Luther College (Victoria)
Encyclopedia
Luther College is a co-educational independent
secondary school
of the Lutheran Church of Australia
located in the outer-eastern suburb of Croydon
in Melbourne
, Victoria, Australia. It maintains a close relationship with the Outer Eastern Lutheran Church parish of the Lutheran Church of Australia
, which congregates in the school's chapel facilities. It provides education for years 7-12. Some year 10 and all year 11 and 12 students undertake the VCE
program.
, named for the father of the Lutheran Church
, Dr. Martin Luther
, a 16th century German theologian
.
Beginning as a boarding school
with students from remote regional areas of Victoria making up a large percentage of its enrolment, the school grew to become popular with International students. However after a decline in International enrolments and worries about the growth of the student body in relation to the school's facilities, the boarding program ended at the end of 2002, with the boarding house facilities being demolished or adapted into classrooms.
The school now admits small numbers of students from remote areas who take part in a home-stay program, residing with the families of local students.
Several houses originally owned by the College and formerly lived in by its chaplains, boarding students and boarding-house supervisors have been converted into office blocks, including what is now the school's Ministry Centre.
The school's facilities also comprise one football oval, and two soccer/hockey pitches, three basketball courts and four tennis courts which can be converted into a half-sized hockey court, and often doubles as a soccer field during lunchtimes. There is also two full size basketball courts in the gymnasium as well as a gym for students to use at lunchtime from Year 10 onwards.
In 2010, the new middle school building was opened. The building consists of state-of-the art facilities, including over 25 classrooms. Students in years 7-9 use these classrooms.
, Luther College students participate in mandatory religious education
classes in years 7-12.
All students from all year levels attend a chapel service in the school's chapel four days out of the week. On Wednesday, students participate in a devotion in their homegroup classes.
The school's campus contains a special Ministry Centre which contains the offices of the school's three chaplains as well as the school counsellor
. Students can go to the Ministry Centre at any time of the day to seek advice or counselling.
operating within the school. These are further divided into form classes, also known as home groups, which hold meetings every morning to distribute news and information. They include 5-8 students from every year level. Cheong won the 2008 overall house cup, after a 27-year drought. The four houses are:
The four houses compete annually for a school trophy. The events in which the houses compete are:
All of the above events are considered voluntary, with the exception of the cross-country
which is mandatory for all students, and house sports which are mandatory for all students.
. Both their campuses are located in Croydon, separated by two sporting ovals.
The schools share many of their facilities, including the sporting ovals, as well as the Luther College chapel which is used by the primary school for special occasions. The schools have very similar uniforms, and until 2004 their physical education
uniforms were almost identical.
As many as 80% of Good Shepherd students attend Luther College after the completion of year 6, due to the school's close proximity and affordable fees. Due to this, students of the schools share a close relationship. Many Collegiates undertake work experience
or voluntary service placements at Good Shepherd, and both schools often present chapel services for each other.
There has been speculation since Good Shepherd's inception that the schools will one day join to become one college that provides education for all students years prep-12, as other private Church schools including Methodist Ladies' College
and Yarra Valley Grammar
have successfully done, but there has been no official acknowledgement of this proposal from either school at any time.
program. Students from all year levels participate in both indoor and beach volleyball. In 2008, Luther College sent a senior girls volleyball team to New Zealand to compete in their national schools volleyball competition.
Luther College has a successful history at the EISM interschool cross country. Luther has won it three out of past four times, losing only to Aquinas by a narrow margin on the fourth.
The school also does extremely well in the EISM interschool sports which the years 9 and 11 participate in weekly. These sports include: Soccer, football, tennis, hockey, volleyball, netball, basketball and more.
Past Luther musicals include:
Independent school
An independent school is a school that is independent in its finances and governance; it is not dependent upon national or local government for financing its operations, nor reliant on taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of tuition charges, gifts, and in some cases the...
secondary school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
of the Lutheran Church of Australia
Lutheran Church of Australia
The Lutheran Church of Australia is the major Lutheran denomination in Australia, it also has a presence in New Zealand. It has 320 parishes, 540 congregations, 70,000 baptized members in Australia, 1,130 baptized members in New Zealand, 52,463 communicant members and 450 active pastors. Its...
located in the outer-eastern suburb of Croydon
Croydon, Victoria
Croydon is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 27 km east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Maroondah. At the 2006 Census, Croydon had a population of 22,029.-Public transport:...
