Facts about Melbourne High School

[jin0016]

Hi Guys

I just wanted to know if the atmosphere in Melbourne High is good? Do you have to do swimming or is it optional? Are the people nice in Melbourne High? Any other questions for Melbourne High can be asked here and I or other people will try to answer them if we can. Thanks! 

[pi]

I just wanted to know if the atmosphere in Melbourne High is good?

I thought it was a brilliant school

Do you have to do swimming or is it optional?

There is a swimming trial at the start of every year where each boy has to try and swim 50m freestyle in school coloured Speedos (no board shorts or tops!). If they can't or don't want to (eg. because they can't swim at all) then they have to do a compulsory swimming program for a few weeks. MHS has weekly sport, and your first weekly sport rotation is this swimming program if you can't swim. This happens every year, and usually ~20 are in the swim program (so you're not alone). Furthermore, in year 10, waterpolo is played in PE, so worth knowing how to move in the pool to play that without a kickboard or something.

Are the people nice in Melbourne High?

As with every school, you'll have people you like more and people you like less. It's a school though, in my experience, that didn't have much bullying and definitely minimal physical bullying (saw a fight in the library over a MathsQuest textbook once, that's about it!). I'll make a note here that 'casual racism' (ie. not meaning to be offensive, but just being friendly) is a big thing in MHS, so if you're someone who is super politically correct or easily offended, perhaps the environment might be a challenge for you

If you choose MHS, you'll have very few regrets

[Glasses]

in school coloured Speedos (no board shorts or tops!).

Is that actually compulsory? :')

[jin0016]

I thought it was a brilliant school

There is a swimming trial at the start of every year where each boy has to try and swim 50m freestyle in school coloured Speedos (no board shorts or tops!). If they can't or don't want to (eg. because they can't swim at all) then they have to do a compulsory swimming program for a few weeks. MHS has weekly sport, and your first weekly sport rotation is this swimming program if you can't swim. This happens every year, and usually ~20 are in the swim program (so you're not alone). Furthermore, in year 10, waterpolo is played in PE, so worth knowing how to move in the pool to play that without a kickboard or something.

As with every school, you'll have people you like more and people you like less. It's a school though, in my experience, that didn't have much bullying and definitely minimal physical bullying (saw a fight in the library over a MathsQuest textbook once, that's about it!). I'll make a note here that 'casual racism' (ie. not meaning to be offensive, but just being friendly) is a big thing in MHS, so if you're someone who is super politically correct or easily offended, perhaps the environment might be a challenge for you

If you choose MHS, you'll have very few regrets

Thank you so much! It sounds pretty good. Although school colored speedos? Is that compulsory? I got accepted this year and I hope it was the right decision.

[pi]

Is that actually compulsory? :')

Although school colored speedos? Is that compulsory?

Well, they have to be Speedos School Speedos cost like $15, shouldn't be a big issue. Maybe they've gotten a bit lenient since I was there, but I doubt it somewhat haha. Maroon Speedos with the lads is an MHS tradition!

[plsbegentle]

Well, they have to be Speedos School Speedos cost like $15, shouldn't be a big issue. Maybe they've gotten a bit lenient since I was there, but I doubt it somewhat haha. Maroon Speedos with the lads is an MHS tradition!

Tradition still continues, can confirm...

[jin0016]

Well, they have to be Speedos School Speedos cost like $15, shouldn't be a big issue. Maybe they've gotten a bit lenient since I was there, but I doubt it somewhat haha. Maroon Speedos with the lads is an MHS tradition!

Ok  I hope that I don't have to do swimming for several weeks! I want to do other sports.

[jin0016]

Do you have to do arts and music in year 9 and 10? I was planning to drop art and music next year but there was art and music in the subjects.

[Glasses]

Well, they have to be Speedos School Speedos cost like $15, shouldn't be a big issue. Maybe they've gotten a bit lenient since I was there, but I doubt it somewhat haha. Maroon Speedos with the lads is an MHS tradition!

Do you know why this is? I'm assuming it has something to do with improved performance/speed, but wouldn't there be a fair few uncomfortable and self-conscious kids (and teachers)? Haha

[pi]

Do you have to do arts and music in year 9 and 10? I was planning to drop art and music next year but there was art and music in the subjects.

