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{{Infobox Aust school private
{{POV-check|date=December 2007}}
|name = Somerville House
{{Infobox Aust school|
name = Somerville House| |image = ]
|motto = ''Honour before Honours''<ref name=Badge&Motto>{{cite web|url = http://www.somerville.qld.edu.au/content/?id=42 |title = School Badge & Motto |accessdate = 2008-03-16 |year = 2007 |work = History |publisher = Somerville House}}</ref>
image = ]|
|established = 1899
motto = ''Honour before Honours''|
|type = ], ], ] and ]
established = 1899 |
|denomination = ] and ]
type = ] |
|slogan =
principal = Dr Ness Goodwin (2004-present) |
|key_people = Dr. Ness Goodwin(Principal)<br>Miss Eliza Fewings (Founder)
city = ] |
|fees = AU$9,210&ndash;11,364 p.a<ref name=Fees08>{{cite web |url=http://www.somerville.qld.edu.au/content/?id=77 |title=Tuition (per person) for 2008|accessdate=2008-03-16|year=2008 |work=Scale of Fees |publisher=Somerville House}}</ref>
state = ] |
|city = ]
country = ] |
campus = ] (]) | |state = ]
|country = ] {{flagicon|Australia}}
enrolment = ~ 1200|
|coordinates = {{coord|27|29|2|S|153|1|26|E|display=inline,title}}
colours = Navy Blue & Bottle Green {{color box|#000080}}{{color box|#009900}}|
|enrolment = ~1,200 (P&ndash;12)<ref name=Report06>{{cite web|url = http://www.somerville.qld.edu.au/content/?id=183 |title = School Annual Reporting 2006 |accessdate = 2008-03-16 |year = 2007 |work = About Us |publisher = Somerville House}}</ref>
homepage = |
|num_employ = ~80<ref name=Report06/>
|revenue =
|colours = Navy Blue and Bottle Green {{color box|#000080}}{{color box|#009900}}
|homepage =
}} }}
'''Somerville House''' is an ], ] and ] for girls and is located in ], ], ].


'''Somerville House''' is an ], ] and ] for girls, located in ], a suburb of ], ], ].
The School was named after the British scientific writer, ] (] – ]), though the school's official name is still '''Brisbane High School for Girls''', or BGHS.


Established in 1899 as The Brisbane High School for Girls, the School was eventually named after the British scientific writer, ] (1780&ndash;1872), though the school's official name is still Brisbane High School for Girls. Today, Somerville House is owned by the ] (PMSA),<ref name=PMSA>{{cite web|url = http://www.pmsa-schools.edu.au/content/standard.asp?name=Somerville_House |title = Somerville House |accessdate = 2008-03-16 |work = Schools |publisher = Presbyterian and Methodist Schools Association}}</ref> and provides classes from Preparatory to Year 12, within three sub-schools — Junior (Years Prep to 6), Middle (Years 7 to 9), and Senior (Years 10 to 12). The school currently caters for approximately 1,200 students from Prep to Year 12,<ref name=Report06/> including 97 boarders from Years 7 to 12.<ref name=ABSA/>
The school provides classes from Preparatory to Year 12, within three sub-schools — Junior (Years Prep to 6), Middle (Years 7 to 9), and Senior (Years 10 to 12).


Somerville House is affiliated with the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA),<ref name=AHISA>{{cite web |url=http://www.ahisa.com.au/Display.aspx?tabid=3242& |title=Queensland |accessdate=2008-03-16 |year =2008 |work=School Directory |publisher=Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia}}</ref> the ] (JSHAA),<ref name=JSHAA>{{cite web
Somerville House is owned by the ] (PMSA) and is a member of the ] (QGSSSA).
|url = http://www.jshaa.asn.au/queensland/directory/index.asp|title = JSHAA Queensland Directory of Members|accessdate = 2008-03-16|year = 2007|work = Queensland Branch|publisher = Junior School Heads' Association of Australia}}</ref> the Alliance of Girls' Schools Australasia (AGSA),<ref name=AGSA>{{cite web|url = http://www.agsa.org.au/members.php?PageID=11&Alpha=S|title = Member Schools|accessdate = 2008-03-16|last = Butler|first = Jan|year = 2006|work = Members|publisher = The Alliance of Girls' Schools Australasia}}</ref> the Australian Boarding Schools Association (ABSA),<ref name=ABSA>{{cite web|url = http://www.boarding.org.au/site/school_detail.cfm?schID=174|title = Somerville House |accessdate = 2008-03-16|year = 2005|work = Schools - Queensland |publisher = Australian Boarding Schools Association}}</ref> and is a founding member of the ] (QGSSSA).<ref name=QGSSSAHistory>{{cite web|url = http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=1-3802-0-0-0|title = (What is) QGSSSA |accessdate = 2008-03-16|year = 2005|work = QGSSSA |publisher = Queensland Girls' Secondary Schools Sports Association Inc}}</ref>


