Abbotsleigh
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| Abbotsleigh School for Girls |
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| Motto | Tempus Celerius Radio Fugit 'Time flies faster than a weaver's shuttle' |
| Established | 1885 |
| Type | Independent all-female secondary |
| Founder | Miss Marian Clarke |
| Headmistress | Mrs Judith Poole |
| Students | 1200 |
| Grades | K–12 |
| Location | Wahroonga, NSW Australia |
| Campus | 12 acres |
| Colours | Black and Gold |
| Website | www.abbotsleigh.nsw.edu.au |
- For the village in England, see Abbotsleigh, Devon.
Abbotsleigh School for Girls (commonly known as Abbotsleigh School or simply just Abbotsleigh) is an Anglican, private girls' school in Wahroonga, New South Wales, Australia. The school was founded in 1885, and is a founding member of the Association of Heads of Independent Girls' Schools (AHIGS) as well as being a member of the Association of Independent Schools of NSW, and the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia.
Students must wear a uniform, and many play sport on weekends.
Contents |
[edit] Headmistresses
- Miss Marian Clarke: 1885 - 1913
- Miss Margaret Murray: 1913 - 1924
- Miss Dorothea Poole: 1924 - 1930
- Miss G Gordon Everett: 1931 - 1954
- Miss Ruth Hirst: 1954 - 1957
- Miss HE (Betty) Archdale: 1958 - 1970
- Miss Kathleen McCredie: 1970 - 1987
- Mrs Diane C Nicholls: 1988 - 1996
- Mrs Judith Wheeldon: 1996 - 2005
- Mrs Judith Poole: 2005 -2007
[edit] Purpose
Abbotsleigh is an Independent Anglican school for girls in the Diocese of Sydney. It encourages boarders and day girls to develop their potential in a caring Christian environment by fostering their pursuit of personal and academic excellence. In providing an excellent, well-balanced and prestigious education the school aims to help each girl develop inner strength and a philosophy of life which will enable her to be a larger than life, constructive and compassionate world citizen strengthened by a will to look out for and help others.
[edit] Motto and crest
The Abbotsleigh motto, "Tempus celerius radio fugit", reminds us that "time flies faster than the weaver's shuttle". As the shuttle flies a pattern is woven; the shuttle of time also weaves a pattern of which the threads are people, buildings and events. The pattern that is Abbotsleigh continues to grow in complexity and richness every year.
The motto was given to the school by Miss Marian Clarke, whose family crest was a weaver's shuttle surrounded by the motto, "Tempus fugit radio celerit". The school used this form until 1924, when it decided that the ungrammatical Latin should be changed to the present word order, which has been used ever since.
The crest was also given to the school by Miss Clarke. The 1934 edition of "The Weaver" explains the symbolism: the lion for the strength in God, lillies for purity and fish as the symbol of Christianity through baptism.
[edit] Lesson
Philippians 4:4-9
"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let everyone know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand. Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus"
"Finally, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and seen do: and the God of Peace will be with you."
[edit] Grace
"The grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ
And the love of God
And the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
Be with us all, evermore.
Amen"
[edit] Facilities
The senior and junior schools educate 1100 students in total from Kindergarten to Year 12 (HSC). In the senior school, there is a Design & Technology Centre, a Music Centre, a Science Centre, a gymnasium and an indoor swimming pool as well as two sporting fields. A new library called the ARC (Abbotsleigh Research Centre) has been built and was officially opened on April 2, 2006.
[edit] Co-curricular activities
The school conducts many extra-curricular activities including the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme, drama and musical performances, chess, debating, mock trials, public speaking, skiing, jewellery making, sports, dress making, film club, charity groups, equestrian and cattle breeding for competition in the Sydney Royal Easter Show. The school competes in many IGSSA sports including, softball, tennis, swimming, basketball, soccer, athletics, cross country, hockey, netball, waterpolo, touch football and cricket. As of 2006, they have been IGSSA champions in swimming and athletics for the past 3 and 5 years and have won IGSSA Cross Country in 10 out of the 12 carnivals held.
[edit] Music
Abbotsleigh is blessed with a large musical heritage, and its various choirs and bands have won numerous awards in eisteddfods. With its close neighbour Knox Grammar School, Abbotsleigh has sent its students on musical tours around the world through KAYO (Knox/Abbotsleigh Youth Orchestra). As of 2006, a music tour set off for Europe, visiting countries such as Spain, France, England and Germany. Elisabeth Egan is the most respected music teacher at this school! she has a fantastic technique, loves children and loves to teach!
