Hi,
I just had great news, it looks like my DS will be offered a place at Burgmann next year. I'd totally discounted it as we were far down the list but things have changed and they have a new campus opening in 09. I am now madly trying to find out about the school. Does anyone have kids there or know anything about it? I've heard that the Principal just resigned, do they know who would be replacing him?
thanks in advance,
Josie

Kristen sends her kids there. I'm sure she can fill you in

Thanks Susana. I hope she sees this. I might post it over in the schools area too.
I had a tour of Radford the other day and I still have my fingers crossed for that school. You are very lucky to have your children there!
Josie

Hi Josie

Firsty congrats!

My DH is the Deputy Head of the Middle School at Burgmann. I don't know what you've been told, but the new campus will not be opening until 2010 in Forde (Middle School campus).

They do not have a replacement for Principal yet, but I do know that the current Principal is leaving mid year.

Such a beautful school!

See - proof of my theory that lengthy waiting lists are no reason to feel discouraged in the Canberra private school world ! Congratulations!

Yes, the founding principal has resigned, which is a shame because he's leaving just before he finally finishes the place. And, um, for the less charitable amongst us, before the utter stupidity of moving the entire middle school 3.7km away is fully realised...

He's leaving mid-year, and the head of junior school will be acting head until a replacement is found. She's absolutely wonderful, so I'm not at all worried about the transition period - and I can think of a couple of VERY GOOD options for the principal's position, so I'm fairly relaxed about the changeover.

Josie, I'm really enjoying the school at the moment, with the exception of middle school which is only looking a little lackluster by comparison with the REALLY great programs in junior and senior school.

The early years at the school were a bit rough, and the G&T stuff just wasn't there, but the junior program is really great now. I have children at both ends of the spectrum, and one gets all the remedial assistance she needs (including a Tomatis program because there was a gap between her reading and writing skills) while the other has had plenty of extension academically and extra opportunities with G&T programs.

I'm guessing you've got an offer for a kindergarten place?

One of the saddest things from my perspective is that the principal is taking his wife away with him - I was SO looking forward to having her as the 4pre teacher again next year! She's really fantastic - one of that alien species that can be intellectually stimulating, cuddly with grubby children and *still* look freshly ironed.

So, any other specific questions about sports, music etc?

Not lucky, just anal planning on my part

Thanks for your replies girls! I spoke with the registrar yesterday and she said we would be getting an offer sometime next term. He will be starting year 1 next year and it is supposed to be at the new campus??? Not sure now if it isn't meant to be opening until 2010. I was very reassured by what you said about the G&T programs. My son is a bit of a bright spark and needs a bit of a challenge. We have just had a terrible term where he has been bored out of his little mind and now doesn't like going to school anymore. Fortunately that should be addressed in term 2. Year 1 is still junior school at Burgmann isn't it?
Susana, you actually are lucky also I too am an anal planner and went to Telopea before I was even showing (you should have seen the looks on their faces when I said the baby wasn't born yet ). I was new to Canberra and didn't know about Radford so DS was 1 by the time I got him on the list!!!
Burgmann sounds pretty good though so I'm feeling pretty lucky right now also. Interestingly he was 18 months for this list but I think our luck is due to the new campus opening!!
Do they do campus tours or open days? I'd love to get a look around. Have they said anything about how having split campuses will work?
My son has been doing tennis since he was 3 and loves it, do they do tennis at Burgmann? Also, what other languages do they learn? I'm keen for him to do French but I don't think it is offered as much as it used to be. As far as music goes is it violin for all? The ELC is Reggio Emilio isn't it? How does that then flow through to the Junior school? At Radford they've opted for IB which I think is an excellent way of continuing their learning from the Reggio style or in the case of my son Montessori.
You know I'm more of a lurker than a poster (a bit shy ) so thanks very much for your enthusiastic replies. The ACT lot are a lovely group.
thanks again
Josie

As soon as I found out I was pregnant I called both Burgmann and Radford to send me out the school application forms which I will be taking to the hospital with me for DH to post or hand in (yes I AM serious!).

We even decided to stay in north canberra so that our little darling could attend either Raford (1st choice) or Burgmann (back up plan). Pretty anal planning me thinks, oh well... better to get on the waiting list than wait and for a place.

Junior school is up to year 5. Then middle school covers years 6 - 8.

I think the junior school starts next year, but the middle school at the new campus doesn't start until 2010 (Just in time to completely stuff up my daughter's life! But I digress... )

I don't know how the language will work at the new campus. They have an Indonesian log building at the current campus and they all learn Indonesian from Kindergarten (or 4pre) which is supplemented by an Indonesian Gamelan orchestra and an Indonesian Dance group. French is the second language choice available from Year 6.

The music program has specialist teachers in the classroom from year 1 (I think) so they have some basic notation literacy before they start the year 2 violin program, then they do recorder from years 3 - 5. Most of the students who show aptitude sign up for private music lessons after the year 2 violin year. Again, I don't know how it will work having the performing arts centre and the specialist music teachers working between campuses.

I don't know for sure about tennis, but don't think it's offered - Burgmann seems to be more focussed on team sports. My children are on the school teams for basketball and cricket and really enjoy it (and it's utterly blissful having them able to just stay late after school for training, rather than having to drive them all over Canberra!).

I'm love the preschool program all over again with a littlie in 3 pre again , but I'm not sure how it rolls into the junior school from a philosophical level.

We would have loved the Radford option too, and probably had a place (if we'd sent DS2 ahead of his siblings) but decided with 5 children it wasn't worth the increase in fees. And we bought our current house so that the children could walk and ride safely to school - Radford would have meant a complete dependence on buses and cars. But DS1 is really sad that he can't do Japanese (which is only offered at Radford at the moment).

I haven't seen any campus tours - I think they do that after the offers are sent out. But you're welcome to come and help me pick up children some afternoon if you'd like to check out the existing campus .

Our Miss 3 attends 3 year old preschool at Burgmann (or Burgern-nan as she calls it!), and absolutely loves it. I just love the atmosphere of the school. When we turned up for orientation, it just felt right. There's a real feeling of respect.

3 year old preschool is only 2 days per week, and Miss 3 begs to be sent on the remaining days as well!

We don't have any personal experience with the remainder of the school. I do know that 3 of the children in our street attend Burgmann and have done almost since it opened. Their families are pretty happy.

We also put Miss 3's name down while I was in hospital, and will do so again with this one.

Cheers,
Deanne.