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Revision as of 09:22, 5 March 2006 by 144.137.164.191 (talk) (→School Badge and Motto)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Somerville House is an independent, boarding and day school for girls and is located in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. The School was named after the British scientific writer, Mary Somerville (1780 – 1872).
Somerville House 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 has consistently won acclaim for its achievements since it opened in 1899 as the Brisbane High School for Girls, with outstanding academic, sporting, and cultural programs. The School's strong focus on curriculum and pastoral care is instrumental in developing confident, well-educated and critical thinking young women. Somerville House is a member of the Queensland Girls' Secondary Schools Sports Association Inc (QGSSSA).
The School provides excellent opportunities for students to participate in an extensive academic, sporting and cultural programme, as well as setting high standards in personal care and attention to individuals within the School community.
The School is owned by the Presbyterian and Methodist Schools Association (PMSA) and is related thereby to Brisbane Boys College, Clayfield College, Sunshine Coast Grammar School and Moreton Bay Boys College, the other schools connected with the PMSA.
History
School Badge and Motto
The colours of the School badge are blue, green and white. Each has its significance for those who wear the badge.
Blue is associated with Loyalty and so is a reminder of the need to be faithful in all things - to be true to the high standards of conduct traditional in our School, in work, in games, in living together. The blue of the badge challenges students to conscientious work, sincere friendship, considerate behaviour and responsible attitudes.
The Green of the badge, because of its association with the foliage of a plant, and hence with Growth, makes us aware of the students' need to develop in body, in mind and in spirit, so that the fulfilment which is the purpose of growth may be achieved in mature womanhood, alert, gracious and thoughtful.
White traditionally represents Purity. To the School this means wholesomeness of mind, purity of heart and sanity of outlook, made evident in words that are controlled and true, in actions that are upright and kind.
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 thee three reminds students 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 us to acquire a wisdom to be placed at the service of others.
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 keep before the students as their goal, ideals of behaviour and achievement which always remain more worthwhile and important than the plaudits of the crowd.
Principals
- Miss Eliza A Fewings (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 Ness Goodwin (2004 - present)
House System
Somerville House has six houses, each named after a famous Australian woman that was a pioneer in her field. The houses are:
- CHISOLM (yellow) - named after Caroline Chisolm
- DURACK (black) - named after Mary Durack
- FRANKLIN (red) - named after Jane Franklin
- GILMORE (pink) - named after Mary Gilmore
- MACARTHUR (blue) - named after Elizabeth Macarthur
- OSBURN (green) - named after Lucy Osburn
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-painting Competition
- Senior School Choral Festival (Years 10-12)
- Middle School Arts Festival (Years 7-9)
Academics
Somerville House upholds an excellent academic record and is regarded as being one of the best girl's school in Australia.
Curriculum
Subjects offered: Years 7 – 9
- Art
- Chinese
- Drama
- English
- Food Technology
- French
- German
- Information Technology
- Japanese
- Mathematics
- Music
- Physical Education
- Religious Education
- Science
- Studies of the Society and the Environment
Subjects offered: Year 10
- Art
- Biology
- Business Education
- Chemistry
- Chinese
- Drama
- Economics & Law
- English
- Food Technology
- French
- Geography
- German
- History
- Information Technology
- Japanese
- Mathematics A
- Mathematics B
- Music
- Physical Education
- Physics
- Religious Education
Subjects offered: Years 11 – 12 QSA subjects
- Art
- Accounting
- Ancient History
- Biology
- Business Communications & Technology
- Chemistry
- Chinese
- Core Physical Education
- Drama
- Economics
- English
- French
- Geography
- German
- Health & Physical Education
- Information Processing & Technology
- Japanese
- Legal Studies
- Mathematics A
- Mathematics B
- Mathematics C
- Modern History
- Music
- Music Extension (Year 12 Only)
- Physics
- Religious Education
Faith Education
As a member of the historic Presbyterian and Methodist Schools Association, and with direct links to the Presbyterian and Uniting Churches, Somerville House deeply values its Christian heritage as it seeks to encourage its staff and students in their own spiritual formation, understanding and honoring the Lordship of Christ in all of life.
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:
- The growth of educational content available on the Internet and through other web-based content providers;
- 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.
The project to deploy 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 and 9 students.
See also
External links
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