Nossal High School is a state government
selective schoolA selective school is a school that admits students on the basis of some sort of selection criteria, usually academic. The term may have different connotations in different systems....
in Victoria, Australia. Located in the Berwick campus of
Monash UniversityMonash University is a public university based in Melbourne, Victoria. It was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the state. Monash is a member of Australia's Group of Eight and the ASAIHL....
and adjacent to
Chisholm InstituteChisholm Institute is a Technical and Further Education Institute located in the south-east Melbourne and Westernport Bay areas in Australia. It provides adult education in a number of areas including the arts and humanities, hospitality, information technology, mechanics and business...
and Berwick TEC (Technical Education Centre), the school opened in 2010 with 200 students (100 male, 100 female). It is one of three new
selective entry schoolsA selective school is a school that admits students on the basis of some sort of selection criteria, usually academic. The term may have different connotations in different systems....
in Victoria including
John Monash Science SchoolJohn Monash Science School is a state government coeducational specialist selective school in Victoria, Australia. It is the state's first specialist science secondary school....
and
Suzanne Cory High SchoolSuzanne Cory High School is a Years 9-12 selective entry co-educational high school in Victoria, Australia. Located in Hoppers Lane, Werribee, the school commenced in 2011 with 200 Year 9 students....
. Prior to these additions, only three selective schools existed in Victoria, MacRobertson Girls' High School, Melbourne High School and the
Victorian College of the Arts Secondary SchoolVictorian College of the Arts Secondary School , is a state government selective school in Victoria, Australia; a leading school and trainer of talented young dancers and musicians. Located in Southbank, within the Melbourne Arts Precinct, VCASS teaches students from Year 7 to 12...
.
Reports have highlighted the controversy of selective schooling in Australia, with critics concerned about 'poaching' of high achieving students from other schools, and the 'stratification' of government education.
It is named after the distinguished scientist
Sir Gustav NossalSir Gustav Victor Joseph Nossal, AC, CBE, FRS, FAA is an Australian research biologist.-Life and career:Gustav Nossal's family was from Vienna, Austria. He was born four weeks prematurely in Bad Ischl while his mother was on holiday...
.
Extracurricular activities
Extracurricular options available to students include: Literature Club, Chess Club, Debating, Nossal Interactive Multimedia Society (NIMS), Youth Vision, School Magazine Committee, Peer Support, Cheerleading, Environment Club and many more. Students are also able to join in many sport teams including volleyball, cricket (male & female), badminton, table tennis, basketball, soccer, softball, football (male & female), hockey, swimming, athletics, netball and tennis.
Student leadership
Student leadership positions include: School Captains (one male and female of the senior year); Tutorial Leaders (two per tutorial group); House Captains and Vice House Captains (4 per house); Information Resource Center Leaders (two per tutorial group); Information Communications Technology Leader (two per tutorial group), and Environmental Leaders (two per tutorial).
House System
During Nossal's foundation year a competition was run allowing students to enter possible names for the houses; the names chosen were:
- Garuda
The Garuda is a large mythical bird or bird-like creature that appears in both Hindu and Buddhist mythology.From an Indian perspective, Garuda is the Hindu name for the constellation Aquila and...
(Blue & Grey)
- Pegasus
Pegasus is one of the best known fantastical as well as mythological creatures in Greek mythology. He is a winged divine horse, usually white in color. He was sired by Poseidon, in his role as horse-god, and foaled by the Gorgon Medusa. He was the brother of Chrysaor, born at a single birthing...
(Green & White)
- Griffin
The griffin, griffon, or gryphon is a legendary creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle...
(Yellow & Orange)
- Phoenix
The phoenix or phenix is a mythical sacred firebird that can be found in the mythologies of the Arabian, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Chinese, Indian and Phoenicians....
(Red & Black)
Each of the houses is named after a mythical flying creature; which fits with the Nossal emblem of "taking flight". At the end of each year the house to have accumulated the most points is awarded the Page Cup. Points are attained by participation in the six major events as well as smaller contests held throughout the school year. The six major events are as follows: Swimming Carnival; Athletics; Cross Country; Choral Night; Debating; Monash Grand Challenge (year 9 participation only). Other competitions include Table Tennis, Camp Challenges, Dress Up days, Tug of War and Chess Competitions.
Monash Grand Challenge
The Monash Grand Challenge is a competition held for year 9 students at the end of every school year; the winners gain significant amounts of points contributing to next year's Page Cup. The challenge focuses on developing essay writing, creative,
public speakingPublic speaking is the process of speaking to a group of people in a structured, deliberate manner intended to inform, influence, or entertain the listeners...
and problem solving skills by incorporating each element into the challenge. The final products of each house are judged by Monash University professors and the winner is decided upon by a vote. The winning house gains the Monash Grand Challenge trophy and house points.
External links