The Melrose Spirit
Melrose High School is founded upon a tradition that encourages achievement in learning within a safe and friendly environment. There is a commitment to striving for excellence and to providing educational programs that meet high standards. The school aims to provide opportunities to help each student to develop intellectually, aesthetically, morally, emotionally, physically and socially.
In making choices, the staff seeks to retain the best traditions while ensuring that best practice and up-to-date teaching approaches are utilised. We offer a balanced curriculum, which provides a breadth of educational experience through a range of subjects, meeting the interests and needs of students for the twenty first century. The focus on learning is accompanied by an approach to discipline that values orderliness, a concern for the well being of all and compassion. The school has a code of behaviour that requires members of the school community to accept responsibility for their actions and to conduct themselves in a manner, which shows respect and consideration towards others.
There is an emphasis upon the development of a school spirit that promotes a positive school identity, an ethos of service to others and a respect for all who work and learn within the school community.
History of the School
Melrose High School takes its name from that of an early property, "Melrose", in the Woden District, named after the town of Melrose in Roxburghshire, Scotland.
The school logo displays the symbol of a castle, commemorating this origin. The Aboriginal history of our country is symbolised through both the motto, Tjangi witja ngawani, or I shall discover the truth, and the boomerangs on the logo, while the early colonial history is represented by the sheep’s head, a symbol of the basis upon which our country’s wealth was built.
The original site of the Melrose homestead now lies within the suburb of Curtin.
The School Serves the Suburbs of:
FARRER: William James
1846-1906. Pioneer of scientific wheat breeding in Australia. He carried out experiments on his property "Lambrigg" near Tharwa.
MAWSON: Sir Douglas
1882-1958. Antarctic explorer.
TORRENS: Sir Robert
1814-1884. Former Premier of South Australia. He established the Torrens System of Land Titles.
PEARCE: George
1870-1952. Parliamentarian responsible for the military side of Australia's war effort in World War 1. He established the Point Cook Flying School.
CHIFLEY: Joseph Benedict (Ben)
1885-1951. Prime Minister of Australia from 1945 to 1949.
ISAACS: Sir Isaac
1855-1948. First Australian born Governor-General. Prior to that he served in the Victorian and Federal Parliaments and was a Justice and Chief Justice of the High Court.
O'MALLEY: King
1854-1953. Member of the Federal Parliament from 1906-1917. He was deeply involved in the founding of Canberra.