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria, Australia. It maintains a close relationship with the Outer Eastern Lutheran Church parish of the Lutheran Church of Australia
Lutheran Church of Australia
The Lutheran Church of Australia is the major Lutheran denomination in Australia, it also has a presence in New Zealand. It has 320 parishes, 540 congregations, 70,000 baptized members in Australia, 1,130 baptized members in New Zealand, 52,463 communicant members and 450 active pastors. Its...
, which congregates in the school's chapel facilities. It provides education for years 7-12. Some year 10 and all year 11 and 12 students undertake the VCE
Victorian Certificate of Education
The Victorian Certificate of Education or VCE is the credential awarded to secondary school students who successfully complete high school level studies in the state of Victoria, Australia. Study for the VCE is usually completed over two years, but it can be spread over a longer period in some cases...
program.
History
Opened in 1964, Luther College is a school of the Lutheran Church of AustraliaLutheran Church of Australia
The Lutheran Church of Australia is the major Lutheran denomination in Australia, it also has a presence in New Zealand. It has 320 parishes, 540 congregations, 70,000 baptized members in Australia, 1,130 baptized members in New Zealand, 52,463 communicant members and 450 active pastors. Its...
, named for the father of the Lutheran Church
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
, Dr. Martin Luther
Martin Luther
Martin Luther was a German priest, professor of theology and iconic figure of the Protestant Reformation. He strongly disputed the claim that freedom from God's punishment for sin could be purchased with money. He confronted indulgence salesman Johann Tetzel with his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517...
, a 16th century German theologian
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
.
Beginning as a boarding school
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
with students from remote regional areas of Victoria making up a large percentage of its enrolment, the school grew to become popular with International students. However after a decline in International enrolments and worries about the growth of the student body in relation to the school's facilities, the boarding program ended at the end of 2002, with the boarding house facilities being demolished or adapted into classrooms.
The school now admits small numbers of students from remote areas who take part in a home-stay program, residing with the families of local students.
Campus
The campus has altered considerably since the school's opening in 1964.Several houses originally owned by the College and formerly lived in by its chaplains, boarding students and boarding-house supervisors have been converted into office blocks, including what is now the school's Ministry Centre.
The school's facilities also comprise one football oval, and two soccer/hockey pitches, three basketball courts and four tennis courts which can be converted into a half-sized hockey court, and often doubles as a soccer field during lunchtimes. There is also two full size basketball courts in the gymnasium as well as a gym for students to use at lunchtime from Year 10 onwards.
In 2010, the new middle school building was opened. The building consists of state-of-the art facilities, including over 25 classrooms. Students in years 7-9 use these classrooms.
Religious education
As a school of the Lutheran Church of AustraliaLutheran Church of Australia
The Lutheran Church of Australia is the major Lutheran denomination in Australia, it also has a presence in New Zealand. It has 320 parishes, 540 congregations, 70,000 baptized members in Australia, 1,130 baptized members in New Zealand, 52,463 communicant members and 450 active pastors. Its...
, Luther College students participate in mandatory religious education
Religious education
In secular usage, religious education is the teaching of a particular religion and its varied aspects —its beliefs, doctrines, rituals, customs, rites, and personal roles...
classes in years 7-12.
- In years 7-8, these classes are known as Christian Studies and students develop basic Biblical knowledge and discuss theological issues.
- In year 9, students participate in one semester of Christian Studies (see above) and one semester of Social and Voluntary Service classes. In these classes students learn about world issues including poverty and human rights. All students must then undertake three days of community service in an approved institution.
- In year 10, the program focuses on personal and spiritual development.
- In years 11 and 12, students undertake one of two VCEVictorian Certificate of EducationThe Victorian Certificate of Education or VCE is the credential awarded to secondary school students who successfully complete high school level studies in the state of Victoria, Australia. Study for the VCE is usually completed over two years, but it can be spread over a longer period in some cases...
courses, either Religion and Society which focuses on world religions and the influence of religion on modern world culture, or Religious History which charts the development of Christianity throughout history. While neither course contributes to the ENTEREquivalent National Tertiary Entrance RankThe Equivalent National Tertiary Entrance Rank was the national Australian tertiary entrance rank, administered by Universities Australia...
score, both are assessed VCE subjects awarded either a "Satisfactory" or "Non-satisfactory" grade on the student's VCE transcript.
