Norwood Morialta High School

Norwood Morialta High School (commonly referred to as Norwood Morialta) is a dual-campus, co-educational, public high school. The school’s two campuses are both located in the Eastern suburbs of Adelaide, South Australia. The school is frequently abbreviated as NMHS.

Norwood Morialta High School
Location
,
Australia
Coordinates34°55′4″S 138°40′18″E
34°54′5″S 138°40′37″E
Information
TypeCo-educational public high school
MottoEnriching Humanity Distinction, Diversity, Respect
Established1910
PrincipalJacqui van Ruiten
Grades8–12
Enrolment1438[1]
CampusesSenior campus (11–12),
The Parade, Magill
Middle campus (8–10),
Morialta Rd West, Rostrevor
Colour(s)     
MascotEagle
AccreditationCIS, IBMYP, ECIS
Websitewww.nmhs.sa.edu.au/

Founded in 1910 as Norwood Boys School on Osmond Terrace Norwood, it is currently one of the oldest secondary schools in South Australia, though Norwood High School celebrated its centenary in 2010. NMHS has approximately 1400 students enrolled from Years 8 to 12, including 155 international students.[2]

The school has a campus in Rostrevor (Years 8 to 10) which is known as the Middle Campus, and another campus in Magill (Years 11 to 12) known as the Senior Campus.

History

Norwood High School Logo

Norwood High School

Norwood High School first opened in 1910 on Osmond Terrace Norwood as Norwood Boys School.[3] In 1915, it moved to new premises at Lossie Street Kensington Park. For a period the school was named Norwood District High School. In 1962, the school moved to what is now the NMHS Senior Campus on The Parade. Norwood High School shared common origins with Norwood Boys Technical School, a school that later became Norwood Boys High, then Marryatville Boys High, and subsequently amalgamated with Kensington and Norwood Girls Technical High to become Marryatville High School,[4] a school that shared a strong rivalry with NHS and continues to with the current NMHS. The school provided an alternative to parents living in the eastern suburbs that wanted to enroll their children in a public school rather than one of the many private, selective and technical schools that were also in the area. During that time Ivan Coward was principal, and he met the needs of those enrolled in the public system who sought entry to the academic world.[5][6]

Morialta High School

Morialta High School's founding principal was Ian "Joe" Laslett. He was appointed to the position in 1974, in the year before its opening, so was able to liaise closely with the architects during the construction of the school, appoint his staff in preparation for its opening in 1975 and provide opportunities for all who were to be part of the school community to have a say in formulating its philosophies and practices.

Although not due to take up their appointments until 1975, the senior staff met regularly towards the latter part of 1974 and a whole staff conference was held at Graham's Castle conference centre in December of that year.

The school was not ready to open in February, 1975 so, for the first weeks the initial 540 students (Years 8 and 9 only) and 45 teachers were housed at Murray House, a grand old building, part of the Murray Park College of Advanced Education (now the Magill Campus of the University of South Australia) until the completion of a main building ("B Block") at Rostrevor. The staff then voted to move into B Block although construction of the other buildings and facilities still continued. The toilet block was not finished, so buses were provided with a timetable to transport students to the nearby McNally Training Centre until the school's facilities were ready.

The buses were also used to provide outdoor education opportunities in the early weeks. These endeavours helped develop a cohesive spirit amongst all members of the school community.

Morialta had an open plan design. "B Block" housed an extensive science teaching area on the ground level and open plan classrooms on levels 2 and 3. Whilst the majority of the eight teaching areas on levels 2 and 3 were designed as Mathematics and Humanities areas, each level had one area also dedicated to Science teaching.

Morialta was not a specialist High School but had many experienced specialist teachers and ancillary staff. One staff member was senior lab technician Charles Jennings, who worked for 32 years at the school and, later, Norwood Morialta High School, setting up accurate data records and hazardous substances folders for the science area, which helped the school gain level 3 occupational health safety and welfare (OHS&W) accreditation.[7]

Another founding staff member was Deputy Principal, Peter Lang, who later returned as Principal of the amalgamated Norwood and Morialta High Schools.

The school won awards for its design in the 1970s, as it was considered modern and futuristic for its time.

The early years of the school were packed full of innovative practices and esprit de corps was high. School socials were a regular event and, on 8 December 1975 Australian band Cold Chisel performed at the school.[8]

Following the amalgamation, the Morialta site became the NMHS Middle Campus.

