Bialik College


Bialik College is an independent comprehensive co-educational early learning, primary and secondary Jewish day school, located in the Melbourne suburb of Hawthorn East, Victoria, Australia. Established in 1942 in Carlton North, Victoria, the school has had a Zionist orientation since its inception, with the establishment of the State of Israel central to its identity. Bialik's approach to Judaism is pluralistic and cross-communal.
School capacity is more than 1,000 students, ranging from 3-year-old kindergarten to Year 12, with day care for children from three months to three years. Bialik offers the Victorian Certificate of Education.

Facilities

Since the late 1990s, Bialik has added a building to house its VCE department, an Early Learning Centre, the 'Besen Family Art & Technology Centre' and the 'Gringlas Sports Centre' to its campus. Additionally, the school has established the Rosenkranz Centre For Excellence and Achievement, aimed at providing enrichment and extension programs for students.
A new drama studio opened in 2010 and the Evelyn Hellen Library opened in early 2011. In 2011, a new Jewish Life Centre, The Mifgash, opened as part of the school's new Jewish Life and Informal Education initiative. The College has an award-winning Kitchen Garden, cafeteria and runs a school bus service.
In 2015, the Primary School underwent a major rebuild and is currently a multi-purpose and multi-sensory environment with a variety of learning and playful spaces.
A new state-of-the-art crèche is opening in July 2019.

Academics

Bialik College has offered the VCE since 1990; the school has consistently been ranked as one of the top 10 in Victoria., the school has been ranked in the top 5 in Victoria for 21 out of 22 years.

Performing arts

Bialik College has a comprehensive performing arts program. All Primary School students are provided with an opportunity to learn a musical instrument and participate in orchestras and ensembles.
The Middle School offers a Drama elective in Years 7-10, with many students choosing to continue it for VCE. In 2016, a new Drama program was introduced in the Primary School for Year 3 students.
On alternative years the school presents a major musical, and produces a play. Some recent Bialik productions include Fiddler On The Roof, I Never Saw Another Butterfly, High School Musical, Aladdin and in 2016, The Golem. There is also an annual house performing arts competition, which is run by Year 10 drama students.

Jewish life

Jewish Life looks over the three departments within the college: Jewish Studies, Hebrew, Informal Jewish Education. Informal Education caters to the four pillars of Judaism, Zionism, Leadership and Health and Wellbeing. Informal Education is run out of The Mifgash, which represents the ethos of Bialik College in terms of pedagogy, outlook, and conforms to typologies held by Jewish Informal Education.
Every Year 10 student attending Bialik College has the opportunity to travel to China and Israel for 'Chavayah'. The College was the first Jewish school in Australia to add an Asian component to the annual Israel tour. Students discover China's industry and impact on the world's economy, as well as the history of the Jewish community in Shanghai.

Student leadership

Bialik's leadership model promotes inclusivity as students are self-nominated for leadership roles. There are leadership opportunities at various year levels throughout the Primary, Middle and Senior schools. Every Year 5 student becomes a leader of the Primary School and can choose from a variety of portfolios that suit their personal interests. There are further opportunities for leadership in Years 9,10, 11 and 12.

House system

The three houses, Weizmann, Szold and Herzl, are mainly used for interhouse sports and are named for Chaim Weizmann, Henrietta Szold and Theodore Herzl.

Notable alumni