John Septimus Roe Anglican Community School
Encyclopedia
John Septimus Roe Anglican Community School (JSRACS or JSR) is a dual campus private school in Perth
, Western Australia
named after the notable West Australian and first Surveyor-General of Western Australia, John Septimus Roe
.
in 1990 when it took over the old Northside Christian School at the request of the State Government. The second campus located in Mirrabooka
, was opened in 1992, and exists as a combined primary and secondary school campus.
While in the beginning the two schools shared the same administration and school council, there existed a separate cultural identity. To this day, there is a deep rivalry between the primary schools students particularly in sporting events and the move to the upper school campus. As such in 1996, Thomas Scott Anglican Community School was renamed John Septimus Roe Anglican Community School to mark the new concept of "two campuses, one school".
Today the primary school campus at Beechboro
and primary/secondary campus in Mirrabooka
has a student population of over 2,000 students from kindergarten to Year 12, making it the largest Anglican School in Western Australia.
Over the years there has been much change to the campuses at both school, with many building projects taking place. Recently at the Mirrabooka campus there has been the Science block extension, the new Catherine O'Neil Library, renovation of the ICT centre, the building and renovations of the Performing Arts Centre and the conversion of a classroom block into a Year 8/9 Middle School Learning Community. Future plans include the improvement of the school's internal road network and carparks, a Swimming Pool, extensions to the Chapel of St Paul and the "Reclaiming the Heart of the School" masterplan which will involve the moving of a classroom block to another location, and the creation of a central landscaped court. 2009 marked the 20th anniversary of the school founding, and as such, many special events were held, including a Twenty20 cricket match between teachers and students, anniversary dinners and special concerts, as well as the usual Founder's Day services and Family Fun Days.
Roebourne is associated with the colour red and mascot of dragons, Sandleford with yellow and sharks (previously stags), Durham with blue and knights, Kelmscott with green and cougars, Parmelia with black and eagles and Newbury with purple and Lions. The two houses, Parmelia and Newbury were officially introduced on Wednesday 21 April 2010. The mascot, colour and emblem were decided by new members of the house by a vote.
In the middle/secondary school, each house contains one pastoral care group (PCG) per year group, and this group is assigned at PCG tutor, who remains with them through their high school journey (This excludes Year 7). In Year 7, students are educated in the purpose built Year 7 Suite, at the South-Eastern edge of the campus, overlooking the Primary school oval. The new system introduced in 2010 has 6 classes of year 7's, representing each of the houses.
At JSR there are many Inter-House competitions, the most notable being the Swimming, Cross-Country and Athletics Carnivals. There are also minor competitions including chalk-drawing, music festivals, Theatresports, interhouse signing and hymn singing. Points earned from competitions go towards the Ivan Jordanoff Interhouse Shield, which Roebourne have won the most times.
The Catherine O'Neill Library at the Mirrabooka Campus is particularly notable for its size, boasting two floors and a collection of several thousand books. Attached to the Library is the ICT centre containing two computer labs, offices, and a Media room. The Performing Arts Centre (PAC), has a dedicated tiered-theatre, music practice rooms, offices and an organ room. The PAC also features a dance theatre, changerooms, greenroom, sizeable backstage area and a cafe, catering for students in years 11 and 12, teachers and parents. The Mirrabooka gymnasium contains two full sized basketball courts, a mezzanine level (used as a personal training area), offices, kitchens, storerooms and two classrooms. This gym is also used as the main assembly building on the campus and is also used for large-scale events such as Founder's Day and Thanksgiving and Presentation Nights. The Science block features 8 laboratories, offices, computer room, Laboratory room and a special open plan laboratory for interactive science. The Middle School block features 15 classrooms all with SMART boards, Staff lounges and offices, a common student area with lounges, televisions which display important details, and a kitchenette as well as laptop trolleys. The school grounds are beautifully landscaped and buildings surround the central Carnley Court named after former Archbishop of Perth, Peter Carnley.
The Beechboro campus' gymnasium, The Michael Brommilow Centre, features one full size basketball court, offices, changerooms, storage, kitchens, and is also used as the major assembly area at the Beechboro campus. The Beechboro campus also features many classrooms specifically tailored to suit each year level in the Primary Years of Schooling.
