SeussicalSeussicalis a musical by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty based on the books of Dr. Seuss that debuted on Broadway in 2000. The play's story is a rather complex amalgamation of many of Seuss's most famous books. After a Broadway run, the production spawned two US national tours and a UK tour...
Notable Personnel:
- Charlie White - former staff member, directed 20 productions between 1983 and 2004.
- Greg Stewart - now former staff member, performed in all but a few productions.
- Michael Blake - former principal, conducted lighting/audio for many productions.
- Kirk Skinner - musical director on multiple occasions.
- Marion White - choreographer on multiple occasions.
- Mrs. Orkibi - exotic dancer/entertainment for cast
- Niki Pidd - producer for Theatre Studies productions
- Helene Butterworth - producer on multiple occasions
- David Kahukiwa - stage manager on multiple occasions
- Kensuke Takada - former student, graduate in 2007, one and only Japanese SRC President.
- Shane Holloway - Director/choreographer for 2009
- Julia Buchannan - musical director for 2010
- Joel Bow - choreographer for 2010
- Daniel Puckey - musical director for 2011
- Drew Downing - director/choreographer for 2011
- Nick Oremek - resident bogan/lighting