Boarding school for girls in Sydney, Australia

Wenona, Sydney:
Wenona is a global learning community, educating and empowering young women to serve and shape their world. Established in 1886, Wenona is a non-denominational, independent boarding and day school for girls. Located in North Sydney, just 20 minutes from Sydney’s CBD, it provides an all-girls education for students from Kindergarten to Year 12. The School is ideally placed to provide opportunities for community engagement and cultural learning experiences. While most Wenona girls are day students, accommodation is available for 55 boarders. Boarders are from country regions, overseas countries, and some from Sydney itself.

Girls' schools have a long-standing tradition of excellence. Their in-depth understanding of how girls learn and succeed sets them apart.

Wenona offers girls the academic and personal support they need to develop into confident women. It is an exciting process to watch. Our girls learn in an environment where they are the focus. A broad academic curriculum is available at all levels.

Enthusiasm for all subjects is nurtured from the youngest age and the academic peer culture ensures that each girl is supported in striving to do her best.

At Wenona, every program is designed for girls and every decision has the interests of girls at its core. Girls are the doers, the leaders, the main participants. Here, supported by staff who have a deep understanding of the nature of girls and their needs, a girl learns to take socially acceptable risks, to meet aesthetic, physical, social and ethical challenges, and to thrive within a caring community.

We are proud of our school, its history, traditions and values. You will find Wenona a nurturing and supportive community, where girls are engaged and enjoy being with each other, learning from each other, and challenging themselves to be the best they can be.

"women of spirit who are well-educated, independent, self motivated and responsible; who have the confidence and flexibility to achieve personal success; and who see unlimited horizons for themselves".

To achieve this, Wenona aims to:

* create an environment which sets the highest possible standards - academic, pastoral, social, sporting and cultural
* attract, develop and retain outstanding educators
* provide the necessary physical and educational resources to enable Wenonians to compete on equal terms with their peers
* be progressive and innovative in education and be recognised as a leader in the field
* uphold traditional values of tolerance, respect and responsibility so that Wenonians develop a strong sense of service to society
* nurture a sense of community so that Wenonians value the continuation of personal relationships forged at school.

Wenona is committed to the best in education for girls. We are committed to understanding and meeting the differing needs of each girl in each phase of her development - from childhood, through adolescence, to young womanhood.

As girls journey through the Junior School, Middle School and Senior College, they participate in programs that foster a love of learning, encourage socially acceptable risk-taking, and develop confidence and independence, ready to face the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

We seek to give each girl a lifelong love of learning. In an environment committed to academic excellence, each girl is helped to achieve her individual potential. She is encouraged to choose from a wide range of curricular and co-curricular activities, within and outside the classroom.

Our objective is to ensure that girls are truly engaged and feel connected, and that they share the responsibility in responding to opportunities to do their best.

Inspiring a girl to live her life with integrity, purpose and consideration for others is a shared responsibility between parents, the School and the girl. Each girl’s success depends on this partnership, and we want the partnership to be a strong and effective one.

Boarding (from Year 7) and Day Programs for girls; Kindegrarten; Junior School; Middle School; Senior School; Enrichment Programs; Preliminary and Higher School Certificate Courses. In addition to core subjects we offer electives including Chinese, Japanese, French, German, Design and Technology, P.E., Textiles Technology, Drama, Music and Visual Arts. International students are welcome.

Boarding has been a special part of Wenona's life since 1922. Today up to 60 girls from Years 7 to 12 live in four Boarding Houses on the edge of the senior campus in Ridge Street, North Sydney, close to St Leonard's Park. The smallish size of the boarding community means that no girl is just a number or gets lost in the system. Individual care is guaranteed.

Boarding at Wenona will be fun, and a vibrant and formative experience for your daughter. We pride ourselves on providing a safe, supportive and understanding home for all girls in our care. We aim to provide a boarding environment that offers independence, privacy, flexibility, fun and the opportunity to pursue a range of academic and other activities.

Boarding Options:
Full boarding, the traditional form of boarding, is fully residential during school terms (with a limit of four weekends of leave per term, plus one compulsory leave weekend). Girls have opportunities for leave with family or friends on the completion of required leave forms by parents/guardian and the host family or friend.

Girls must stay in the boarding house on the first and last weekend of every term. There is one compulsory leave weekend per term. Any further leave may be discussed with the Director of Boarding.

Weekly boarding allows girls to enjoy the benefits of boarding life during the week, but be at home with their families at weekends. Weekly boarders may stay in at weekends if written notice is given. This enables girls to enjoy the activities offered and to benefit from more structured study time.

Weekly boarders must stay in the boarding house on the first and last weekends of every term. There is one compulsory leave weekend per term.

Temporary boarding provides short-term stays for daughters of parents who are required to travel overseas, or families whose circumstances are undergoing change. Temporary boarding is subject to the availability of places.

At Wenona, we believe that girls grow up confident and successful if they feel valued in their own right. This underpins all we do. Girls learn from the outset that we welcome and value their contribution to school life.

In the Senior College, all girls are encouraged to undertake leadership roles. The roles may be formal positions, such as School Captain or Boarder Prefect, members of the Senior College Committee or Boarders Committee, Peer Support Leaders, House Captains, Charity Captains, Sport Captains, Performing Arts Captains, Senior Prefects or members of the Student Representative Council.

Leadership roles may also be informal, such as leading a group activity in the classroom, being a mentor for a younger girl, or captaining a team during PDHPE lessons. There are also leadership roles in sport and in the performing arts.

Also, of course, as our girls participate in a range of social service activities, they work with others and acquire valuable leadership skills in the process. These activities include Amnesty International, the Student Christian Group, the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme, the Red Shield Appeal and World Vision initiatives.

Our students are a source of great pride to us. Their enthusiasm, confidence and sheer determination are an inspiration. Their determination to "give everything a go" and their ability to perform beyond expectations, and to seize opportunities with courage and optimism, characterise the Wenona girl.

We want our girls to be resolute, self-disciplined, tolerant and ready to put the needs of others first, and to live relationships creatively, justly and compassionately – in short, to be truly women of spirit.

Dance:
There are jazz groups, contemporary groups and open groups. Girls can learn for fun or try out for one of the competitive teams.

Open Jazz is for girls who want to improve their skills and do performances. No audition is necessary for this group. Intermediate Jazz is an auditioned group of Years 7 to 9 girls who represent Wenona in eisteddfods. Senior Jazz is an auditioned group of Years 10 to 12 girls who represent Wenona in eisteddfods.

Contemporary Group is for any girls who undertake jazz classes and audition successfully. This group also represents Wenona in eisteddfods.

Speech and Drama:
Speech and Drama classes are held during the school day or after school. Girls regularly perform at eisteddfods. Girls can enrol for individual lessons, shared lessons or group lessons, and can choose to sit Trinity College or AMEB examinations.

Visual Arts:
After-school and holiday classes and workshops, both for girls and parents, are held in Ceramics, Sculpture and Painting.