Perth Modern School
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Perth Modern School is a public secondary school in the Perth suburb of Subiaco in Western Australia. It runs a renowned selective music program for gifted students in Years eight to twelve. As well as music, Perth Modern School offers a specialised ballet course with the Graduate College of Dance. This is a highly prestigious course and the graduates often go on to promising careers.
The current Principal of Perth Modern School is Doctor Robyn White.
Perth Modern School, by its centenary in 2011, will become a purely academic selective school, catering for students with outstanding academic ability. Research highlights the significant benefits for gifted young people of sharing their learning environment with those of similar ability. Selective schools attract students from diverse cultural, social, geographic and ethnic backgrounds who excel across a range of learning areas including sport, music, science and the performing arts.
History
Perth Modern School was established as the first Government senior secondary school in Western Australia in 1911, after lengthy representations to the State Government. Its charter was to offer a modern education to students of strong academic ability. Selection was by scholarship and both male and female students studied science and modern languages as part of their courses.The Sphinx, representing wisdom and knowledge, was adopted as the school symbol; together with the motto: "Savoir c'est Pouvoir" ('Knowledge is Power').
Through the years, Perth Modern School developed a strong reputation based on the achievement of high educational standards and the successes of past students. Details of Exhibition winners, Rhodes Scholars and former Prime Minister Bob Hawke are on display in the historical showcases in the East Building.
In 1958 Perth Modern School ceased operating as an academic scholarship school and became a comprehensive high school. High academic standards, the traditions of the past and the establishment of the special Music Scholarship in 1968 are significant factors in the school maintaining a high profile in the state Education System.
The landmark decision by the State Government to return Perth Modern School to a fully selective, Gifted and Talented school starting next year has won approval throughout the community, with record enrolment enquiries for year 8, 2007.
School Layout
The School is based around four main areas; the original Perth Modern School (the West building and Oval, but also incorporating the new, purpose-built Music rooms); the newer extenions (the Joseph Parsons Memorial Library, the East building, canteen, gymnasium, Metal and Woodworking rooms and demountables); the Visual and Performing Arts Department (the Photography Studio, Fitness Centre, Ballet Studio, Performing Arts Theatre and The Graduate College of Dance); and the separate building housing the Intensive English Centre (originally the Thomas Street Primary School, establised in 1904).Historic Buildings
Perth Modern School's West building, built in 1911, is now a Heritage Listed Building and was refurbished during the late 1980's. The refurbishment has won several awards and the building is now recognized as one of the premier venues for chamber music and general ensemble performance in Perth. The West building is linked by a covered walkway to another heritage listed building which currently houses the Society and Environment classes.Famous Modernians
The famous ex-students of Perth Modern School include:
K.R. Allen, Rhodes Scholar
K. L. Cooper, Rhodes Scholar
J. R. Hall, Rhodes Scholar
Rolf Harris, performer
Bob Hawke, Prime Minister, Rhodes Scholar
John A. Hay, Vice-Chancellor, University of Queensland, Hackett Scholar
A. E. C. Smith, Rhodes Scholar
Gregory Yurisich, internationally acclaimed baritone
.
Music
The music program at Perth Modern School is of an elite level, and encompasses the Kodály methodology in its teachings. Most aural and theory concepts are taught with the aid of the philosophies of music by Zoltán Kodály, in which hand signs are used as a way of representing musical notes by holding the hand in a certain position for each note. The basic concept of using gestures to represent notes is quite ancient, however near the end of the 19th century, the concept was formalized as a standard teaching method, and is adopted by Perth Modern School.The music program puts an emphasis in singing and it is a requirement that all students are in at least one vocal ensemble. The school also has three wind orchestras, two standard orchestras (one string and one symphony)and two classical guitar ensembles as well as various other instrumental groups and Jazz ensembles.
An international music tour is taken every three years. The most recent (and highly successful), was the April 2005 Tour, where music students visited Italy, France and London; singing and performing in an assortment of world class venues, and in various ANZAC ceromonies. One of the highlights of the tour was the ANZAC ceremony at Westminster Abbey in London where Her Majesty The Queen was present.
Dance
Perth Modern School also hosts [The Graduate College of Dance], from which a number of acclaimed high profile dancers have graduated. The Graduate College of Dance is one of Australia's leading vocational dance schools. In conjunction with the Department of Education and Perth Modern, the College prepares talented dancers aged 9 to 17 (year 5 to 12) for the dance profession in a supportive and encouraging environment. The College's comprehensive curriculum, taught by internationally recognised teachers, combines professional dance training with a high standard of academic education to tertiary level.The College is housed in a modern purpose-built ballet studio at the western end of the school.
Future
Perth Modern School has recently received a $17 million AUD grant from the State Government to develop the school into a facility for Gifted and Talented students. This grant goes towards an extensive redevelopment, including a residential college with state-of-the-art facilities, for those students from regional areas (for which a further grant of $8 million AUD has been earmarked), to offer an exceptional learning environment aligned to the needs of the most able students.The school's East buildings (including the canteen and 2 gymnasiums) will be refurbished or replaced, and new, purpose-built facilities constructed to create a physical environment suitable for the education of Gifted and Talented students, with much thought given to the use and interaction of spaces surrounding a central Resources facility. Final designs are expected by mid-2006, with construction commencing later in the year.
By the end of 2006, the Intensive English Centre will move to Greenwood Senior High School, ending a long association with Perth Modern.
Contact information
Perth Modern SchoolRoberts Road, SUBIACO WA 6000
PHONE: (08) 9380 0555 FAX: (08) 9380 0550
Office Hours 8.15 - 4.00 Local Time (GMT+8)
Sources
- The Perth Modern School Website, Perth Modern School, [Perth Modern School Website]
- W.A. Rhodes Scholars, Rhodes Scholars Association, [Rhodes Scholars List]
- The Graduate College of Dance Homepage, The Graduate college of dance, [The Graduate College of Dance]
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