== History == == History ==
The Brisbane High School for Girls (later to be known as Somerville House) was established with 39 students on Wickham Terrace, by Eliza Fewings in October 1899. Fewings aim was to create a school community where girls could be educated and equipped with social graces, and would be able to take a leading role in the management of the nation.<ref name=PMSA/><ref name=EAFewings/> Based on English models, within 3 years it became the largest girls' ] in Queensland, with 150 students.<ref name=EAFewings/>
Somerville House opened in ] as the Brisbane High School for Girls.


Constance Harker and Marjorie Jarrett purchased the school in 1909 and so began their partnership as co-]. The two women gained little income from the school, as teacher-proprietors had little chance of financing a modern expanding school, especially one with boarding facilities. In 1918, due to these financial struggles, they transferred ownership to the newly formed ], while retaining their Principalship. In 1920 the school moved from Wickham Terrace to to its present site on Mater Hill, in South Brisbane, opening with an enrolment of 225 pupils. The boarding-school occupied "Cumbooquepa", the now ] listed, former home of Thomas Blacket Stephens (built 1890).<ref name=CEHarker/><ref name=PMSA/> At this time the school's name was changed to Somerville House, in recognition of the work of ] (1780&ndash;1872), a famous Scottish scientist and mathematician of the 19th century.<ref name=PMSA/> Over the next two decades the school carried out a major building programme and established a good reputation.<ref name=CEHarker/>
=== Principals ===
* Miss Eliza A Fewings (originally from BGGS) (1899 - 1909)
* Miss Constance E Harker (1910 - 1931)
* Miss Marjorie K Jarrett (1910 - 1940)
* Miss E Frances Craig (1941 - Aug 1953)
* Miss Ellen Christensen (Aug 1953 - May 1956)
* Miss Isobel Taylor (1957 - May 1969)
* Mr Rod Wells (1970 - March 1973)
* The Reverend Sam Seymour (1974 - 1987)
* Dr Murray J Evans (1988 - 2003)
* Dr Agnes Goodwin (2004 - )


Harker retired in 1931, but continued to live at the boarding school until Miss Jarrett's retirement in 1940. During her time as Principal, she gained a repuation in Queensland as a pioneer in the education of girls. The academic achievements of Somerville House during her co-Principalship were amongst the best in the state, and she widened the interests of her pupils by encouraging visitors who were authorities on ], ], ] and international affairs. She encouraged good citizenship and social service, and during ] formed the first school branch of the ] in Queensland. The school subsequently had branches of the ] and the ] Union, two companies of ], and a Cot Fund which supported the ill and disabled. The still functioning ] (QGSSSA), was initiated by her.<ref name=CEHarker/>
== School Badge==
The colours of the School badge are ], ] and ]. Blue is associated with Loyalty, green with Growth and white with Purity.


Somerville House was commandeered by the ] in February 1942,<ref name=EFCraig/> and was later used as headquarters of the ], East Asian Command.<ref name=PMSA/> Pupils from north of the ] were transferred to Raymont Lodge, at ], while those from the south went to the former Queen Alexandra Home, ]; boarding students were sent to Moiomindah at ], which became the school's administrative centre. Based at Stanthorpe, the Principal at the time, Elinor Frances Craig, managed the three dispersed centres and frequently commuted by rail to maintain a presence in Brisbane. The school returned to South Brisbane with minimal inconvenience in January 1945, and classes commenced on 6 February.<ref name=EFCraig/>
The central figure represents Wisdom, standing upon or emerging from, the open book, representing Knowledge. In her hand is the lamp, representing Truth. The close association of the three symbolises that Knowledge alone is but a barren thing unless studied by the light of the lamp of Understanding; that these two, combined with the experience which life brings, enable people to acquire a wisdom to be placed at the service of others.


