Forest High School (Sydney)

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The Forest High School
The Forest High School Crest
Latin: Spectemur Agendo
("Let Us Be Judged By Our Actions.")
Location
Frenchs Forest, New South Wales
Australia
Coordinates Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Information
Type Public, Secondary, co-educational, Day school
Established 1961[1]
Principal Rosemary McDowall
Enrolment ~718 (7–12)[2]
Campus Frenchs Forest Road West
Colour(s) Green, Gold and Red             
Website www.theforesthighschool.com

The Forest High School, (abbreviation TFHS) is a government day school located in Frenchs Forest, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, on Frenchs Forest Road. It is a co-educational secondary school operated by the New South Wales Department of Education with students ranging from grades 7 to 12. The school was established in 1961 as a secondary school for the Northern Beaches area. Students at the school come from the North Shore and Northern Beaches regions.

The high school is also notable in being one of the few that offer optional single-sex classes in Junior years, in subjects where it has shown that boys and girls progress at a different rates and ability. The Forest High School is highly regarded for its performing arts. The Forest High has a school musical each year sponsored by Optus, a school orchestra which plays at Sydney Kings matches and numerous Drama and performance nights.[citation needed]

History

The formation of The Forest High School was the result of a campaign by a representative body known as The Forest High School Promotion Committee formed on 1 November 1958. The committee members were anxious to have established a co-educational high school that would cater for the educational needs of the suburbs of Frenchs Forest, Forestville, Beacon Hill and Terrey Hills.

On 31 January 1961 Stage One of the building was completed and The Forest High School opened for "education" with an initial enrolment of 318 students and a staff of 14 teachers under the principalship of Mr. E.G. Bell. The school motto Spectemur Agendo - let us be judged by our actions - was chosen by the pioneer students and staff. The school crest was designed by the art teacher.

By 1963 Stage Three of the building program was completed with the three major blocks and enrolments had increased to 963 students. This year also saw the completion of the Assembly Hall in time for the second annual Speech Night on 9 April. In May of that year students presented audiences with the musical "Puss in Boots". The School magazine, "Yarrabee", was first issued in the same year.

By 1964 it was considered that the school had reached the level necessary for an official opening. This occurred on Saturday 24 October 1964. The opening was attended by the NSW Director-General of Education, Dr Harold Wyndham, the Member for Wakehurst, Dick Healey, the NSW Minister for Education, Ernest Wetherell, and was officially opened by the Governor of New South Wales, Lieutenant-General Sir Eric Woodward.

The 1960s witnessed the beginnings of the musical program of The Forest High School with the formation of the school orchestra, band and choir. Debating and public speaking also started during this time.The Forest high won major trophies in 1963 for Inter Zone Junior in athletics and swimming. In 1969 D block and the gymnasium were opened to accommodate the growing number of students.The final stage of building was completed in 1976 with the opening of the Library.

Principals

Years Principal
1961–1965 E. G. Bell B.Sc. Dip.Ed.
1966–1977 F. Bailey B.Ec.
1977–1983 L. R. Woods B.Sc. Dip.Ed.
1984–1985 J. Hensley B.A. Dip.Ed.
1986–1992 M. Armstrong B.A. Dip.Ed.
1992–2002 P. Kidd B.A. Dip.Ed
2002–2008 P. Gillam B.A. B.Ec. M.Ed. Grad.Dip.Ed.
2009–present R. McDowall B.A. Dip.Ed. B.Ed.

Student Houses

Current Houses

  • Ares (Red)
  • Athena (Green)
  • Poseidon (Blue)
  • Zeus (Black)

Former houses

  • Coolabah
  • Boronia
  • Waratah
  • Kurrajong

Notable alumni

  • Ditch Davey - Actor from Australian Drama 'Blue Heelers'. Attended 1987-1992.
  • Peter Debnam - NSW Liberal Party politician, Leader of Opposition 2005-2007.
  • Tim Farriss - Australian musician, best known as a member of INXS.
  • James Kerley - Australian TV and radio presenter.
  • David Koch - Seven Network Journalist and Financial Commentator.
  • Nadine Neumann - Australian Olympic breaststroke swimmer.
  • Shelley Oates-Wilding - Olympic sprint canoer
  • Kirk Pengilly - Australian musician, best known as a member of INXS.
  • Anna Wood - schoolgirl who died after taking ecstasy.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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