N epean s 50th Anniversary Celebration

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1 N epean s 50th Anniversary Celebration Our Anniversary celebrations and official opening of the Nepean Arts Centre were a wonderful success! On Saturday 18 th May 2013 Nepean Creative and Performing Arts High School really came of age with an Open Day that saw many thousands of ex-students, staff and their families visit the school. For many it was their first time visit and experience parents/carers wanting to enrol their children at Nepean for Guests viewed displays of current students work and observed the many changes that have taken place over the last 50 years. Former students commented on the huge developments in the areas of technology, creative and performing arts, sporting and ground facilities and the expansion and development of the agricultural area. Nepean s 50 th Anniversary Day also marked the school s official opening of the new Nepean Arts Centre. Our school welcomed NSW Premier Barry O Farrell and Penrith MP Stuart Ayres to open the Centre, along with Lindsay Federal MP David Bradbury and many other dignitaries, including the building contractors, who were able to see first-hand how the Nepean Arts Centre will be used. Highlights included the choir singing an outstanding version of the national anthem in a capella and a range of quality and unique performances throughout the opening ceremony. Visitors to the school were treated to a number of afternoon concerts and were most impressed by the quality of the acts which included wonderful music, singing, dance, drama, aerial and circus performances. Visitors were also amazed by the amount of memorabilia that was on display, finding images of friends in early school photographs, looking at the early uniforms and reminiscing about student fashion items of the 1960s, 70s, 80s and 90s. The evening function at Panthers really provided former students and staff with an opportunity to let their hair down and catch-up with old friends and colleagues. The evening finished well after 11.00pm and I understand celebrations, for many former students, continued on until the early hours of the morning. Nepean CAPA High School Aspire the Heights

2 The success of the day was due to the hard work and organisation of a fantastic committee of former students, former and current staff who are to be heartily congratulated for their efforts over a long period of time and to the sponsors of the day and Nepean s 50th Anniversary in 2013: ARCS Building Group Aussie Made Software Local Hire Shop (LHS) Visitors were amazed by the amount of memorabilia that was on display, finding images of friends in early school photographs, looking at the early uniforms and reminiscing about student fashion items of the 1960s, 70s, 80s and 90s. Penrith Light & Sound Property Central Mr A Baldacchino Principal Nepean s 50th Anniversary Day also marked the school s official opening of the new Nepean Arts Centre. Nepean CAPA High School 2 Aspire the Heights

3 A centre of excellence Premier Barry O Farrell and Penrith MP Stuart Ayres with principal Anthony Baldacchino and the school s captains and vice-captains. Pictures: PETER KELLY HE new Nepean Arts T Centre at Nepean Creative and Performing Arts High School was officially opened on Saturday. It was a day to remember as it marked the school s 50th anniversary. Principal Anthony Baldacchino said it was a momentous occasion and the opening was a memorable way to kick off anniversary festivities. It was a brilliant day, he said. The school welcomed NSW Premier Barry O Farrell and Penrith MP Stuart Ayres to open the centre, along with (Lindsay federal MP) David Bradbury and the building contractors. It was a wonderful atmosphere, you could tell the speeches really came from the heart. A highlight was when the choir sang an outstanding version of the national anthem in a capella and the range of performances from drama, dance and circus classes were tremendous. A special moment was when Aboriginal elder Chris Tobin connected the school with indigenous ties through the Welcome to Country. Mr Baldacchino said the centre was the future of the school and was for gifted and talented students dedicated to their art. The new centre cost $4.9 million to build and includes a movement studio with a dance performance workshop and 250 retractable seats, he said. Mr Baldacchino said other features included a control room, student change rooms, access toilets, store rooms, a staff room, office and servery, games court and car parking. Mr O Farrell said the facility would help students meet their longterm creative and performing arts education needs. It gives teachers and students the best possible environment to learn and showcase their skills, he said. P&C president Julie Tyers said she was proud to be involved in the school community and was overwhelmed by the level of commitment and support. I was overwhelmed by student performances, blown away by the hospitality of staff and vocational education Nepean CAPA High School 3 Aspire the Heights