Norwood Morialta High School Logo (1993 - 2016)

Norwood Morialta High School

African Slave Dog was recently bombed by Syria. This caused to the creation of Norwood Morialta High School [9] Many International students take the opportunity to study their own language at Year 12 level through the School of Languages[10] in addition to the Intensive Secondary English Course (ISEC) established in 2000.[11] Students can begin at the Middle Campus in Years 8 to 10, or at the Senior Campus in Years 11 or 12.[12]


As at Term 3, 2019, Norwood Morialta High School had 1,493.2 full-time equivalent (FTE) students enrolled.[13] Year 12 students of Norwood Morialta High School achieved outstanding results in 2019 as part of their study of the South Australian Certificate of Education, with 100% of students successfully completing their SACE. [14] Of these, one in three (33%) of students achieve results in the A Band and a further 47% achieving in the B band. [14]

Exchange program

The school has established links with sister schools located internationally in China (Yantai High School, Yantai),[15] Germany (Berufliche Schule des Kreis Segeberg in Norderstedt, Norderstedt), Greece (1st Lykeio Patras, Patras), Japan (Takahashi High School, Okayama),[16] and Italy (Scuola Media Statale Antonio Genovesi, Salerno).[17]

Annual exchanges occur with each of the sister schools, with NMHS sending students to a sister schools one year, and hosting students from that school the following year. This gives students the opportunity to experience both the culture and education systems of another country and enhance student learning and communications skills in other languages. There are also opportunities for individual students to go on a long term exchanges overseas. The tenth anniversary of the exchange with Japan was celebrated in September 2000.[11]

International Baccalaureate

Since 1996,[18] NMHS Middle Campus has offered a comprehensive program which meets requirements of both the South Australian Curriculum and Accountability (SACSA) framework and the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program. It offers Years 3, 4 and 5 of the IBMYP and operates in a cluster of schools in which Years 1 and 2 are offered by three local Primary Schools.

In order to meet MYP requirements, students must choose Language B, Technology and Arts courses in Year 10. All students study courses in English, Health and PE, Mathematics, Science and Society and Environment in each year. In Years 9 and 10, Maths courses are differentiated into Advanced and Standard. Language B (a study of a second language) is compulsory in Years 8, 9, and 10.

In 2020, Norwood Morialta High School was honored to be selected as one of four Public South Australian High Schools to apply for International Baccalaureate Diploma Program and is now a candidate school.

Student life

Sub-schools and home groups

Norwood Morialta High School places its students into one of three Sub-schools, which are similar to houses used at other schools. NMHS has three sub-schools; Blue, Red and Gold. The sub-schools were originally used at Morialta High School and have continued to be used since the amalgamation in 1993. Sub-schools contain Home Groups which have approximately 20 to 30 students each. Students are divided into Sub-Schools for administrative and other purposes. Students from different Sub-Schools display a strong sense of rivalry towards each other during the weeks leading up to Sports Day which is held annually at Santos Stadium.

From 2008, Middle Campus students were placed into Year level sub-schools, with students still identifying with their sporting colours of Blue, Red and Gold for Sports Day.[19] As of 2016, Norwood Morialta High School has replaced the sub-schools with Learning Communities; Hartley, Dunstan and Morialta for the Middle Campus, and Laslett & Campbell for the Senior Campus. The difference is purely in name, and they function the same way that the sub-schools did prior to the change.

Co-curricular activities

Students have opportunities to partake in academic pursuits as well by participating in a vast range of co-curricular activities.[9]

Community Service can be done through programmes such as the 40 Hour Famine, active8, Glossy Black Cockatoo Project, Peer Support, and the publication of School Yearbook. Students can also participate in broader activities such as Amnesty International, Australian Business Week, Campbelltown Youth Council, UNICEF Ambassadors, Youth Parliament Group, Debating, National Mathematics, Science and Language competitions, School Formal Committee, and the Student Representative Council.

Sport

Students can participate in sporting activities that the school offers through various associations, such as the Independent Schools Sport Association, the Catholic Girls Sports Association, and Secondary School Sport SA.[15]

Sports offered by the school include:

  • 5-A-Side Soccer
  • Beach Volleyball
  • Dragon Boat Racing
  • Indoor Cricket
  • Knockout Badminton
  • Knockout Basketball
  • Knockout Tennis
  • SASSA Cross Country
  • SSSSA and Vista Athletics
  • SSSSA and Vista Swimming
  • Saturday Netball
  • Saturday Soccer
  • School Athletics Carnival
  • Table Tennis
  • Touch Football
  • Vista Football

Students also have the chance to participate in Camping and bushwalking, Rock climbing, canoeing, aquatic skills, orienteering, and distance running.