A special aspect of the Primary School is the Chapel Choir Program, where music education is the core focus. Students accepted into the program undertake rigorous musical training, which forms the backbone of their education. They receive special vocal and choral tuition and are all expected to learn a string instrument, piano, organ or harpsichord. The students in this program have their own classroom at the Mirrabooka campus, and are known as the MAG class (Multi-Age Group). The program runs from years 3-6, after which students are expected to remain with the choir, but not as the MAG choristers.
Music is a key element of life at JSRACS, and this is encouraged throughout the school. In the Primary School, all Year 2 students learn a string instrument as part of the 'Year 2 String Program' and all Year 5 students learn a concert band instrument as part of the 'Year 5 Band Program'.
Secondary School follows the WACE guidelines and subjects offered in these years reflect the Courses of Study for the WACE. Year 10 is viewed as a transition and preparation year between the middle and secondary schools. Students are streamed into Mathematics, English and Science courses, according to achievement from the years before (i.e. a student who has a high English score in year 9, will be placed in the English Course 1/Literature Course). Year 10 students can also study a range of elective subjects ranging from design and technology, LOTE courses, robotics, aeronautics, theatre arts, dance, ICT courses and music. In year 11, students select 6 subjects which become their TEE/WACE subjects. English/Literature is compulsory and Mathematics is strongly encouraged. Students can then pick their speciality subjects such as Chemistry, Aviation, Music, Drama, Dance, Physics, Outdoor Education, Media Studies, Human Biology, Italian, History, Economics, Geography, Small Business Management and Enterprise, Indonesian, Accounting, Physical Education Studies and many more. For those who are looking at TAFE options or apprenticeships, the CareerLink allows students to get first hand experience out in the workforce, and can even study off campus, at TAFEs around Western Australia.
All Year groups undertake compulsory Religious and Values Education/Religion and Life throughout their schooling at JSRACS.
Art students can join the lunchtime Art Club, and participate in Interhouse Chalk-Drawing. Students who enjoy dance are invited to participate in the Dance Club, which meet twice weekly, after school. Choreography Night, is a dance night planned and run by the Year 12 Dance students, which takes in over 120 performers from years 7-12. This is a hugely popular event amongst parents, staff and students. Dances are choreographed mainly by Year 12 TEE Dance students, and forms part of their assessment for this course. LOTE activities include cultural exchanges to Bali and Italy, as well as the Annual Harmony Week Fair, where different cultures are shown off and exhibited. The Debating Club runs during terms 1 and 2 and takes part in the Western Australia Debating League. There are 3 divisions, and as students gain more experience they move up a division where new rules are introduced. The School Magazine was started up in 2010 to a roaring success, and uses budding student journalists to provide a range of fun, informative and enjoyable articles for both staff and students.
In Year 11, selected students are invited into the smARTS programme, run by the University of Western Australia
. This programme has students meet on campus at UWA and on-line, and take part in researching prevalent issues facing society. This research project is then submitted to a UWA panel who judge the best project. The research culminates in a Presentation Night, where the students summarise their 10,000 word projects into 5 minute videos, skits, speeches etc. JSRACS students have succeeded in the past, with teams in 2007, 2008 and 2010 winning overall.
All students are encouraged to take part in sporting teams at the secondary level. Years 7,8,9 and 10 are eligible to participate in ACC sport in terms 1 and 2, where students verse students from other ACC schools. JSRACS has won the Summer, Winter and Overall NWAS Series for the past 10 years. Students who excel in swimming, cross country and athletics are also selected into the JSR team for that sport and represent the school in ACC Inter-school Carnivals. Currently JSR are in C Division for Swimming and A Division for Athletics. JSR has finished in the top 15 out of over 100 schools in the Inter-school Cross Country for the past few year. Recently JSRACS has excelled in Athletics, advancing from C Division to A Division over 3 years. in 2009, their first year in A Division, JSR placed 2nd behind Sacred Heart College
. in 2010, JSR cemented its status in A Division with a solid 3rd Placing.