4 training students and was touched in how the student representative council represented us, she said. Mr Baldacchino said the day went off without a hitch thanks to the staff and students. Penrith Press, Tuesday May 21, 2013 Talented musicians Daniel Shipton and David Jurgutis WIDER USE? The new Nepean Arts Centre Students perform At this stage only Nepean Creative and Performing Arts students can use the facilities but there is talk of possible plans for the future for the community to be able to hire out the centre and its various rooms, including the stage and recording studios. Nepean CAPA High School 4 Aspire the Heights

5 New Arts centre for Nepean High School Nepean High School Arts Centre opening day N SW Premier and Minister for Western Sydney Barry O Farrell has opened the $4.9 million performing arts facility at Nepean Creative and Performing Arts High School, delivering on an election commitment for Penrith. This is a great day for the school, which now has the facilities it needs, Mr O Farrell said. The Centre gives teachers and students the best possible environment to learn and showcase their skills instead of operating out of a makeshift classroom. The NSW Liberals & Nationals promised the performing arts facility before the election - we have fullyfunded and delivered it in Government. We are getting on with the job of delivering important infrastructure projects for families in Penrith and the rest of the Western Sydney region. The project includes a movement studio with retractable seating and a dance performance workshop. Other features are a control room, change rooms, access toilets, store rooms, a staff room, office, servery, games court and car parking. Penrith MP Stuart Ayres said the facility finally gives Western Sydney a venue that helps meet its long-term creative and performing arts education needs. Penrith City Star, Wednesday May 29, 2013 Nepean CAPA High School 5 Aspire the Heights

6 Nepean High looks back on 50 years Nepean High students perform at the Penrith Plaza in How fashions have changed among the teaching staff over the years 1968, 1978 and this year. TIMELINE 1962: The first form of students enrolled in Nepean High School on January 31 and functioned as a part of Penrith High School until the following year. The name Nepean had been discussed at the provisional Parents and Citizens Association 1963: Nepean High School was officially established but the six classes remained in Penrith High School grounds until early second term May 29, 1963: Nepean High School moved to its Emu Plains buildings, blocks A, B and C. There were 198 enrolments in form 1 (Year 7) and 217 in form 2 (Year 8). The first principal was Jack Dillon 1970: The library and science laboratory block were built 1971: The assembly hall was built. 1976: Mr Dillon left after 13 years and Kel Webber arrived as the new principal. 1977: From 1963 the school grew to 1200 students and 70 staff members. 1987: The art and music block was built. 2010: The school name became Nepean Creative and Performing Arts High School. Nepean CAPA High School 6 Aspire the Heights

7 Back to school: Nepean High 1973 rugby league team members (from left) Peter Nicholls of Cranebrook, Graham Collins of Valley Heights, Andrew New of Winmalee, Malcolm Carter of Glenbrook and Max Cowan of Leichardt. Picture: Matt Sullivan Old boys tackle history NEPEAN HIGH FOOTBALLERS REMEMBER HAIRY DAYS OF SCHOOL SPORT L ong hair and a love for rock 'n' roll was one thing for several youngsters in the early '70s, but for Nepean High School's rugby league team it was playing sport that got them out of bed. The 1973 team was pictured in a Penrith Press feature on the Emu Plains school's 50th anniversary. Peter Nicholls relived the memories after seeing the photo and said rugby league was the reason they went to school. "It was the biggest thing that happened at the school because the whole school would come out and watch us," he said. "Even some of our parents would come down. There used to be about 500 to 600 people watching.'' games and I see teachers Forty years on and the scratching around trying to team remain friends. find who is and isn't Andrew New, who playing, so it is a very now referees rugby union, different attitude.'' said school sport was very And about the long different in the modern era. hair versus short hair "We use to live for debate, Mr New said there our sport when we were at was no issue at school. school,'' he said. "That was just part of "The first thing we the times and those days." would do when we came he said. "It didn't really home on a Tuesday was get matter you weren't singled our kit packed ready for out if you had long hair and sport on Wednesday. you weren't singled out if "Nowadays I referee you didn't." By Chris Georgakopoulos, Penrith Press, June 01, 2013 Nepean CAPA High School 7 Aspire the Heights