Curriculum offers many opportunities to learn
WITH a proud tradition of providing high quality educational opportunities across academic, sporting, cultural and citizenship areas, Gordonvale State High School offers a range of subjects to more than 800 students across Years 7 to 12.
Students are presented with many opportunities to learn and succeed — in sporting, cultural, social and community events, including public speaking and debating, school sports, junior and senior camps, ski trips, international travel, formal ceremonies, forums and leadership conferences and workshops.
In the senior school, where students are offered more choice in electives, subjects such as recreation, marine studies and agriculture/animal husbandry are strong favourites.
Over the past 18 months, Gordonvale State High School has reinvigorated its Cattle Handling Program with a new handling facility, additional stock and commenced work on pasture improvement.
The school’s agricultural department runs a weekly Agriculture Club, encouraging students to develop their skills in handling and leading cattle.
There is also a focus on the technological advancement and sustainability of agricultural practices.
Gordonvale State High is very much a community school, investing heavily in the local community.
The school’s Interact Club members are working diligently to raise funds to purchase tuckshop vouchers to give to students, as well as honouring a commitment to fill 100 Christmas boxes to send to children living in poverty.
The Ghost of Gordonvale involves students supporting the local Mulgrave Shire Historical Society to re-create the life of our early pioneers. More than 170 local residents presented to the recent re-creation.
A number of extracurricular activities attract strong interest at the school, including robotics and coding, science hub and drone flying.
The school recently received an Advance Queensland Engaging Science Grant for the Indigenous Girls in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) project, which is currently involved in the study of human impact on turtles.
This year also saw Gordonvale State High awarded the CSIRO Australian Indigenous STEM School Award for being leaders in indigenous STEM education.
Students in the school’s Program of Academic Excellence (SUMMIT) work as team members in rigorous, extension and enrichment programs.
These involve high-level analysis, synthesis and evaluation, with this year’s projects including Coral Watch (working with the University of Central Queensland) and the contribution of indigenous peoples to the protection of environmentally significant regions.
Students success stories are many and varied, however some notable examples from this year include Kyla Backhouse’s successful submission for the Mulumulung International Scholar Initiative, which will involve a two-week residential experience at London’s esteemed Oxford and Cambridge universities during the Christmas break, Alexia Law’s selection to participate in the STEM Girl’s Power Camp in Brisbane, and Kyla Barry being selected for the Global Citizens of the Future Japanese Study Tour. For information on enrolments, school services and facilities, call 4043 3222 or visit gordonvalehigh.eq.edu.au.