Students have many travel opportunities with the school. There is a Sydney and Canberra trip, offered biannually, an annual Bali trip, biannual Italy cultural tour and annual Ski Trip, visiting Melbourne and Mount Hotham. There are also one off school trips, such as to China, Vietnam, New Zealand, Dubai, Germany, Austria and Singapore as well as Melbourne, Avalon and Adelaide. Future academic trips include Japan, America, France, the United Kingdom and South Africa. A religious trip is also planned to Israel in 2012.
As previously stated, Music forms a key area in co-curricular life at JSRACS. There are many ensembles, bands, choirs and groups to join. These include:
These ensembles are very popular and involve some 250 students. Since 2008, music ensembles have begun touring, with the Senior Concert Band to New Zealand
in 2008, the Secondary Choir to Germany
& Austria
in 2009, the Wind Band and Septissimo Strings to Singapore
in 2010 and the Chapel Choir to the United Kingdom
in 2011. 2012 will see the Jazz Band visit Mount Gambier, South Australia
to compete in the Generations In Jazz
Festival. Future plans include a combined JSRACS and other ASC schools orchestra and choir to Eastern Europe, visiting Russia, Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic for 2013.
In 2000, the school entered the Rock Eisteddfod Challenge
for the first time, winning first place in the Perth Grand Final the following year. The school entered the Challenge every year and many students are involved in all aspects of the preparation, dancing and backstage tasks involved in the performance. They now only participate every second year.
Drama is the other major co-curricular activity. The Drama department puts on a number of shows over the year:
The musical productions are done on a large scale, involving over 100 students in acting, orchestra or backstage. Musicals run for four nights to sell out crowds, whilst plays run for three full houses. Choreography Night runs over three nights, with the last two nights featuring a teacher's dance.
commissioned the creation of a statue of John Septimus Roe in his youth, the sculpture was later changed to be of Roe during the early years of his work as the Surveyor General
. In 2010, the school commissioned a portrait of principal Matthew Hughes, this will set the precedent for all future principals to have a portrait painted of them to be hung in the schools library.
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
named after the notable West Australian and first Surveyor-General of Western Australia, John Septimus Roe
John Septimus Roe
John Septimus Roe was the first Surveyor-General of Western Australia. He was a renowned explorer, and a Member of Western Australia's Legislative and Executive Councils for nearly 40 years.-Early life:...
.
History
The first campus, originally named Thomas Scott Anglican Community School, was established in BeechboroBeechboro, Western Australia
Beechboro is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located within the City of Swan.-History:The name Beechboro reflects the history of the first European owner of land in the area. In 1892 Henry Brockman subdivided land in the area. The Brockman Family were well established landowners in the Swan...
in 1990 when it took over the old Northside Christian School at the request of the State Government. The second campus located in Mirrabooka
Mirrabooka, Western Australia
Mirrabooka is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Stirling.Mirrabooka is the Aboriginal name for the constellation most commonly known as the Southern Cross....
, was opened in 1992, and exists as a combined primary and secondary school campus.
While in the beginning the two schools shared the same administration and school council, there existed a separate cultural identity. To this day, there is a deep rivalry between the primary schools students particularly in sporting events and the move to the upper school campus. As such in 1996, Thomas Scott Anglican Community School was renamed John Septimus Roe Anglican Community School to mark the new concept of "two campuses, one school".
Today the primary school campus at Beechboro
Beechboro, Western Australia
Beechboro is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located within the City of Swan.-History:The name Beechboro reflects the history of the first European owner of land in the area. In 1892 Henry Brockman subdivided land in the area. The Brockman Family were well established landowners in the Swan...
and primary/secondary campus in Mirrabooka
Mirrabooka, Western Australia
Mirrabooka is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Stirling.Mirrabooka is the Aboriginal name for the constellation most commonly known as the Southern Cross....
has a student population of over 2,000 students from kindergarten to Year 12, making it the largest Anglican School in Western Australia.
Over the years there has been much change to the campuses at both school, with many building projects taking place. Recently at the Mirrabooka campus there has been the Science block extension, the new Catherine O'Neil Library, renovation of the ICT centre, the building and renovations of the Performing Arts Centre and the conversion of a classroom block into a Year 8/9 Middle School Learning Community. Future plans include the improvement of the school's internal road network and carparks, a Swimming Pool, extensions to the Chapel of St Paul and the "Reclaiming the Heart of the School" masterplan which will involve the moving of a classroom block to another location, and the creation of a central landscaped court. 2009 marked the 20th anniversary of the school founding, and as such, many special events were held, including a Twenty20 cricket match between teachers and students, anniversary dinners and special concerts, as well as the usual Founder's Day services and Family Fun Days.
