Tannum Sands State High School

Tannum Sands State High School (TSSHS or often Tannum High) is a public high school located in Tannum Sands, Gladstone Region, Queensland, Australia. Each grade has an average of about 213 students. It is the first and only secondary school established in the Tannum Sands area. The school offers an extensive curriculum for its students, and receives approximately 95% of the students living in the Tannum Sands catchment area for Year 8 each year.[1]

Tannum Sands State High School
Location
Tannum Sands
,
Queensland

Australia
Coordinates23.960459°S 151.364946°E / -23.960459; 151.364946
Information
TypeSecondary public school
MottoCreating Our Futures
Established1998
PrincipalHeather Moller (2016 – current)
Website

History

Tannum Sands State High School opened in 1998 with 287 Grade 8 and 9 students. Their first seniors graduated in 2001. Ray Johnston, Tannum High's principal, has served for 18 years, and has overseen the devising of the school's motto (Creating Our Futures) and the establishment of the house system.

Principals and deputy principals

The following principals and deputy principals have led the school since it was opened:

  • Ray Johnston; 1998–2016
  • Kevin Giles; unspecified-2009
  • John Adie; unspecified-2011
  • Rohan Brooks; unspecified-2013
  • Heather Moller; 2009–current
  • Katrina Baylden; 2011–current
  • Tarah Vardy; unspecified -current

Academics

Curriculum

Tannum Sands State High School offers a broad selection of disciplines for study to its students, with five mandatory subjects (English, Mathematics, Studies of Society and the Environment, Science and Physical Education) constituting the majority of the curriculum until the students individually choose senior subjects for the duration of their senior schooling (grade 11–12).

The junior students are required to complete five weeks of each elective subject in their first year before they are able to choose their own subjects, which are studied for a further four semesters.

The subjects available for the junior students are as follows:

  • English (mandatory)
  • Maths (mandatory)
  • Studies of Society and the Environment (mandatory)
  • Science (mandatory)
  • Physical Education (mandatory)
  • Japanese
  • Drama (elective)
  • Drama Extension (elective)
  • Music (elective)
  • Music Extension (elective)
  • Art (elective)
  • Hospitality (elective)
  • Textiles (elective)
  • Business and Technology/ICT (elective)
  • Manual Arts: Woodwork/Metalwork (elective)

If subjects are not available to students, they are able to study their subject of choice with the Brisbane School of Distance Education (BSDE). In previous years, students have studied Japanese, French, Accounting, Dance, Ancient History and a range of other subjects.

After the four semesters of a student's elective study, English and Maths become the only mandatory subjects, and are able to choose a further four subjects to count towards their Overall Positioning (OP) score and take them to the end of Grade 12.

The subjects available to senior students are as follows:

  • Senior English or English Communications
  • Maths A or Maths B or Maths C
  • Sport
  • Physics
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Music
  • Art
  • Drama
  • Geography
  • History
  • Marine Biology
  • Hospitality
  • Textiles
  • Business and Technology/ICT
  • Graphics
  • Manual Arts: Woodwork
  • Manual Arts: Metalwork

The school has nine buildings; each designated to a main subject, and containing about ten classrooms. Tannum High also has six rooms from which students can access computers. There is a section of the Resource Centre (library) designated for student study during lunch breaks. A wall at the end of the library also displays career brochures, magazines and posters for students to browse.

Recent academic achievements

Tannum Sands State High School has always had a very consistent percentage of students graduating in the OP1 to OP5 range each year, with their long-term average sitting at approximately 15%. In 2010, three students received an OP1, with a further five scoring an OP2.

2007 saw Nirnitha Manivasagan the recipient of the Lord Florey Student Prize, which only the top 500 most outstanding academic achievers are awarded each year. Magdalene Schoene and Alvaro Reyes also joined the school from Germany and Mexico respectively, as the first International Fee-paying Students at the school.

In 2008, Tannum High had three National Sports Champions, and five students represented Queensland in their respective sports. This was their best representation of the school in its history. 71 students also tried out for Capricornia at the Port Curtis District Selection, and 41 qualified to represent the Port Curtis region at the Capricornia Regional level. Two students competed in the Olympic Selection Trials that year.