==School Motto== == Principals ==
{| class="wikitable"
The School's Motto, "Honour before Honours", presents a challenge, in a competitive and materialistic society, to maintain the highest personal standards of integrity, and to remember the ideals of behaviour and achievement which always remain more worthwhile and important than the plaudits of the crowd.
|-
!Period
!Details
|-
|1899 &ndash; 1909
|Miss Eliza A Fewings<ref name=EAFewings>{{cite encyclopedia| last = Clarke | first = E| encyclopedia =Australian Dictionary of Biography| title = Fewings, Eliza Ann (1857 - 1940)| url = http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A080517b.htm| accessdate = 2008-03-16 | edition = Online| year = 1981| publisher = Melbourne University Press| volume =8| location = Melbourne| pages = pp.490-491}}</ref>
|-
|1910 &ndash; 1931
|Miss Constance E Harker<ref name=CEHarker>{{cite encyclopedia| last = Gill | first = K.E| encyclopedia =Australian Dictionary of Biography| title = Harker, Constance Elizabeth (1875 - 1964)| url = http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A090196b.htm| accessdate = 2008-03-16 | edition = Online| year = 1983| publisher = Melbourne University Press| volume =9| location = Melbourne| pages = p.199}}</ref>
|-
|1910 &ndash; 1940
|Miss Marjorie K Jarrett
|-
|1941 &ndash; 1953
|Miss E Frances Craig<ref name=EFCraig>{{cite encyclopedia| last = Gill | first = K.E| encyclopedia =Australian Dictionary of Biography| title = Craig, Elinor Frances (1888 - 1969) | url = http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A130582b.htm| accessdate = 2008-03-16 | edition = Online| year = 1993| publisher = Melbourne University Press| volume =13| location = Melbourne| pages = p.596}}</ref>
|-
|1953 &ndash; 1956
|Miss Ellen Christensen
|-
|1957 &ndash; 1969
|Miss Isobel Taylor
|-
|1970 &ndash; 1973
|Mr Rod Wells
|-
|1974 &ndash; 1987
|The Reverend Sam Seymour
|-
|1988 &ndash; 2003
|Dr Murray J Evans
|-
|2004 &ndash; present
|Dr Agnes Goodwin
|-
|}


== House System == ==Curriculum==
Somerville House typically performs well in state-wide examinations, scoring the second highest rating for academic outcomes from girls' schools in the Queensland Studies Authority's 2005 report.{{fact|date=March 2008}}
Somerville House has six houses, each named after a famous Australian woman that was a pioneer in her field. The houses are:

* CHISHOLM (yellow) - named after ]
* DURACK (black and white) - named after ] (nee Costello)
* FRANKLIN (red) - named after ]
* GILMORE (pink) - named after ]
* MACARTHUR (blue) - named after ]
* OSBURN (green) - named after ]

There are inter-house competitions held throughout the year. These competitions include:
* Inter-house Swimming Carnival
* Inter-house Athletics Carnival
* Inter-house Charity Trot
* Inter-house Chess Competition
* Inter-house Bin-Filling Competition
* Senior School Choral Festival (Years 10-12)
* Middle School Arts Festival (Years 7-9)

== Academics ==
Somerville House upholds an excellent academic record, scoring the second highest rating for academic outcomes from girls' schools in the Queensland Studies Authority's 2005 report.


<!--deleted list of curriculum subjects as unencyclopaedic laundry list--> <!--deleted list of curriculum subjects as unencyclopaedic laundry list-->
<!--replace only with descriptive prose about specialty subjects--> <!--replace only with descriptive prose about specialty subjects-->
=== Technology ===
The deployment of ] computers to the staff and students of Somerville House began in 2001 and continued to the pilot laptop deployment to Year 6 students during Semester 2, 2003. Laptops are currently used by all Year 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 students.


=== Faith Education === == School badge==
The School Badge dates back to 1902. The central figure represents Wisdom, standing upon or emerging from, the open book, representing Knowledge. In her hand is a lamp, representing Truth. The school ], ''Honour before Honours'', can be found at the base of the badge.<ref name=PMSA/>
As a member of the historic Presbyterian and Methodist Schools Association, and with direct links to the ] and ] Churches, Somerville House deeply values its ] heritage as it seeks to encourage its staff and students in their own spiritual formation, understanding and honouring the Lordship of Christ in all of life.


The colours of the School badge are ], ] and ]. Blue is associated with Loyalty, green with Growth and white with Purity. The School's Motto, ''Honour before Honours''.
=== Technology ===
Somerville House has always striven to provide additional learning tools to its students. The Senior management of the School has identified the need to provide a consistent mobile computing platform to students because of:


== House System ==
* The growth of educational content available on the ] and through other web-based content providers;
As with most Australian school, Somerville House utilises a ]. The school has six houses, each named after a famous Australian woman that was a pioneer in her field. The houses are:
* The increase in tools to assist in the delivery of learning materials via computing and web based technologies;
* The growth in utilisation of computing devices by the students as tools during their learning journey; and
* A desire to deliver learning materials to the student body regardless of location or time of day.