I think the curriculum has changed since I was in (eg. compulsory philiosophy in year 9 is going to be a thing form next year - insider info there), but I'm pretty sure art is compulsory. I can't remember if music was compulsory, but in year 10 you can choose it as one of those artsy electives (I did, one of my most enjoyable subjects ever actually haha). You'll find MHS has a lot of compulsory subjects and other things (eg. weekly sport, weekly singing, forced participation in extra-curricular activities, etc.) that may not fit into your dream of just doing maths and science (for example), but they do that so you have a solid ground of knowledge and experience to stand on for not just VCE, but for life in general. I only really came to appreciate this after I left, but it's definitely a positive aspect of the school's curriculum.

Hopefully someone in MHS now can clarify the current situation

Do you know why this is? I'm assuming it has something to do with improved performance/speed, but wouldn't there be a fair few uncomfortable and self-conscious kids (and teachers)? Haha

It's to do with... it being the uniform for the pool? Wouldn't look professional for everyone to be wearing different things, and wouldn't be reasonable to make people purchase extravagant bathers. Speedos are cheap and simple for all.

Yeah some people (probably most in their teenage years to some extent?) are self-conscious, and I guess they have to just grin and bear it? As said, there's not much bullying in MHS, so it wasn't ever an issue. It was widely accepted by all that no one *really wanted* to be wearing Speedos, so it's all done with with some humour There are times in life when you'll be doing things out of your comfort zone, I saw this as prep for just one of those times, good life training again haha

[jin0016]

How many periods are in a typical day?

[jin0016]

I think the curriculum has changed since I was in (eg. compulsory philiosophy in year 9 is going to be a thing form next year - insider info there), but I'm pretty sure art is compulsory. I can't remember if music was compulsory, but in year 10 you can choose it as one of those artsy electives (I did, one of my most enjoyable subjects ever actually haha). You'll find MHS has a lot of compulsory subjects and other things (eg. weekly sport, weekly singing, forced participation in extra-curricular activities, etc.) that may not fit into your dream of just doing maths and science (for example), but they do that so you have a solid ground of knowledge and experience to stand on for not just VCE, but for life in general. I only really came to appreciate this after I left, but it's definitely a positive aspect of the school's curriculum.

Hopefully someone in MHS now can clarify the current situation

It's to do with... it being the uniform for the pool? Wouldn't look professional for everyone to be wearing different things, and wouldn't be reasonable to make people purchase extravagant bathers. Speedos are cheap and simple for all.

Yeah some people (probably most in their teenage years to some extent?) are self-conscious, and I guess they have to just grin and bear it? As said, there's not much bullying in MHS, so it wasn't ever an issue. It was widely accepted by all that no one *really wanted* to be wearing Speedos, so it's all done with with some humour There are times in life when you'll be doing things out of your comfort zone, I saw this as prep for just one of those times, good life training again haha

Thanks!

[Shenz0r]

MHS is cheers as. Definitely a great, positive atmosphere and I don't know anybody who's actually regretted attending it. You'll become very tight with your cohort even though there's like 300+ of you.

How many periods are in a typical day?

Back in my day, seven periods I think. Form assembly at 8.50, first class starts at 9, each period runs for 43 mins. Recess was at 11, then you'd have two periods before lunch at 1, then two more periods before you get let off.

[jin0016]

MHS is cheers as. Definitely a great, positive atmosphere and I don't know anybody who's actually regretted attending it. You'll become very tight with your cohort even though there's like 300+ of you.

Back in my day, seven periods I think. Form assembly at 8.50, first class starts at 9, each period runs for 43 mins. Recess was at 11, then you'd have two periods before lunch at 1, then two more periods before you get let off.

Seven periods! That's a lot! At my current school, we only have 4 periods a day.

[The Usual Student]

My Bro wants to do methods in yr 11 at MHS.
Can he? He might go to nossal/jmss/other school if he can't since he is really into maths and wants to do methods early so he can do uni maths and spesh in year 12. Maybe even further.

I know they don't usually offer it, but can he kinda complain hard enough until they let him? What if he smashes the year 10 maths tests?

Are they super strict about subject selection or can you bend the rules based on your circumstance ( he is pretty good at maths, won his fair share of award)? Like if he proves he is capable will they let him?

sorry i realize i asked the same question in like 5 different ways but yeah
cheers.