School crest
- A bishop's mitre represents the authority of the Anglican Archbishop of Perth over the school as part of the Anglican Schools Commission.
- The St George's Cross indicates the Anglican Church's link with the Church of England.
- The Bible is the basis of the Christian beliefs and values system.
- An oil lamp represents light and knowledge.
- The handle signifies Chi Rho - initial letters of the word Christ.
School houses
The school is divided into six houses:- Roebourne House - named after Roe's ship
- Sandleford House - named after Roe's former property back in EnglandEnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
- Durham House - named after Roe's home in EnglandEnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
- Kelmscott House - named after the ship in which Roe came to AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
- Parmelia House - named after Roe's ship
- Newbury House - named after Roe's birthplace
Roebourne is associated with the colour red and mascot of dragons, Sandleford with yellow and sharks (previously stags), Durham with blue and knights, Kelmscott with green and cougars, Parmelia with black and eagles and Newbury with purple and Lions. The two houses, Parmelia and Newbury were officially introduced on Wednesday 21 April 2010. The mascot, colour and emblem were decided by new members of the house by a vote.
In the middle/secondary school, each house contains one pastoral care group (PCG) per year group, and this group is assigned at PCG tutor, who remains with them through their high school journey (This excludes Year 7). In Year 7, students are educated in the purpose built Year 7 Suite, at the South-Eastern edge of the campus, overlooking the Primary school oval. The new system introduced in 2010 has 6 classes of year 7's, representing each of the houses.
At JSR there are many Inter-House competitions, the most notable being the Swimming, Cross-Country and Athletics Carnivals. There are also minor competitions including chalk-drawing, music festivals, Theatresports, interhouse signing and hymn singing. Points earned from competitions go towards the Ivan Jordanoff Interhouse Shield, which Roebourne have won the most times.
Campus
The school is located across two sites. The original campus at Beechboro caters for primary school students while the newer campus in Mirrabooka ranges from kindergarten to Year 12. Each location has a school chapel: at Beechboro this is St Bede's Chapel, and at Mirrabooka, St Paul's. Both sites include canteens, libraries, oval spaces and gymnasiums.The Catherine O'Neill Library at the Mirrabooka Campus is particularly notable for its size, boasting two floors and a collection of several thousand books. Attached to the Library is the ICT centre containing two computer labs, offices, and a Media room. The Performing Arts Centre (PAC), has a dedicated tiered-theatre, music practice rooms, offices and an organ room. The PAC also features a dance theatre, changerooms, greenroom, sizeable backstage area and a cafe, catering for students in years 11 and 12, teachers and parents. The Mirrabooka gymnasium contains two full sized basketball courts, a mezzanine level (used as a personal training area), offices, kitchens, storerooms and two classrooms. This gym is also used as the main assembly building on the campus and is also used for large-scale events such as Founder's Day and Thanksgiving and Presentation Nights. The Science block features 8 laboratories, offices, computer room, Laboratory room and a special open plan laboratory for interactive science. The Middle School block features 15 classrooms all with SMART boards, Staff lounges and offices, a common student area with lounges, televisions which display important details, and a kitchenette as well as laptop trolleys. The school grounds are beautifully landscaped and buildings surround the central Carnley Court named after former Archbishop of Perth, Peter Carnley.
The Beechboro campus' gymnasium, The Michael Brommilow Centre, features one full size basketball court, offices, changerooms, storage, kitchens, and is also used as the major assembly area at the Beechboro campus. The Beechboro campus also features many classrooms specifically tailored to suit each year level in the Primary Years of Schooling.
Curriculum
The Primary School curriculum follows that imposed by the State Government, focussing on Numeracy and Literacy.A special aspect of the Primary School is the Chapel Choir Program, where music education is the core focus. Students accepted into the program undertake rigorous musical training, which forms the backbone of their education. They receive special vocal and choral tuition and are all expected to learn a string instrument, piano, organ or harpsichord. The students in this program have their own classroom at the Mirrabooka campus, and are known as the MAG class (Multi-Age Group). The program runs from years 3-6, after which students are expected to remain with the choir, but not as the MAG choristers.