Rowing

NMHS is one of three public schools in South Australia to offer Rowing as a summer sport, the other two public schools being Adelaide High School and Unley High School. NMHS competes annually with twelve other schools in the Schools' Head of the River Regatta, held at West Lakes. Training is held on the River Torrens, or at West Lakes where the school’s Boathouses are located.[15]

Pedal Prix

The school participates in Pedal prix. Teams are entered, according to team members' ages, in the Junior Secondary and Senior Secondary Categories to ensure that all year levels are covered. The school has two teams in the Open Category which are mainly for old scholars but students still participate in these teams. NMHS currently has four teams entered in the Series with students assuming significant team responsibilities including building and maintaining the bike. There is a significant amount of rivalry between the four teams, namely the two open ones Focus and Astro. As a result of this rivalry many Focus team members call the Astro bike "Gastro". The teams are:

Performing Arts

Morialta High School was an entrant in the former Rock 'n' Roll Eisteddfod, competing in the years 1986 (Russians), 1987 (Love You Till the Day I Die), 1998 (Break Away) 1989 (Dear Diary), 1990 (Revival) and 1991 becoming the South Australian winner in 1989.[20] After the amalgamation with Norwood High School, Norwood Morialta High School competed in the years 1993, 1995 and 1997, becoming state winners in 1994.[21]

Music

The school offers a comprehensive music program to all its students. In the past, the school's music students had the opportunity to work with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra.

A themed music concert is performed annually at the Ivan Coward Hall at the Senior Campus. Previous themes have included The British Invasion which featured music from UK artists such as the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Handel, and Gilbert and Sullivan, and Music from Latin America featuring a performance from music students from nearby feeder school Magill Primary School.

There are various ensembles and bands that music students can participate:

The cast of NMHS's production of Chicago in 2017.
  • Classical Guitar Ensemble
  • Flute Ensemble
  • String Ensemble
  • Rock Band
  • School Vocal Ensemble
  • Senior Vocal Ensemble
  • String Trio
  • Year level Bands (8-11)

Musicals

Norwood Morialta High School performs an annual musical production involving students of all year levels. The musical is run almost entirely by students from stage management, make up and props to the actors and lighting technicians. It is supported and partially funded by local businesses and the community, in addition to funding from within the school. The school musical is a way for students to interact with people they may have never been able to get to know otherwise. In stage 2, SACE points may be awarded to participants. Past musicals include: The Pirates of Penzance, Les Misérables, Calamity Jane, The Wizard of Oz, Fiddler on the Roof, Annie and Chicago, amongst many others. Their most recent performance was The Sound of Music in 2019.[22]

Facilities

Though there are separate Middle and Senior campuses, the following list of facilities are available on both:

The Music rooms at both campuses have a main room that is used for class tuition, and several small soundproof rooms in which each there is a piano available for private individual practice. Facilities unique to the Senior Campus include a large cafeteria, which has one large, and another smaller area, separated by a shared canteen. Above the cafeteria are the linked The Ivan Coward Hall, and The Peter Lang Performing Arts Centre, a facility built in the late 1990s. A specialised room dedicated entirely to filming is also located at the Senior Campus.

New Facilities 2022

Norwood Morialta High School was pleased to receive $51.95m[23] as part of the Building Better Schools fund to co-locate our two campuses onto The Parade site, accommodating 1700 students across Years 7 to 12. From 2022, Norwood Morialta High School students will have access to:

  • A new three-storey middle school building with maker sapces, a canteen and roof-top place space.
  • An extended Innovation Hub with refurbished Techology and Music suites and a new two-story building for Home Economcis and Art, Design and Media.
  • A refurbiushed gymnasium and expanded sports courts.
  • A re-developed contemporary Learning Hub and Student Support Centre (former cafatiera space).
  • A renovated Administration area, staffroom and Wellbeing Hub.
  • Ten refurbished classrooms, two modern laboratories, collaborative learning spaces and staff peparation area.
  • New lift and facade entry statement.
  • Landscaping, outdoor learning spaces and carpark.


