Springwood High School (New South Wales)

Description

The school is made up of 4 blocks, named Jackson, Chapman, Martin and Moore. They are named after four local historic figures. There is also a canteen block, and a hall which is often used by other parts of the community.

The school has two ovals and a grassy slope, an upper oval for soccer and football, and a lower oval for general use as well as for field hockey. Nathan Bracken (Former Australian fast bowler) also opened the new cricket nets in 2009.

School Colours

The school colours are green, black and white for juniors (Years 7-10) and grey, black and white for seniors (Years 11 and 12).The PE and Sport uniform is a yellow shirt with the school logo and green basketball shorts. The uniform, which is more of a dress code, allows students to express themselves in different ways while still adhering to the form and practicality that is the black and white. This allows students to maintain an identity while still creating identifiable attire.

School Administration

Springwood High School's principal, Dr. Mark Howie (B.ED (Hons)) received his doctorate from the University of Western Sydney. The school's Deputy Principal (years 7, 8 & 9) is Mr Todd Shepherd, (B.Teach, B.Ed, M.Educational Studies (Mathematics)).The school's other Deputy Principal (years 10, SY1 & SY2) is Ms Kathy Dean, (B.Ed.)

School Events

Highlights of the school calendar include annual Swimming, Athletics and Cross Country carnivals, an Open Day for potential students, and an Education Night where students' achievements are displayed to the public. The Art Show is an annual fundraiser which attracts many people each year to view and purchase local artworks.

The Arts

The school has a distinguished theatre company, which is completely unique to the school, composed of past and present students, (SHSTC) which performs a professional season of successful plays each year. This is followed by the annual 'Benson Awards', the school's equivalent of the Oscars. Iceland Productions, the graduate company and a branch of SHSTC, is made up of ex-students and ex-teachers who work with current students to pass down their knowledge, and create productions under the SHS name.

Springwood High School has had a proud tradition of performing arts, and in continuing this tradition, staged a production of the Broadway musical "The Wedding Singer" in June 2012, involving over 100 students, staff and community members. Following on from this, Springwood High currently operates in a bi-annual cycle for musical productions; large scale musicals in even years, and smaller, 'cabaret' type shows in odd years. To this end, Springwood High produced "On Broadway" (a cabaret) in 2013, and the Broadway musical "13" in 2014. For 2016, Springwood High is staging a new performance "FootLoose."

Accolades

The school's main outlet of recognition for achievements, academic or otherwise, is the annual presentation night, at which the teachers and the principal present said accolades to the gifted sector of Springwood High.

An award is handed out each year at the annual presentation night called the "Decade Award." The "Decade Award" recognizes achievements of past students. Some of the most notable ex-Springwood high students include actress and singer Amie McKenna, professional Australian cricketer Nathan Bracken and Home Beautiful Magazine Editor Wendy Moore.

In the 2004 HSC, 24 Springwood High School students were distinguished achievers (reached band 6 standard by achieving a mark for 90 or more for a course.) This was compared to only 16 from nearby Winmalee High School, and 13 from Blaxland High School.

It received the 'Director-General's School Achievement Award' in 2002, in recognition of its achievements over its 14-year history. It was labelled "a symbol of the achievements of quality public education."