Mount Barker High School Introduction

Mount Barker High School is located in the beautiful Adelaide hills, minutes from the picturesque villages of Stirling and Aldgate and the tourist centre of Hahndorf. Once a small rural town, Mount Barker is now a substantial commercial centre.

From the summit of Mt Barker, on a clear day, it is possible to see Mt Lofty in the north and Lake Alexandrina in the south-east. The school has large attractive grounds and is close to recreational parks, shopping centres and a large cinema complex.


School facilities and resources

• Large agricultural complex including gardens and animal enclosures
• Both IBM and Apple Mac networked laboratories
• Performing arts centre including drama and music rooms
• Library, internet access and large collection of software packages
• Gymnasium and school hall
• Student canteen with picturesque seating area
• Sporting facilities including 2 large ovals
• School bus service

Strong focus area

• Languages
• Music
• History
• Vocational Education and Training (VET)

Special interest programs

• International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program (IBMYP)
• Music program - bands, instrumental and voice tuition
• Agriculture program
• Vocational Education and Training (VET) - programs including agriculture, automotive, tourism & hospitality and photography

Languages

• French
• German

Student support services

• ESL support
• International student focus person
• Pastoral care program
• Career and course counsellors
• School chaplain
• Year level coordinators
• Peer support program
• Extension programs for gifted and talented students
• Approaches to Learning room
• Special Education programsupporting students with special needs

Recent school awards and achievements

• Düsseldorf Skills Forum - Learning Choices Expo, participation 2003
• National History Challenge, state winner 2003
• Premiers’ Young Historian Award 2003
• National Excellence in Teaching Award 2002
• State Basketball Championships, team winners (1994 – 2004)

Sporting activities

• Basketball
• Volleyball
• Tennis
• Australian rules football
• Athletics

Co-curricular opportunities

• Music - concert bands
• Tournament of Minds – team problem solving competition
• National academic competitions in maths
• Sharemarket Game
• Lions Youth of the Year

Industry and training partnerships

• Adelaide Hills Vocational College – delivery of VET programs
• Onkaparinga institute of TAFE – delivery of VET programs

Community alliances

• Rotary Club – student involvement and community service

International programs

• Study Tours