All students from all year levels attend a chapel service in the school's chapel four days out of the week. On Wednesday, students participate in a devotion in their homegroup classes.
The school's campus contains a special Ministry Centre which contains the offices of the school's three chaplains as well as the school counsellor
School counselor
A school counselor is a counselor and an educator who works in elementary, middle, and high schools to provide academic, career, college access, and personal/social competencies to K-12 students...
. Students can go to the Ministry Centre at any time of the day to seek advice or counselling.
IT program
Luther College is a notebook computer school. The notebook program was commenced in 1995, with a pilot class of 30 Year 10 students. At the end of the year, the school council voted to commence the notebook program for all year 10 students, commencing from 1996 onwards. More recently, the program was extended to year 9 students.School houses
There are four housesHouse system
The house system is a traditional feature of British schools, and schools in the Commonwealth. Historically, it was associated with established public schools, where a 'house' refers to a boarding house or dormitory of a boarding school...
operating within the school. These are further divided into form classes, also known as home groups, which hold meetings every morning to distribute news and information. They include 5-8 students from every year level. Cheong won the 2008 overall house cup, after a 27-year drought. The four houses are:
- Birt - named after Birt's Hill which adjoins the College campus to the east. House Colour: Blue.
- Cheong - named Cheong Hill, located approximately 500 metres south-west of Wicklow Hill. House Colour: Red.
- Nelson - named after Nelson Hill, located between the Maroondah Highway and Mt Dandenong Road. House Colour: Yellow.
- Wicklow - named after Wicklow Hill, at 207 mMetreThe metre , symbol m, is the base unit of length in the International System of Units . Originally intended to be one ten-millionth of the distance from the Earth's equator to the North Pole , its definition has been periodically refined to reflect growing knowledge of metrology...
above sea level the highest ground in CroydonCroydon, VictoriaCroydon is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 27 km east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Maroondah. At the 2006 Census, Croydon had a population of 22,029.-Public transport:...
. House Colour: Green.
The four houses compete annually for a school trophy. The events in which the houses compete are:
- Athletics carnival, where the houses compete in a number of track and field events.
- Swimming carnival, in which the houses compete in various races and aquatic events.
- Cross-country carnival, a long-distance run through the College campus and the surrounding suburb of Croydon, VictoriaCroydon, VictoriaCroydon is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 27 km east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Maroondah. At the 2006 Census, Croydon had a population of 22,029.-Public transport:...
. - Performing Arts festival, which takes place bi-annually, in which the houses compete by performing a half-hour segment which includes choral, ensemble and dance pieces
- House Drama, where the four houses direct, produce and perform plays, traditionally written by students
- Public Speaking, One member from each House in every year level speaks for 3–5 minutes depending on their year level on a topic of their choice, and are then awarded points on their presentation which are transferred to their house.
- House sports, where members of the four houses are divided into teams by year level and compete in different team sports, such as volleyballVolleyballVolleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
, soccer, softballSoftballSoftball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
and basketballBasketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
.
All of the above events are considered voluntary, with the exception of the cross-country
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
which is mandatory for all students, and house sports which are mandatory for all students.
Involvement with Good Shepherd Lutheran Primary School
Both Luther College and The Good Shepherd Lutheran Primary School are private schools, as well as schools of the Lutheran Church of AustraliaLutheran Church of Australia
The Lutheran Church of Australia is the major Lutheran denomination in Australia, it also has a presence in New Zealand. It has 320 parishes, 540 congregations, 70,000 baptized members in Australia, 1,130 baptized members in New Zealand, 52,463 communicant members and 450 active pastors. Its...
. Both their campuses are located in Croydon, separated by two sporting ovals.
The schools share many of their facilities, including the sporting ovals, as well as the Luther College chapel which is used by the primary school for special occasions. The schools have very similar uniforms, and until 2004 their physical education
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
uniforms were almost identical.