Tannum Sands High School also saw Lauren Rearden participate in a trip to Egypt to assist with establishment of micro-businesses for women in that country in 2009. Zac Bond, one of their indigenous students at the time, was also awarded the Pierre de Coubertin Award, recognising his success in sport, especially his exemplification of the ideals of the Olympic movement.

2010 was another successful year in Tannum Sands State High School's history. Jenni Mercer, one of the three OP1 students, flew to Canada after being selected as one of six students to attend the National Youth Science Forum. Mercer was also one of ten state recipients of the Peter Doherty Outstanding Senior Science Student Award; a $2000 bursary. Mercer, along with Jacob Johnston, another of the OP1 students, won a $24 000 Academic Excellence Scholarship from the University of Queensland. Both Mercer and Johnston had accelerated through their Senior mathematics a year early, enabling them to complete university subjects in veterinary science and philosophy, whilst still at school. Johnston was also chosen to attend a two-week residential summer school at the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra.

2010 also saw a team of Year 9 students named as Reader's Cup State Finalists. Another team of Year 10 Brain Bee State Finalists took part in Australia's only neuroscience competition for high school students, and Jack Hales came second in Queensland in the individual competition. Samuel O'Neill was another high-achiever, and finished first in the state in the National Geography competition.

Extracurricular and co-curricular activities

Indigenous education

Tannum Sands State High School is a member of the Australia-wide "Dare to Lead" project, aimed at improving educational outcomes for indigenous students. The school's Indigenous Support Team works on building relationships to engage indigenous community members, tertiary institutions and all school personnel, as well as partnering with Indigenous Role Models and mentors to support students in achieving their goals.

Sport

A range of sporting activities are offered by Tannum High, including skateboarding, dance, ultimate disk, yoga, fishing, soccer, touch football, cricket, basketball, netball, volleyball, bocce and seven-a-side league. Swimming, Athletics, Cross-Country and Beach carnivals are also conducted annually.

The school also competes in interschool team competitions after school against other schools in Gladstone, in sports such as rugby league, netball, volleyball, touch football, soccer and hockey. Students also have the opportunity to nominate for Port Curtis trials in a range of sports.

Excursions and camps

Tannum Sands State High School offers a large range of excursions and camps, across every year level and subject area. This off-site learning helps broaden the students' understanding by applying learning to the real world. Some venues visited by school groups include:

  • Year 8 Carnarvon Gorge
  • Canberra National Capital Trip
  • Saiki City Cultural Exchange
  • Year 10 Agnes Water (Science)
  • Year 11 North-West Island (Biology)
  • Year 12 North-West Island (Marine Biology)
  • Vietnam History Tour
  • Ski Trip

Extracurricular activities

A very wide range of extracurricular activities is offered. There are varying numbers from year to year depending of staff and student interest.

  • Instrumental Music (Band and String Orchestra)
  • Interschool Sport e.g. rugby league, soccer and netball
  • Optiminds
  • Student Council Committees
  • Sport Carnivals
  • National Competitions e.g. Australian Mathematics Competition
  • Door knocks and other fundraisers for charity
  • Port Curtis and Capricornia Region sport trials
  • Chaplain's Bike-a-Thon ride to Rockhampton
  • Lunchtime tutoring
  • Camps and excursions
  • NAIDOC week
  • Debating and public speaking
  • Christian Support Group ("YCATS")
  • Tour de Chaplain 100 km charity bike ride
  • School Prayer Group
  • Human Powered Vehicle (HPV) race in Maryborough

Instrumental music

Instrumental Music is a program which offers students the opportunity to perform in a Band or Stringed Orchestra. The bands, orchestras and ensembles perform at many school and community functions and competitions throughout the year. A week-long tour is also undertaken biennially in order to provide a performing experience away from Tannum Sands.

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References
  1. "Tannum Sands State High School". Retrieved 25 August 2012.
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