Albert Park College

Albert Park College is a public, co-educational high school located in Albert Park, Victoria, Australia. In 2018, the school had 1036 enrolments and 79 teaching staff.[2] Construction of the new school was completed in late 2010 and it opened in February 2011.[3] The school opened with Year 7 and grew past full capacity over the next 10 years, including general and SEAL (Select Entry Accelerated Learning) enrolments. The curriculum includes Arts and Culture (English, French, Art, Music and Drama), Science and Exploration (Mathematics, Science, Food and Technology) and Student Leadership (Sport, Physical Education and Community Leadership eg. Lifesaving and Sailing).[4]

Albert Park College
Location
Albert Park
,
Victoria

Australia
Coordinates37.84472°S 144.94765°E / -37.84472; 144.94765
Information
TypePublic
MottoLead, Create, Inspire
Established2011
PrincipalSteve Cook
Years7-12
Number of students1375[1]
Colour(s)Grey, blue & green[2]
              
Websitewww.albertparkcollege.com

History

The new school is built on the site of the previous Albert Park College in Danks Street which closed at the end of 2006 due to a dramatic decline in enrolments.[5] Originally opened as South Melbourne High School then renamed Albert Park High School, it was renamed again as Hobson's Bay Secondary College, and then Albert Park Secondary College before closing in 2006.

In 2002 the State Government spent $1 million on renovations to fix leaking walls and rotting carpet, local MP John Thwaites saying the decay was caused by eight years of neglect by the former Kennett government.[6] In the five years to 2005 student numbers had fallen from 460 to 242,[6] by 2006 they had fallen further to 206 with only 15 students enrolled to start year 7 the next year.[7] Meanwhile, the suburb had gentrified during the past two decades, but local residents chose not to send their children to the school because of the poor reputation and low academic results.[6]

The buildings were demolished between May and November 2008. Soil contamination (common in the area from the former Gasworks sites) delayed construction of the new buildings, which was originally planned to reopen in 2009.[5] After delays in construction, a new purpose-built school was opened for Year 7 students in 2011, with contemporary architecture designed by Woods Bagot[8][9], and expanded to house 1200+ students from years 7 to 12,[10] costing $20 million to build.[11]

Controversy

At least one student has been bullied to the extent of choosing to leave the school.[12] Monique Mastrobattista, included in the 2016 intake of Year 7 students, was frequently excluded from social environments at the school, stating that her "Year 7 co-ordinator was supportive, but things weren’t getting better."[13] After being badly bruised in a fall down the concrete staircase of the school, other students photographed her bruises and started "screenshotting photos and making private group chats and spreading them around, they were laughing about how I fell and looked."[14] She later penned and published a book on her experience, titled My Discreet Bully. Her mother noted that parents at the school "often focus on encouraging school marks rather than making sure their children are good people."[15] She has since become an activist for cyberbullying, appearing on television amongst other activities.[16]

Construction of a dedicated campus for the school's Year 9 students began in 2015 with the intent of beginning classes at the start of 2016. However, due to significant issues with funding, and "unanticipated heritage and site contamination issues"[17] opening was initially delayed to the start of term 2[18], before being again delayed to the start of the second semester due to a lack of funds, despite a $8.5 million budget (up from $5.5 million in 2014[19]) from the state government[20]. For the first semester, while the campus was continually delayed, Year 9 students were educated out of a variety of community owned locations, including but not limited to, a church hall, a lifesaving club, and a renovated gatehouse on a pier[21], with upwards of fifty minutes spent walking between spaces on some days. NAPLAN results from that year indicate that Year 9 students performed at or below average for schools with similar students.[22]

Principals
  • Founding Principal 2011, Steve Cook[23] (ex-Williamstown High School)
  • Assistant Principal, John Pobjoy
  • Assistant Principal, Timothy Nolan
  • Assistant Principal, Madeline Campbell
  • Assistant Principal, Hailey Schirmer
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References
  1. https://myschool.edu.au/school/50267
  2. "Albert Park College, Albert Park | School profile - 2016 | My School". www.myschool.edu.au. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  3. Riordan, Paul (24 December 2008). "Albert Park College a step closer". Port Phillip Leader. Archived from the original on 18 September 2010. Retrieved 1 October 2010.
  4. "Albert Park College website: Student Learning". Archived from the original on 12 December 2010. Retrieved 18 November 2010.
  5. "New Secondary School For Albert Park". Media Release: MINISTER FOR EDUCATION. www.legislation.vic.gov.au. 12 October 2006. Archived from the original on 26 October 2009. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
  6. Caroline Milburn (28 November 2005). "Our shrinking schools". The Age. theage.com.au. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
  7. Caroline Milburn (15 October 2007). "New start for 'failed' school". The Age. theage.com.au. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
  8. "Woods Bagot: Albert Park Secondary College, Victoria". Archived from the original on 2 December 2010. Retrieved 18 November 2010.
  9. "Albert Park College website: Facilities".
  10. "Albert Park College a step closer". Port Phillip Leader. port-phillip-leader.whereilive.com.au. 24 December 2008. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
  11. "Albert Park school's clean slate". Port Phillip Leader. port-phillip-leader.whereilive.com.au. 3 March 2009. Archived from the original on 20 September 2010. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
  12. https://www.9news.com.au/good-news/2016/11/13/12/35/victorian-school-girl-pens-book-to-comfort-kids-being-bullied
  13. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/inner-south/former-albert-park-college-student-rises-above-bullies-with-new-book/news-story/dd6fd97f4880fd33042c4646df7c0fa8
  14. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-11-12/bullied-teen-asks-people-to-value-kindness-above-good-grades/8017110
  15. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-11-12/bullied-teen-asks-people-to-value-kindness-above-good-grades/8017110
  16. https://startsat60.com/lifestyle/relationships/parents-more-worried-about-social-media-than-drugs-and-alcohol-study-2
  17. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/inner-south/albert-park-colleges-new-year-9-campus-to-finally-open/news-story/cad9d46eabcb1c20825dc1c9f08b31bc
  18. https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/schools-a-beach-for-albert-park-students-20160202-gmjxcn.html
  19. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/inner-east/albert-park-college-guaranteed-55-million-for-new-campus-under-state-government-budget/news-story/1575b2cd380aef9902d681a938293750
  20. https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/schools-a-beach-for-albert-park-students-20160202-gmjxcn.html
  21. https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/schools-a-beach-for-albert-park-students-20160202-gmjxcn.html
  22. https://myschool.edu.au/school/50267/naplan/numbers/2016
  23. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 9 October 2010. Retrieved 2 October 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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