[edit] Junior School houses
In the Junior School there are five houses as follows:
- Blaxland (Blue) - Named after Gregory Blaxland (1778 - 1853), Australian explorer
- Lawson (Green) - Named after William Lawson (1774 - 1850), Australian explorer
- Macquarie (Red) - Named after Lachlan Macquarie (1771 - 1824), Governor of New South Wales from 1810 - 1821
- Sturt (Yellow) - Named after Charles Sturt (1795 - 1869), Australian explorer
- Wentworth (Purple) - Named after William Charles Wentworth (1790 - 1872), Australian explorer, statesman and lawyer
[edit] Senior School houses
In the Senior School there are eight houses as follows:
- Chisholm (Dark Blue) - Named after Caroline Chisholm (1808 - 1877), Australian pioneer
- Franklin (Green) - Named after Miles Franklin (1879 - 1954), Australian writer
- Gilmore (Brown until 1982 then Pink) - Named after Mary Gilmore (1865 - 1962), Australian poet and writer
- Melba (Light Blue) - Named after Dame Nellie Melba (1861 - 1931), Australian Opera legend
- Prichard (Black until 1990 then Purple) - Named after Katherine Susannah Prichard (1884 - 1969), Australian writer
- Richardson (Orange) - Named after Ethel Florence Lindesay Richardson (1870 - 1946), Australian novelist
- Tennant (Yellow) - Named after Kylie Tennant (1912 - 1988), Australian World War II and Great Depression novelist
- Wright (Red) - Named after Judith Wright (1915 - 2000), Australian poet
The House System was introduced by Miss Everett. The Weaver for May, 1931 says: "Points are awarded for work, conduct and sport and a shield will be presented annually to the winning House. The Houses have increased and renewed interest and deep speculation on the part of the girls." The Malloch Shield, given the following year by Mr A Malloch, was won for the first time by Sturt.
The House System has been modified over time to reflect the changed needs of the School and its increased enrolment. One of the most significant changes occurred in the late 1960s under then Headmistress Betty Archdale. Senior School Houses had previously been named after well-known male Australian poets. Archdale introduced new house names recognizing accomplished Australian women. This was the basis for the Senior School Houses in use today.
Houses now compete for the House Choir banner and the Spirit Cup.
[edit] Boarding
Abbotsleigh offers boarding for girls overseas and nationally long since it established. Current boarding houses in Abbotsleigh include:
- Vindin house - opened in 1931. It offers boarding opportunities for year 8 to 10 boarders.
- Murray house - opened in 1962. It offers boarding opportunities for year 8 - 9 boarders.
- Lynton house - opened in 1969. It offers boarding opportunities for year 7 boarders and sometimes upper years boarders depending on the amount of year 7 girls in the year.
- Hirst house - opened in 1980 and 1985. It offers boarding opportunities for year 12 boarders.
- McCredie house - opened in 1990. It offers boarding opportunities for year 9 - 11 boarders
There are about 150 boarders in Abbotsleigh currently from year 7 to 12. Boarders in Abbotsleigh make up about 1/6 of the senior school students population. Year 7 and 12 boarders are housed separately with their year group where year 8 - 11 boarders are mixed in different houses as Abbotsleigh encourages the mix of different year group’s friendship. Most boarders come from NSW or the boarder of NSW including Goondiwindi. Popular overseas boarders' countries include China, Hong Kong, South Africa, America, England, Taiwan and Singapore.
[edit] Uniform
Correct uniform in good repair must be worn at all times. Uniform is worn at all official school events. Girls must wear school uniform, not PE or plain clothes to and from school and in Chapel and Assembly. You may however during winter after 5pm if you have had sport training wear full winter track suit.
In Terms 2 and 3 blazers must be worn at Chapel and Assembly. However cold, freezing or frost-bitten the students may be, scarves and gloves must be removed during Chapel and Assembly. All clothing must be clearly marked with the student's name. Make-up, nail polish and jewellery are not to be worn when in uniform. However, Senior School girls may wear small gold, single stud earrings available from the Abbotsleigh Shop in two sizes only.
Hair that is long enough to touch the collar must be tied back with Abbotsleigh ribbons (black for the Senior School, white in summer or dark green in winter for the Junior School). Girls are to retain their natural hair colour and fancy bows or combs are not allowed. Combs and clips must be in Abbotsleigh green or black, or to match the natural hair colour.
It is also an Abbotsleigh tradition for each Year 12 group to design and create their own unique school leavers' jersey.
[edit] Notable alumni
- Ingrid Clare Barnsley - Rhodes Scholar 2002
- Nell Campbell - actor; Little Nell in the The Rocky Horror Picture Show
- Lauren Clayton - contestant on Big Brother Australia series 6
- Jill Ker Conway - author
- Sue Fear - first Australian woman to climb Mount Everest
- Cindy Pan - doctor, dancer, television personality
- Georgie Parker - actress
- Merrilee Roberts - educator, former principal of Newcastle Girls' Grammar School and Ascham School
- Jennifer Oswin Rowe - children's book author under pen name Emily Rodda
- Helen de Guerry Simpson - novelist
- Freda Whitlam AM - sister of former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam - renowned educator, former principal of the Presbyterian Ladies' College, Sydney
[edit] See also
[edit] External link
Categories: Cleanup from February 2007 | All pages needing cleanup | Private schools in New South Wales | Boarding schools in Australia | Educational institutions established in 1885 | Schools in New South Wales | Schools in Sydney | Anglican schools in Australia | Rock Eisteddfod Challenge Participants