As many as 80% of Good Shepherd students attend Luther College after the completion of year 6, due to the school's close proximity and affordable fees. Due to this, students of the schools share a close relationship. Many Collegiates undertake work experience
Work experience
Work experience is the experience that a person has been working, or worked in a specific field or occupation.- Volunteer work and internships :...
or voluntary service placements at Good Shepherd, and both schools often present chapel services for each other.
There has been speculation since Good Shepherd's inception that the schools will one day join to become one college that provides education for all students years prep-12, as other private Church schools including Methodist Ladies' College
Methodist Ladies' College, Melbourne
Methodist Ladies' College is an independent, non-selective, day and boarding school for girls, located in Kew, an eastern suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia...
and Yarra Valley Grammar
Yarra Valley Grammar
Yarra Valley Grammar School is an independent, co-educational grammar school, located in Ringwood, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.The school was established in 1966 as Yarra Valley Church of England School, and catered for boys only....
have successfully done, but there has been no official acknowledgement of this proposal from either school at any time.
Extra-curricular activities
The following are extra-curricular activities and are options to all students:- Analecta – allows students the ability to work on the school magazine which is produced at the end of each year, by designing or writing articles.
- Middle + Senior School Forums – organises charity events for the school (years 7-9) e.g. Red Nose day, Y B Blue day, and other free dress days for different causes.
- Chapel Tech – in morning service, these students are responsible for any audio-visual requirements
- Awaken – a group that is held once a week and is a Christian environment for anyone who wants to go along to talk.
Music
The following music ensembles are optional providing the required level of skill is demonstrated- Senior Voices
- SSA Choir
- String Orchestra
- Symphonic Orchestra
- Friday Strings
- Stage Band
- Symphonic Band
- Concert Band
- Cello Ensemble
- Flute Ensemble
- Guitar Ensemble
- Numerous Quartets
- Percussion Ensemble (aka Whack Whack)
Athletics
Luther College prides itself in its strong volleyballVolleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
program. Students from all year levels participate in both indoor and beach volleyball. In 2008, Luther College sent a senior girls volleyball team to New Zealand to compete in their national schools volleyball competition.
Luther College has a successful history at the EISM interschool cross country. Luther has won it three out of past four times, losing only to Aquinas by a narrow margin on the fourth.
The school also does extremely well in the EISM interschool sports which the years 9 and 11 participate in weekly. These sports include: Soccer, football, tennis, hockey, volleyball, netball, basketball and more.
Musicals
Every second year Luther College presents a whole school musical. These musicals are open to all year levels.Past Luther musicals include:
- 2012: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat
- 2010: Anything Goes
- 2008: SeussicalSeussicalis a musical by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty based on the books of Dr. Seuss that debuted on Broadway in 2000. The play's story is a rather complex amalgamation of many of Seuss's most famous books. After a Broadway run, the production spawned two US national tours and a UK tour...
the Musical - 2006: Guys and Dolls
- 2004: The Hot Mikado
- 2002: The Wizard of Oz
- 2000: Pirates of Penzance
- 1998: Fiddler on the Roof
- 1996: Godspell
Notable alumni
- Australian golfing champion Aaron BaddeleyAaron BaddeleyAaron John Baddeley is an American-Australian professional golfer. He was born in Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA and now plays on the U.S.-based PGA Tour, has joint U.S. and Australian citizenship and was raised in Australia from the age of two...
, who still attends annual Golf Days held at the school - Australian Olympic sailor Sarah BlanckSarah BlanckSarah Blanck is an Australian sailor .In 2002 she won the Olympic class Europe World Championships.Blanck won the ISAF Youth World Championship in 1995 and the Laser Radial Women's World Championships in 1997...
- Australian hip hop artist 360 (rapper)360 (rapper)360 is an Australian hip hop artist from Melbourne.-Biography:360 attended Luther College in Melbourne's Eastern suburbs. In February 2007 he signed to Soulmate Records, and released his debut album, What You See Is What You Get, in March 2008...
- Australian hip hop artist MC Pressure (of Hilltop Hoods)MC PressurePressure is one of the MCs of the Adelaide-based hip-hop group the Hilltop Hoods. He along with Suffa and DJ Next [Later replaced by DJ Debris] created the Hilltop Hoods in 1991, which has since become one of the best known Hip Hop acts in Australia. Pressure currently lives in Adelaide...