* {{color box|#FFFF00}} Chisholm - Named after ]
The project to deploy ] computers to the staff and students of Somerville House began in ] and continued to the pilot laptop deployment to Year 6 students during Semester 2, ]. Laptops are currently used by all Year 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 students.
* {{color box|#000000}}{{color box|#FFFFFF}} Durack - Named after ] (nee Costello)
* {{color box|#FF0000}} Franklin - Named after ]
* {{color box|#F77FBE}} Gilmore - Named after ]
* {{color box|#0000FF}} MacArthur - Named after ]
* {{color box|#008000}} Osburn - Named after ]


There are inter-house competitions held throughout the year, inluding a Swimming Carnival, Athletics Carnival, Charity Trot, Chess Competition, Senior School Choral Festival (Years 10-12), and Middle School Arts Festival (Years 7-9).
==Notable Alumnae==

*] - Model
==Notable alumnae==
*] - Author
] of Somerville House are known as Old Girls, and may elect to join the schools ], the Somerville House Old Girls' Association (OGA). The OGA was established in 1901.<ref name=OGA>{{cite web|url = http://www.somerville.qld.edu.au/content/?id=42 |title = Somerville House Old Girls' Association |accessdate = 2008-03-16 |year = 2007 |work = Community Relations |publisher = Somerville House}}</ref> Some notable Somerville House Old Girls include:
*] - Olympic Swimmer and World Record Holder

;Entertainment, media and the arts
*] - Artist and former Director of the ] *] - Artist and former Director of the ]
*] - Olympic Swimmer *] - Author
*] - Artist *] - Artist

*] - Young Australian of the Year - ]
;Sport
*] - Runner
*] - Model
*] - Professional Tennis Player *] - Professional Tennis Player
*] - Olympic Swimmer
*] - Youth Olympian in Rhythmic Gymnastics
*] - Olympic Swimmer and World Record Holder


==See also== ==See also==
*] *]
*]
*] *]
*]


==External links== ==External links==

Revision as of 09:34, 16 March 2008

Template:Infobox Aust school private

Somerville House is an independent, boarding and day school for girls, located in South Brisbane, a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

Established in 1899 as The Brisbane High School for Girls, the School was eventually named after the British scientific writer, Mary Somerville (1780–1872), though the school's official name is still Brisbane High School for Girls. Today, Somerville House is owned by the Presbyterian and Methodist Schools Association (PMSA), and provides classes from Preparatory to Year 12, within three sub-schools — Junior (Years Prep to 6), Middle (Years 7 to 9), and Senior (Years 10 to 12). The school currently caters for approximately 1,200 students from Prep to Year 12, including 97 boarders from Years 7 to 12.

Somerville House is affiliated with the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA), the Junior School Heads Association of Australia (JSHAA), the Alliance of Girls' Schools Australasia (AGSA), the Australian Boarding Schools Association (ABSA), and is a founding member of the Queensland Girls' Secondary Schools Sports Association Inc (QGSSSA).

History

The Brisbane High School for Girls (later to be known as Somerville House) was established with 39 students on Wickham Terrace, by Eliza Fewings in October 1899. Fewings aim was to create a school community where girls could be educated and equipped with social graces, and would be able to take a leading role in the management of the nation. Based on English models, within 3 years it became the largest girls' secondary school in Queensland, with 150 students.

Constance Harker and Marjorie Jarrett purchased the school in 1909 and so began their partnership as co-Principals. The two women gained little income from the school, as teacher-proprietors had little chance of financing a modern expanding school, especially one with boarding facilities. In 1918, due to these financial struggles, they transferred ownership to the newly formed Presbyterian and Methodist Schools Association, while retaining their Principalship. In 1920 the school moved from Wickham Terrace to to its present site on Mater Hill, in South Brisbane, opening with an enrolment of 225 pupils. The boarding-school occupied "Cumbooquepa", the now National Trust listed, former home of Thomas Blacket Stephens (built 1890). At this time the school's name was changed to Somerville House, in recognition of the work of Mary Somerville (1780–1872), a famous Scottish scientist and mathematician of the 19th century. Over the next two decades the school carried out a major building programme and established a good reputation.

Harker retired in 1931, but continued to live at the boarding school until Miss Jarrett's retirement in 1940. During her time as Principal, she gained a repuation in Queensland as a pioneer in the education of girls. The academic achievements of Somerville House during her co-Principalship were amongst the best in the state, and she widened the interests of her pupils by encouraging visitors who were authorities on literature, music, art and international affairs. She encouraged good citizenship and social service, and during World War I formed the first school branch of the Red Cross Society in Queensland. The school subsequently had branches of the Australian Student Christian Movement and the League of Nations Union, two companies of Girl Guides, and a Cot Fund which supported the ill and disabled. The still functioning Queensland Girls' Secondary Schools Sports Association (QGSSSA), was initiated by her.