Music is a key element of life at JSRACS, and this is encouraged throughout the school. In the Primary School, all Year 2 students learn a string instrument as part of the 'Year 2 String Program' and all Year 5 students learn a concert band instrument as part of the 'Year 5 Band Program'.
Secondary School follows the WACE guidelines and subjects offered in these years reflect the Courses of Study for the WACE. Year 10 is viewed as a transition and preparation year between the middle and secondary schools. Students are streamed into Mathematics, English and Science courses, according to achievement from the years before (i.e. a student who has a high English score in year 9, will be placed in the English Course 1/Literature Course). Year 10 students can also study a range of elective subjects ranging from design and technology, LOTE courses, robotics, aeronautics, theatre arts, dance, ICT courses and music. In year 11, students select 6 subjects which become their TEE/WACE subjects. English/Literature is compulsory and Mathematics is strongly encouraged. Students can then pick their speciality subjects such as Chemistry, Aviation, Music, Drama, Dance, Physics, Outdoor Education, Media Studies, Human Biology, Italian, History, Economics, Geography, Small Business Management and Enterprise, Indonesian, Accounting, Physical Education Studies and many more. For those who are looking at TAFE options or apprenticeships, the CareerLink allows students to get first hand experience out in the workforce, and can even study off campus, at TAFEs around Western Australia.
All Year groups undertake compulsory Religious and Values Education/Religion and Life throughout their schooling at JSRACS.
Co-curricular activities
In the Primary School, sporting teams are the most popular for students, with JSR fielding netball, football, soccer, softball and many other sports. Music and Drama are also available, with instrumentalists encouraged to join the Junior Concert Band, Wind Band or Septissimo Strings, whilst vocalists are invited to join the Primary Choir. The Chapel Choir, as mentioned before, is an exclusive group of talented vocalists who tour Perth, Interstate, and Internationally. Once a year, the Primary School put on a Pantomime, showing the upcoming talent in music, dance and drama. Primary School Students also have the option to participate in Wakikirri, a Junior Rock Eisteddfod festival.Art students can join the lunchtime Art Club, and participate in Interhouse Chalk-Drawing. Students who enjoy dance are invited to participate in the Dance Club, which meet twice weekly, after school. Choreography Night, is a dance night planned and run by the Year 12 Dance students, which takes in over 120 performers from years 7-12. This is a hugely popular event amongst parents, staff and students. Dances are choreographed mainly by Year 12 TEE Dance students, and forms part of their assessment for this course. LOTE activities include cultural exchanges to Bali and Italy, as well as the Annual Harmony Week Fair, where different cultures are shown off and exhibited. The Debating Club runs during terms 1 and 2 and takes part in the Western Australia Debating League. There are 3 divisions, and as students gain more experience they move up a division where new rules are introduced. The School Magazine was started up in 2010 to a roaring success, and uses budding student journalists to provide a range of fun, informative and enjoyable articles for both staff and students.
In Year 11, selected students are invited into the smARTS programme, run by the University of Western Australia
University of Western Australia
The University of Western Australia was established by an Act of the Western Australian Parliament in February 1911, and began teaching students for the first time in 1913. It is the oldest university in the state of Western Australia and the only university in the state to be a member of the...
. This programme has students meet on campus at UWA and on-line, and take part in researching prevalent issues facing society. This research project is then submitted to a UWA panel who judge the best project. The research culminates in a Presentation Night, where the students summarise their 10,000 word projects into 5 minute videos, skits, speeches etc. JSRACS students have succeeded in the past, with teams in 2007, 2008 and 2010 winning overall.
All students are encouraged to take part in sporting teams at the secondary level. Years 7,8,9 and 10 are eligible to participate in ACC sport in terms 1 and 2, where students verse students from other ACC schools. JSRACS has won the Summer, Winter and Overall NWAS Series for the past 10 years. Students who excel in swimming, cross country and athletics are also selected into the JSR team for that sport and represent the school in ACC Inter-school Carnivals. Currently JSR are in C Division for Swimming and A Division for Athletics. JSR has finished in the top 15 out of over 100 schools in the Inter-school Cross Country for the past few year. Recently JSRACS has excelled in Athletics, advancing from C Division to A Division over 3 years. in 2009, their first year in A Division, JSR placed 2nd behind Sacred Heart College
Sacred Heart College
There are a number of colleges with the name Sacred Heart:-Australia:*Sacred Heart College, Kyneton, a Catholic co-ed Secondary School run by the Sisters of Mercy*Sacred Heart College, Geelong, a Catholic school for girls in Victoria...
