Gilson College

Gilson College
Latin: Nihil Sine Deo "Nothing Without God"
Address
450 Taylors Road, Taylors Hill 3037 and also 370 Bridge Inn Road, Mernda 3754 Melbourne, Vic Australia
Coordinates	37°43′27″S 144°45′47″E / 37.72417°S 144.76306°E / -37.72417; 144.76306Coordinates: 37°43′27″S 144°45′47″E / 37.72417°S 144.76306°E / -37.72417; 144.76306
Information
Type	Independent & co-educational
Denomination	Seventh-day Adventist
Established	1988
Principal	Mr Mark Vodell
Teaching staff	approx 100
Years offered	P-12
Gender	Coeducational
Enrolment	approx. 1130 (2016)
Colour(s)	Navy Blue, White
Website	gilson.vic.edu.au

Gilson College is a dual campus, co-educational school that caters for Foundation to Year 12 with campuses in both Mernda and Taylors Hill, Victoria. The original campus located in Taylors Hill was established in 1988. The second campus in Mernda was acquired in December 2012 and classes began in January 2013.

The College is part of the Seventh-day Adventist education system, the world's second largest Christian school system. .^[1][2][3][4]

History

Gilson College traces its beginnings to the mid 1970s when a primary school was established in the suburb of Pascoe Vale in Melbourne’s north west. At the end of 1987 the Pascoe Vale school was closed and this heralded the beginning of a new educational institution on the current Taylors Road site. It was established in 1988 and originally known as the 'Keilor School'. In 1992, the school council voted to change the school's name to Gilson College as a tribute to W J Gilson, a prominent figure in Adventist education in Australia. The growth of the Taylors Hill campus has seen the student enrolment go from around 50 students to now over 950.

In 2009 Adventist Schools Victoria closed Ironbark Christian School, which was located in the northern suburbs of Melbourne. In December 2012 a second campus for Gilson College was acquired from the former Acacia College and a similar expansion program is planned for this campus. It caters for Foundation (Prep) to Year 9 (2016) and it will progressively introduce Year 10 and so on through to Year 12.^[5]

Principals

The College has had five Principals in its history, those being:^[6]

• Lyndon Chapman - 1988
• Ron Hiscox- 1989-1991
• Peter Baskin – 1992-1994
• Chris Cowled – 1995
• Mark Vodell – 1996–Present

Facilities

The Taylors Hill campus is set on 10ha near Caroline Springs, on the western outskirts of Melbourne. The College has in the past 18 years continued to expand its educational line-up, starting with the Science Wing, Library and E-block of classrooms completed in 2000, IT block and Admin office completed in 2003. The original gymnasium/auditorium was demolished recently, to make way for more modern buildings. Each year a building program has added facilities that are now enjoyed by the students and staff. Modern classrooms have been added or renovated. In addition to this, technology laboratories as well as new science facilities provide for the students. A large gymnasium and an eco-science centre are elements of the campus.

The Mernda Campus is set on a 13ha site in the northern suburbs that consists of an Administration block, and an outstanding Junior School complex. The secondary complex is modern and consists of classrooms, science lab, food technology, visual communication room, industrial technology, art room, music and drama rooms.

Site Developments

The Taylors Hill campus has recently completed a six-classroom complex and future developments include a Performing Arts Theatre and a Pre-school.

The Mernda campus has had a number of minor developments including a canteen and future developments will also include a new senior school complex and the redevelopment of the current secondary buildings into a community centre and pre-school.

Enrolment

The College was established due to the ground swell from parents of the local Adventist churches who wished to raise their children within a Christian environment. Hence, Gilson College was established to support families to raise their children encompassing these Christian values, character and worldviews. The College accepts students who appreciate and respect this Christian ethos and values the opportunities created by attending this school.

Gilson College has significant demand for places, and so each application is assessed to ensure that the College is a suitable fit for the student. Obtaining and submitting an application is the first step in the enrolment process understanding there is no guarantee for admission. The main entry points are Foundation and Year 7, where families are asked to indicate both the proposed calendar year and the school year level of entry for their child. Entry at other year levels is based on enrolment availability. This is usually determined late in Term 2 of the year prior to commencement.

Following application, the next stage in the enrolment process is to be invited to meet with the Principal or Head of Campus for an interview. Consultation with current and/or previous schools, teachers and referees, will take place where applicable. Academic assessments will be conducted as part of this process. For Foundation students this will include a school readiness assessment at an arranged time. Following these processes our Enrolments Committee will review each application to determine who will be offered places. Please note, not all applications will receive an offer and may be placed on a wait list.

Gilson College is also registered to take international students.

Curriculum

In 1999, the school first started offering the VCE program on the Taylors Hill campus and now offers over 32 subjects. In the F – 10 years the College follows the Australian Curriculum for the eight learning areas, which focuses on general capabilities and cross-curriculum priorities. In addition to this the College utilises the Encounter program, which uses rigorous pedagogical practice, and 21st century learning strategies, as it explores and develops personal reasons for faith, lifestyle choices, and ethical decision-making from an Adventist worldview, all the while nurturing interpersonal relationships and service to others.^[7][8]

my* mission

my* mission is the international humanitarian aid organisation established by Gilson College. Its main focus is the raising of funds to provide teachers to remote village environments in Asia. In addition to this, there is support for two orphanages: Hope and Peace. Each year students at the Year 10 level volunteer as teachers’ aides in classrooms in Asia assisting with English language tuition.

See also

• List of Seventh-day Adventist secondary and elementary schools
• Seventh-day Adventist education

References

External links

• http://www.privateschoolsguide.com/index.php?option=com_comprofiler&task=userProfile&user=1258&Itemid=96