PERTH MODERN SCHOOL

'Perth Modern School' is a public secondary school and Government selective school in the Perth suburb of Subiaco in Western Australia.
Perth Modern School, by its centenary in 2011, will become a purely academic selective school, catering for students with outstanding academic ability. The first cohort of Gifted and Talented students commence at Perth Modern School in 2007.
Perth Modern School has run a renowned selective Music program for gifted students in Years eight to twelve, although from 2007 selection into the program will only come from the academically selected students. As well as Music, Perth Modern School offers a specialised Ballet course with the Graduate College of Dance. This is a highly prestigious course and graduates often go on to promising dance careers.

Contents

History

School Layout

Historic Buildings

Music

Dance

Future

Notable alumni

References

History

Perth Modern School was established as the first Government senior secondary school in Western Australia in 1911, after lengthy representations to the State Government. Its charter was to offer a modern education to students of strong academic ability. Selection was by scholarship and both male and female students studied science and modern languages as part of their courses, pioneering the education of women of the state.
The Sphinx, representing wisdom and knowledge, was adopted as the school symbol; together with the motto: "Savoir c'est Pouvoir" ('Knowledge is Power').
Through the years, Perth Modern School developed a strong reputation based on the achievement of high educational standards and the successes of past students. Details of Exhibition winners, Rhodes Scholars and former Prime Minister Bob Hawke are on display in the historical showcases in the East Building.
In 1958 Perth Modern School ceased operating as an academic scholarship school and became a comprehensive high school. High academic standards, the traditions of the past and the establishment of the special Music Scholarship in 1968 are significant factors in the school maintaining a high profile in the state Education System.
The landmark decision by the State Government to return Perth Modern School to a fully selective, Gifted and Talented Government school starting this year (2007) has won approval throughout the community, with record enrolments for year 8, 2008.

School Layout

The School is based around four main areas; the original Perth Modern School (the West building and Oval, but also incorporating the new, purpose-built Music rooms); the newer extensions (the Joseph Parsons Memorial Library, the East building, canteen, gymnasium, Metal and Woodworking rooms and demountables); the Visual and Performing Arts Department (the Photography Studio, Fitness Centre, Ballet Studio, Performing Arts Theatre and The Graduate College of Dance); and the separate building housing the Intensive English Centre (originally the Thomas Street Primary School, established in 1904).

Historic Buildings

Perth Modern School's West building, built in 1911, is now a Heritage Listed Building and was refurbished during the late 1980's. The refurbishment has won several awards and the building is now recognized as one of the premier venues for chamber music and general ensemble performance in Perth. The West building is linked by a covered walkway to another heritage listed building which currently houses the Society and Environment classes.

Music

Perth Modern is one of two schools in Perth to have a special selective music program, the other being Churchlands Senior High School. The music program at Perth Modern School is of an elite level, and encompasses the Kodály methodology in its teachings. Most aural and theory concepts are taught with the aid of the philosophies of music by Zoltán Kodály, in which hand signs are used as a way of representing musical notes by holding the hand in a certain position for each note. This concept, more commonly known as solfa, is used at most music schools.
The music program places an emphasis on singing and it is a requirement that all students in the programme are in at least one vocal ensemble. The school also has three wind orchestras, two standard orchestras (one string and one symphony) and two classical guitar ensembles as well as various other instrumental groups and Jazz ensembles.
With the move to a fully selective school, enrolments in the specialist Music programme are stronger than ever, with well over 100 auditions for 2008.

Dance

Perth Modern School also currently hosts The Graduate College of Dance, from which a number of acclaimed high profile dancers have graduated. The Graduate College of Dance is one of Australia's leading vocational dance schools. In conjunction with the Department of Education and Perth Modern, the College prepares talented dancers aged 9 to 17 (year 5 to 12) for the dance profession in a supportive and encouraging environment. The College's comprehensive curriculum, taught by internationally recognised teachers, combines professional dance training with a high standard of academic education to tertiary level.
The College is housed in a modern purpose-built ballet studio at the western end of the school.

Future

The State Government has approved funding to develop the school into a facility for Gifted and Talented students. This grant goes towards an extensive refurbishment and redevelopment (including a proposed 72 bed residential college with state-of-the-art facilities, for those students from regional areas), to offer an exceptional learning environment aligned to the needs of the most able students.
The school's East buildings (including the canteen and 2 gymnasiums) will be refurbished or replaced, and new, purpose-built facilities constructed to create a physical environment suitable for the education of Gifted and Talented students, with much thought given to the use and interaction of spaces surrounding a central Resources facility. Final designs are now complete, with construction commencing later this year (2007).

Notable alumni

The famous ex-students of Perth Modern School include:
:K.R. Allen, Rhodes Scholar
:H. C. Coombs, The first Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia
:K. L. Cooper, Rhodes Scholar
:Irene Greenwood, radio broadcaster, activist.
:J. R. Hall, Rhodes Scholar
:Rolf Harris, performer
:Sir Paul Hasluck, former Governor-General
:Bob Hawke, former Prime Minister, Rhodes Scholar
:John A. Hay, Vice-Chancellor, University of Queensland, Hackett Scholar
:Janet Holmes à Court, philanthropist
:Alan Seymour, Author
:A. E. C. Smith, Rhodes Scholar
:Gregory Yurisich, baritone soloist

References

★ ''The Perth Modern School Website'', Perth Modern School, Perth Modern School Website

★ ''W.A. Rhodes Scholars'', Rhodes Scholars Association, Rhodes Scholars List

★ ''The Graduate College of Dance Homepage'', The Graduate college of dance, The Graduate College of Dance