Religious affiliation(s) Jewish (Progressive) Principal Marc Light Colour(s) Gold and Blue Number of students 800 | Established 1977 Enrolment 800 (P-12) Phone +61 3 9291 7900 Founded 1977 | |
Type Independent, Co-educational Similar Bialik College, Lauriston Girls' School, Scotch College, Kilvington Grammar School, St Michael's Grammar Profiles | ||
The King David School is an independent, co-educational, progressive Jewish day school located in Armadale, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The school currently caters for approximately 800 students from Pre-School to Year 12, and is affiliated with the Victorian Union of Progressive Judaism.
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The History
The King David School was first envisioned in the 1970s, by several progressive Jews in Melbourne, and rabbis from Temple Beth Israel. The school was first purchased in 1977, on Kooyong Road, a property still occupied today, the Joyce and Mark Southwick Campus, named after two key influential figures in the school's opening.
In 1978, the school first opened for business as a primary school, and it was the first ever Progressive Jewish Day School in Australia. Its principal at that time was Norman Rothman. Whilst there were initially 45 students, the school grew up until in 1984, its biggest current campus (now the Middle School) was purchased in Orrong Road, known as the Isador Magid Campus, after another key figure in the school's establishment. The school later opened its first pre-school on Alma Road, adjacent to Temple Beth Israel, the Joyce and Mark Southwick Pre-school.
The school rapidly rose in student numbers, and celebrated the centennial year of 2000 by extending to Year 12 for the first time in its history. In 2002, the school opened a third campus, the Levi Centre, which was a middle school for years 3-6. This campus was later converted to an administration building, and its lease expired in 2008.
Perhaps the most significant new campus was established in 2006, when a property on Dandenong Road was opened, the Magid Institute, a senior campus for years 9-12. It was originally an old mansion, but has been transformed with automated lights and electronic sign-boards.
Campuses
King David School consists of five campuses in the Metropolitan Armadale area of Melbourne, close to the city's Jewish community. These campuses are the Southwick Pre-school centre, the Southwick Junior School (prep school to year 2), the Magid Campus (year 3 to year 8), the Magid Institute (year 9 to year 12) and the school's newest campus opened in 2011, the Rebecca Magid Center for visual arts, sport, music and theatre.
Curriculum
King David School prepares students for the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE), achieving high academic results. The school's LOTE (Languages Other Than English) program includes Hebrew, French, Spanish, Russian and Mandarin.
Co-curriculum
King David School offers co-curricular programs in sport, music, drama, debating, outdoor education and in 2008 became the first known school to run a teacher sanctioned Dream Team league.
The school's sports program is facilitated through its membership of the Eastern Independent Schools of Melbourne (EISM).