Caringbah High School

Caringbah High School is a government-funded co-educational academically selective secondary day school, located in Caringbah, in the Sutherland Shire of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The school was opened in 1960 as a co-educational high school and was nominated to become selective in 1989, over the neighbouring Port Hacking High. As of 2010 approximately 900 students were enrolled.[1]

Caringbah High School
Location
Caringbah, Sutherland Shire, Sydney, New South Wales

Australia
Coordinates34°02′06″S 151°07′16″E
Information
TypeGovernment-funded co-educational academically selective secondary day school
MottoLatin: Omnia Vincit Diligentia
(Diligence conquers all)
Established10 August 1961 (1961-08-10)
PrincipalAlan Maclean
Years7-12
Number of studentsc. 912
Colour(s)Orange & green   
Websitewww.caringbah-h.schools.nsw.edu.au

School campus

Before 2010, the school was split across two locations, the southern campus (on higher ground, known colloquially known as "top school") and the northern campus (on lower ground, know colloquially as "bottom school" or "the Annexe"). The campuses were linked by a covered walkway and grassed area. The southern campus was the original site which contained an auxiliary administrative office as well as music, industrial technology, applied science classrooms and languages.

As of the 1980s, the junior years were taught in the Annexe and senior years were taught in the older buildings on the southern campus.[2]

However, due to the unstable clay foundation of the "top school", causing the campus to begin sinking, a construction project to consolidate all of the school's facilities commenced in 2007.[3] and was completed in 2012.[4] As of 2010, only the "bottom school" is in use and the abandoned buildings of the "top school" have become a noted site of urban decay and vandalism.[5] On 2 April 2013, the school hall in the abandoned southern campus was destroyed by arson.[6] On 29 August 2015, one of the other buildings in the southern campus was the site of another fire.[7] A year 12 student has secured $100,000 to add solar panels on the roof of the school hall, which is expected to create annual savings of $18,000.[8]

Outdoor Learning Centre

One of the key programs the school's environmental committee "Green Edge" is undertaking is the Outdoor Learning Centre (OLC). Construction started in August 2013. It is currently under construction near the site of the former walkway between the two campuses. Students and staff both had significant input into the design, and much of the work will be constructed with the help of students and staff. It will consist of a central "pod", where classes can be held, and 5 smaller "pods" each based on bush tucker, a xeriscape, a meditative garden, an indigenous garden and a sensory garden.[9] The OLC is expected to be a work in progress, with full construction expected in 5 years.

Regeneration area

The school also has a "regeneration" area, where plants from pre-European settlement times grow. Seeds from trees and original native grasses populate the area, with students working to ensure the area remains free of introduced grasses and weeds. The area was formerly the driveway for teacher's cars between the two campuses. This area is one of only 3 in the Sutherland Shire and helps increase the biodiversity of the school, attracting a range of native animals including birds and possums. In September 2015, the school planted a wollemi pine in this area.

Faculties

Languages Other than English

At Caringbah High, language is compulsory in years 7 and 8 and it is taught as an elective for years 9-12. Languages taught include French, Japanese, and Latin, and prior to 2020 the school also taught German. As of 2020, the protocol is that year 7 students rotate between the three languages, and in year 8, each student picks one language that they favour most, which is studied for the whole year. Once in year 9, students have the option of continuing study in the language that they have chosen as an elective.

Cultural exchange

In Year 10, students who have chosen to study French have the opportunity to go on a school trip to France. Additionally, in 2014, the school ran a trip to China, available to students in Years 10 and 11.

Caringbah High School maintains sister school relationships with several other schools internationally:

  • Lycée St-Denis in Loches, France
  • Gymnasium Raubling in Raubling, Germany
  • Xiaoshan no. 3 High School in Hangzhou, Beijing, China
  • Oita High School in Oita, Japan (note that students do not visit this school on their Japan trip however students from Oita annually travel to Caringbah and stay with CHS students)

English

Caringbah High School follows the Board of Studies curriculum for its English courses for Years 7 - 12. Students learn a variety of skills in the English language, such as analysis of various texts, creative writing, and essay writing. Texts studied include the works of William Shakespeare, Robert Frost and John Steinbeck.

HSC

Caringbah High School did not offer Standard English as part of its HSC course until 2021, Caringbah also offers English Advanced, English Extension 1 and English Extension 2. Due to NESA and HSC rules, students in years 11 and 12 must take at least English Standard.[10]

History and Geography

From Years 7 to 10, students study Mandatory History and Mandatory Geography courses. Prior to 2020 they would alternate between History and Geography each semester. In Years 9 and 10, the school also offers additional History and Geography Elective courses on top of the mandatory course. In senior years, the school offers Modern, Ancient and Extension History courses.

Information Technology

Students have the opportunity to complete the 'Talented Computing Program' (TCP) as an elective in years 9 and 10. The preliminary Higher School Certificate course in Information Processes and Technology (IPT) commences on the first semester of year 9; allowing students to complete 2-units of their HSC prior to reaching year 11. Completion of TCP allows the option of undertaking a first-year university level course in computing through the University of New South Wales in year 11 called COMP1917.[11]

Co-curricular

Caringbah High School provides various extra-curricular activities, such as public speaking, debating, Tournament of Minds and HSC distinction courses.