Somerville House was commandeered by the Australian Military Forces in February 1942, and was later used as headquarters of the United States Army, East Asian Command. Pupils from north of the Brisbane River were transferred to Raymont Lodge, at Auchenflower, while those from the south went to the former Queen Alexandra Home, Coorparoo; boarding students were sent to Moiomindah at Stanthorpe, which became the school's administrative centre. Based at Stanthorpe, the Principal at the time, Elinor Frances Craig, managed the three dispersed centres and frequently commuted by rail to maintain a presence in Brisbane. The school returned to South Brisbane with minimal inconvenience in January 1945, and classes commenced on 6 February.

Principals

Period Details
1899 – 1909 Miss Eliza A Fewings
1910 – 1931 Miss Constance E Harker
1910 – 1940 Miss Marjorie K Jarrett
1941 – 1953 Miss E Frances Craig
1953 – 1956 Miss Ellen Christensen
1957 – 1969 Miss Isobel Taylor
1970 – 1973 Mr Rod Wells
1974 – 1987 The Reverend Sam Seymour
1988 – 2003 Dr Murray J Evans
2004 – present Dr Agnes Goodwin

Curriculum

Somerville House typically performs well in state-wide examinations, scoring the second highest rating for academic outcomes from girls' schools in the Queensland Studies Authority's 2005 report.

Technology

The deployment of laptop computers to the staff and students of Somerville House began in 2001 and continued to the pilot laptop deployment to Year 6 students during Semester 2, 2003. Laptops are currently used by all Year 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 students.

School badge

The School Badge dates back to 1902. The central figure represents Wisdom, standing upon or emerging from, the open book, representing Knowledge. In her hand is a lamp, representing Truth. The school motto, Honour before Honours, can be found at the base of the badge.

The colours of the School badge are blue, green and white. Blue is associated with Loyalty, green with Growth and white with Purity. The School's Motto, Honour before Honours.

House System

As with most Australian school, Somerville House utilises a house system. The school has six houses, each named after a famous Australian woman that was a pioneer in her field. The houses are:

There are inter-house competitions held throughout the year, inluding a Swimming Carnival, Athletics Carnival, Charity Trot, Chess Competition, Senior School Choral Festival (Years 10-12), and Middle School Arts Festival (Years 7-9).

Notable alumnae

Alumnae of Somerville House are known as Old Girls, and may elect to join the schools alumni association, the Somerville House Old Girls' Association (OGA). The OGA was established in 1901. Some notable Somerville House Old Girls include:

Entertainment, media and the arts
Sport

See also

External links

Members of the Queensland Girls' Secondary Schools Sports Association, Australia
Presbyterian and Methodist Schools Association Colleges, Queensland, Australia
  1. ^ "Somerville House". Schools. Presbyterian and Methodist Schools Association. Retrieved 2008-03-16.
  2. Cite error: The named reference Report06 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Somerville House". Schools - Queensland. Australian Boarding Schools Association. 2005. Retrieved 2008-03-16.
  4. "Queensland". School Directory. Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia. 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-16.
  5. "JSHAA Queensland Directory of Members". Queensland Branch. Junior School Heads' Association of Australia. 2007. Retrieved 2008-03-16.
  6. Butler, Jan (2006). "Member Schools". Members. The Alliance of Girls' Schools Australasia. Retrieved 2008-03-16.
  7. "(What is) QGSSSA". QGSSSA. Queensland Girls' Secondary Schools Sports Association Inc. 2005. Retrieved 2008-03-16.
  8. ^ Clarke, E (1981). "Fewings, Eliza Ann (1857 - 1940)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol. 8 (Online ed.). Melbourne: Melbourne University Press. pp. pp.490-491. Retrieved 2008-03-16. {{cite encyclopedia}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  9. ^ Gill, K.E (1983). "Harker, Constance Elizabeth (1875 - 1964)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol. 9 (Online ed.). Melbourne: Melbourne University Press. pp. p.199. Retrieved 2008-03-16. {{cite encyclopedia}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  10. ^ Gill, K.E (1993). "Craig, Elinor Frances (1888 - 1969)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol. 13 (Online ed.). Melbourne: Melbourne University Press. pp. p.596. Retrieved 2008-03-16. {{cite encyclopedia}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  11. "Somerville House Old Girls' Association". Community Relations. Somerville House. 2007. Retrieved 2008-03-16.
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