Balwyn High School

Balwyn High School is a state-run high school (years 7–12) in the Melbourne suburb of North Balwyn, in Victoria, Australia. It was established in 1954.[1] As of February 2013, it had 1948 students, making it the fourth largest secondary school in Victoria.[2]

Balwyn High School
Address
Buchanan Avenue, Balwyn North

Melbourne
,
Victoria
,
3104

Australia
Coordinates37°47′54″S 145°04′33″E
Information
Other namesBHS, Balwyn High, BH School
TypeState school
MottoLatin: Constanter ac Fideliter
(Constantly and Faithfully)
Established1954 (1954)
PrincipalDeborah Harman
Years7 to 12
GenderCo-educational
Number of students≈2,000
Colour(s)Navy blue, gold, bottle green
              
MascotLion
PublicationThe Lion (fortnightly online newsletter)
YearbookThe Buchanan
Websitewww.balwynhs.vic.edu.au

The postwar student population expanded. The school assembly hall was built with assistance from parents and is named after a former principal, Archibald M. Rogers. Managing the large class sizes of the era, the school developed a strong science education at senior levels that saw many of its graduates pass into senior academic, government and private sector positions.[3]

The school buildings were rebuilt in 1994 after merging with Greythorn High School. Since 1996 the school has housed international students in their recently formed international student program.

Academic achievements

In 2006 the median ENTER (precursor and equivalent to the current ATAR) was 85.70, 40.06% achieved an ENTER at or above 90 and 5.07% achieved an ENTER at or above 99. In 2004, 55 students attained ENTER scores in excess of 97 and the median ENTER was 86.95.[4]

Balwyn High School was ranked fifth out of all state secondary schools in Victoria based on VCE results in 2018.[5]

Extracurricular programmes

The school runs co-curricular programmes, including music, sport, debating, cheerleading and community programs. Its music programme, which comprises many string orchestras, includes A-Strings (Beginner), Junior Strings (Junior), Intermediate Strings, Newitt Strings (Second Most Advanced) and Senior Strings (Most Advanced), concert bands Training (Beginner), Novice, Junior, Intermediate and Symphony (most advanced), choirs, stage bands, a full symphony orchestra, a smaller chamber orchestra and many other privately formed smaller groups.[6]

Its chess teams have consistently reached state-level competitions, while the school's cheerleading squad, the Skyraiders, earned two gold medals in Pom and Stunt and finished second (Level 2 Cheerleading/Scholastic) at the 2007 National Cheerleading Championships.[7]

Balwyn High School also has a range of student-led clubs that include Social Justice, SRC (Student Representative Council), Chess and Anime.

Sport

Balwyn High School has a sports faculty, with many interschool sport teams representing the school in numerous sports, some at elite levels, like many other schools around Victoria.[8]

International Students Program

Balwyn High School runs an 'International Students Program'.[9] In 2007, there were 107 international students at Balwyn High School, who pay $11,800 per year, compared with the local students' voluntary school fees of around $900 per year. Balwyn earned 1.2 million from those international students in 2007.[10] Victoria's Education minister Bronwyn Pike denied that it was a "money-making scheme for schools", though Australian Education Union state president Mary Bluett said, "Certainly this has become a financial incentive for schools."[10]

Student services

Balwyn High School values student's well-being and mental health. A collaborative team operates through the whole school education program including team members of psychologists, counsellors, chaplain, and administrative staffs.[11]

Other

The school has four houses – Churchill, Strathmore, Windsor and Edinburgh. It also recently introduced a "Safe School Policy" against cyber-bullying.[12] In 2009, the Victorian Budget 2009–2010 has allowed the school to commence "Stage 3" building project which will include art facilities and the replacement of two old blocks.[13] The state government allocated $11.2 million for "school modernisation" of the facilities.[14]

School song
Constanter ac Fideliter
Our tribute to our High School

We'll pay with words of praise;

This song we'll sing together

With pride, its flag we'll raise.

Six years of study spent here,

Our minds shall shape and frame;

To live a life we aim to,

Most worthy, free of blame.

"Constanter ac Fideliter",

Our motto, it will be.

Balwyn High School song "Constanter ac Fideliter" on YouTube

Notable alumni
gollark: Hmm, Python just overflowizes if I use its floats.
gollark: It *cannot* calculate 9^9^9 and is probably floats.
gollark: Okay, I recalculated and I *can* plausibly store the final result of 9^9^9.
gollark: Oh.
gollark: Which endianosity?

References
  1. "International Students – Balwyn High School". www2.balwynhs.vic.edu.au. Archived from the original on 23 March 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  2. "A class of their own", Herald Sun 1 September 2013 p. 18. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  3. "Balwyn High School Primary/Secondary Education". Linked in.
  4. Balwyn High School, "Annual Report to the School Community", 2006
  5. "VCE Public School Ranking - 2018 - Better Education". Better Education. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  6. "Music – Balwyn High School". Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  7. "2007 Australian Gymsport Spectacular". Gymnastics Australia. Archived from the original on 16 April 2008. Retrieved 7 April 2008.
  8. "Victorian Secondary Schools' Sports Association". VSSSA.org.au. Archived from the original on 8 December 2008. Retrieved 13 December 2008.
  9. "International Students". Balwyn High School. Archived from the original on 21 January 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
  10. Metlikovec, Jane (3 December 2007). "Foreign students benefit system – Minister Bronwyn Pike". Herald Sun. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
  11. "Student Services – Balwyn High School". Archived from the original on 23 March 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  12. Balwyn High School, Anti Cyber-Bullying Policy Archived 19 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  13. Harman, Deborah, Principal’s Perspective – Stage 3 Funding Success, 14 May 2009
  14. 2009/2010 Victorian Budget Fact Sheet
  15. "Took the water war to the wallies". The Age. Melbourne. 18 March 2008. Retrieved 7 April 2008.
  16. "Athletics". Disease and disorder Information. 31 July 2008. Archived from the original on 10 July 2011. Retrieved 15 October 2008.
  17. "The Lion". Balwyn High School. Archived from the original on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 1 September 2009.
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