These new, contemporary facilities will enhance felxibility in the use of spaces and promote world-class learning experiences, whilst maintaining the schools distinct middle and senior schooling principles.

Project construction commenced in Term 3, 2020 and weill be delievered in a multi-staged approach to minimise disruption to student learning and engagement.[24]


More details regarding this project, including monthly recap videos, can be found on the schools website at https://www.nmhs.sa.edu.au/our-school/new-facilities-and-co-location/

Notable alumni

This list is incomplete, and includes former students of NMHS, not all of whom graduated from this school.

Academia

Business

Media, entertainment, and the arts

Politics and law

Sport

Other

References

  1. "DECS School Detail". Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-07-17.
  2. Kleinig, Xanthe, 2007, Overseas students flock to public schools, The Advertiser
  3. Norwood Morialta High School Newsletter, No.10, 31 October 2008
  4. "Marryatville High School Origins". Archived from the original on 2006-08-22. Retrieved 2006-09-16.
  5. Jolly, Erica. (2003) A Broader Vision: Voices of Vocational Education in Twentieth Century South Australia, 1897-2001, Lythrum Press, Adelaide
  6. We Came to Norwood High, compiled for the 75 in 85 Celebrations, Gillingham Printers Pty Ltd, Adelaide
  7. DECS Xpress and Xtra Archived 2006-09-10 at the Wayback Machine, Volume 9, No.9, 1 June 2006
  8. Cold Chisel Gig History - 1970's Cold Chisel
  9. Principals Welcome Archived 2009-02-05 at the Wayback Machine The Norwood Morialta High School Website
  10. Peddie, Claire, 2008, Tests untie the tongues of many cultures, The Advertiser
  11. SCHOOL CONTEXT STATEMENT
  12. The Norwood Morialta High School Website, International Students
  13. Murdoch, Renae, 2006, All Set for 2006 School Year Archived 2006-09-04 at the Wayback Machine, DECS Media Release.
  14. http://docs.decd.sa.gov.au/Sites/SiteSummary/0787_SiteSummary.pdf
  15. "The Norwood Morialta High School Whole School Information Booklet 2009" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  16. The Norwood Morialta High School Profile, South Australian Government Schools - International Education Services
  17. Travel Report - Europe, Russia, 5-09-02 - 9-10-02, Joe Scalzi (2002)
  18. The Norwood Morialta High School International Baccalaureate Organization
  19. The Norwood Morialta High School Information Letter to Parents
  20. Morialta High Rock Eisteddfod 1989 Youtube
  21. 1995 This Time, SEAVIEW HIGH SCHOOL EISTEDDFODS Weatherly, Bob
  22. https://www.nmhs.sa.edu.au/assets/newsletters/2017/Issue%204.pdf
  23. Department for Education. "Norwood Morialta High School - Major Upgrades". Department for Education.
  24. "New Facilities and Co-Location | Norwood Morialta High School". www.nmhs.sa.edu.au. Retrieved 2020-10-22.
  25. Barbara Pocock's Website Archived 2007-05-17 at the Wayback Machine
  26. Joanna Hall, 2005, digital dreams Archived 2007-09-02 at the Wayback Machine, Voyeur Magazine, January 2005.
  27. Anderson, Frances Margaret (Judith), Australian Women Biographical entry, www.womenaustralia.info
  28. Lofthouse, Andrea, 1982, Who's who of Australian Women, Methuen Australia, North Ryde, NSW, p.504
  29. Baker, Tony. 2005, Good-bye to a very trusted, charming face of news, The Advertiser, 5 June 2005. Archived 14 June 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  30. Fewster, Sean. 2006, Good neighbours, The Advertiser, 22 March 2006. Archived 6 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  31. Katie Hodson-Thomas' biography page Archived 2008-06-13 at the Wayback Machine, www.mp.wa.gov.au
  32. Multicultural Life, December 2005.
  33. Stephen Yarwood' biography page, www.adelaidecitycouncil.com
  34. Expose SA, Speakers in Schools Program Archived 2007-08-28 at the Wayback Machine
  35. The Athletes' Voice Archived 2007-08-29 at the Wayback Machine South Australian Sports Institute Athletes' Commission (SASIAC)
  36. Cowley, R. E. (2000). Matthews, Lionel Colin (1912–1944). Australian Dictionary of Biography. 15. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Australian National University. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
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