. in 2010, JSR cemented its status in A Division with a solid 3rd Placing.
Students have many travel opportunities with the school. There is a Sydney and Canberra trip, offered biannually, an annual Bali trip, biannual Italy cultural tour and annual Ski Trip, visiting Melbourne and Mount Hotham. There are also one off school trips, such as to China, Vietnam, New Zealand, Dubai, Germany, Austria and Singapore as well as Melbourne, Avalon and Adelaide. Future academic trips include Japan, America, France, the United Kingdom and South Africa. A religious trip is also planned to Israel in 2012.
As previously stated, Music forms a key area in co-curricular life at JSRACS. There are many ensembles, bands, choirs and groups to join. These include:
- Bagpipe Band
- Barbershop Quartet
- Beechboro & Mirrabooka Primary Choir
- Big Night In Events
- Clarinet Ensemble
- Guitar Ensemble
- Secondary Choir
- Senior Concert Band
- Senior Jazz Band
- Septimus Swing
- Septissimo Strings
- Sinfonia
- St Pauls Chapel Choir
- Wind Band
- Year 2 String Orchestra
- Year 5 Bands
These ensembles are very popular and involve some 250 students. Since 2008, music ensembles have begun touring, with the Senior Concert Band to New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
in 2008, the Secondary Choir to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
& Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
in 2009, the Wind Band and Septissimo Strings to Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
in 2010 and the Chapel Choir to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in 2011. 2012 will see the Jazz Band visit Mount Gambier, South Australia
Mount Gambier, South Australia
Mount Gambier is the largest regional city in South Australia located approximately 450 kilometres south of the capital Adelaide and just 17 kilometres from the Victorian border....
to compete in the Generations In Jazz
Generations In Jazz
Generations In Jazz is an annual weekend Jazz Festival held in Mount Gambier, Australia.It is held in May and brings together many of Australia’s most talented young jazz musicians to participate in and compete for the 'James Morrison Scholarship', 'Generations in Jazz Vocal Scholarship the 'City...
Festival. Future plans include a combined JSRACS and other ASC schools orchestra and choir to Eastern Europe, visiting Russia, Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic for 2013.
In 2000, the school entered the Rock Eisteddfod Challenge
Rock Eisteddfod Challenge
The Rock Eisteddfod Challenge is a series of dance and drama events staged worldwide by school pupils as part of the Global Rock Challenge. These events are initiated by the Rock Eisteddfod Challenge Foundation, and aim to promote healthy lifestyle choices, particularly abstinence from drugs,...
for the first time, winning first place in the Perth Grand Final the following year. The school entered the Challenge every year and many students are involved in all aspects of the preparation, dancing and backstage tasks involved in the performance. They now only participate every second year.
Drama is the other major co-curricular activity. The Drama department puts on a number of shows over the year:
- Annual Musical Production & Play
- Choreography Night
- Dance Night
- Year 12 Original Solo Performance (OSP) Night
- Interhouse TheatreSports (defunct)
The musical productions are done on a large scale, involving over 100 students in acting, orchestra or backstage. Musicals run for four nights to sell out crowds, whilst plays run for three full houses. Choreography Night runs over three nights, with the last two nights featuring a teacher's dance.
Statue and portraits
In 2009, as part of the annual Foundation Day celebrations to commemorate the school's 20th year, the school's principal Matthew Hughes JPJustice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
commissioned the creation of a statue of John Septimus Roe in his youth, the sculpture was later changed to be of Roe during the early years of his work as the Surveyor General
Surveyor General
The Surveyor General is an official responsible for government surveying in a specific country or territory. Originally this would often have been a military appointment, but is now more likely to be a civilian post....
. In 2010, the school commissioned a portrait of principal Matthew Hughes, this will set the precedent for all future principals to have a portrait painted of them to be hung in the schools library.