Music

Caringbah has eighteen musical ensembles, of which many compete in regional and statewide events and performances, including the Sydney Eisteddfod McDonald's Performing Arts Challenge.[12] As a part of the consolidation of campuses, a new, "Music Centre" was created, which houses music classrooms and practice rooms, where students from music classes and music ensembles have classes, can store instruments and practice during lunchtimes and before and after school.

Sporting teams

Caringbah fields many sporting teams which compete in many sports including water polo, rugby league, soccer, cross country running, lawn bowls, field hockey, mountain biking, tennis, cricket (boys and girls) and squash.

Tournament of Minds

Caringbah High School has competed in the Tournament of Minds for over 12 years. The school regularly enters two Language Literature Teams, three Social Science Teams and a Maths/Engineering Team. In 2006, the Maths Engineering team, two Social Science teams and a Language Literature team received honours at a regional level. One Language Literature team went on to compete and receive honours at the State level. In 2018, the Social Sciences team won at the Sydney East Regional Finals, and are currently in the process of progressing to the State Final[13]

Green Edge

In 2009, Green Edge, the school's environmental committee began (unnamed until 2012). The aim of the team is to promote environmental sustainability within the school community. It has undertaken activities such as upgrading light switches to energy efficient timers, introducing a worm farm system, and a school garden. After a period of inactivity, the Green Edge team was reestablished in 2015 by a Year 11 student.

Debating

The school maintains several debating teams consisting of students from all grades, participating in regional debating competitions. In 2014 a team of Year 10 students won the grand final of the Les Gordon History Debating Competition.[14]

Formula 1 in Schools

The school has participated in the F1 in Schools competition organised by the REA Foundation. After reaching the 2014 New South Wales State finals, the school's Nangamay won the 2016 Southern Sydney Regional Finals and placed third at the 2016 New South Wales State Finals. At the 2017 Australian National Finals held in Adelaide, the team won the innovation award and industry collaboration award, primarily due to their connection with McLaren CEO Ron Dennis. The highlight of the tournament came during the surprise 'pressure challenge' in which the team's closed-wheel racing car became the first car in the world to break the 0.9 second barrier at an official Formula 1 in Schools event, with the fastest time ever recorded of 0.895 seconds.

Duke of Edinburgh Award

Caringbah High offers the Duke of Edinburgh Award program as a co-curricular activity.[15] In October 1973, the Duke of Edinburgh himself presented the award at the school.[16]

HSC results

Caringbah High School students achieve consistently high marks in the Higher School Certificate (HSC). In the years 2000–2007, of the 150 student cohort, on average 11 students achieved 99+ (7%), 23 achieved 98+ (15%), and 48 achieved 95+ (31%), with over 98% of students gaining entrance into university. In the 2009 student HSC cohort the average ATAR was 87.8, with 60% of students achieving an ATAR 90+.[17]

The school's HSC rankings from 2007 to 2020 according to Better Education were:[18]

  • 2007: 26th
  • 2008: 20th
  • 2009: 31st
  • 2010: 35th
  • 2011: 28th
  • 2012: 52nd
  • 2013: 57th
  • 2014: 38th
  • 2015: 36th
  • 2016: 29th
  • 2017: 39th
  • 2018: 40th
  • 2019: 48th
  • 2020: 30th

The 2012 Australian television series Puberty Blues was filmed on location at Caringbah High School.[19]

See also

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 21 May 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-19.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. NSW Teachers' Federation; New South Wales Public School Teachers' Federation (November 1982). "Caringbah: High School or TAFE College?". Education: Journal of the N.S.W. Public School Teachers Federation. The Federation. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
  3. https://tenders.nsw.gov.au/dfs/?event=public.rft.showArchived&RFTUUID=9A2B6314-AF0F-4315-C7453B03CA02962B
  4. "$22 million upgrade opened for Caringbah High School".
  5. Walker, Ian; Samuel, Johnson (20 November 2014). "Creepy Caringbah campus a ghostly reminder of old school days". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  6. http://www.theleader.com.au/story/1403993/old-caringbah-school-site-fire-suspicious/
  7. "Second fire at old Caringbah High south campus". Archived from the original on 31 August 2015. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  8. Kolimar, Eva (24 October 2018). "Student solar powers his school, slashing thousands off the energy bill". St George & Sutherland Shire Leader. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  9. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 March 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2018.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. "HSC COURSES". New South Wales Education Standards Authority. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  11. "Computing 1 - COMP1917". University of New South Wales. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  12. "McDonald's Performing Arts Challenge 2009". Archived from the original on 4 July 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-08.
  13. https://tom.edu.au/Media/Files/NSW/RESULTS/SE.pdf
  14. "Caringbah High School | Year 10 History Debating Team". www.caringbah-h.schools.nsw.edu.au. Archived from the original on 21 March 2016. Retrieved 2015-09-18.
  15. "Co-Curricular Opportunities - Caringbah High School". caringbah-h.schools.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
  16. "Duke of Edinburgh Awards, Caringbah High School". archival.sl.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
  17. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 14 May 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-19.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  18. Family, Wang. "HSC School Ranking - 2014". bettereducation.com.au. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  19. "Creepy corridors where memories of children still linger". The Daily Telegraph. 20 November 2014. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
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