Southport State High School
History
The Southport State School was originally built in 1879 in Scarborough Street on what is now the site for Southport Central Towers. From 1916, the primary school included a section, as a temporary measure until more suitable premises were decided upon, for students undertaking secondary education. It was this component of the school which was moved to a Smith Street location in March 1955 resulting in the creation of a custom built high school which served the entirety of the Gold Coast region.
On 4 October 2019, the school's Block B was destroyed by a suspicious fire.
Facilities
- 25 meter, eight lane outdoor pool with professional instructing and swim club
- Specialist science labs
- Lecture theatre
- Specialised Junior Secondary block (Synergy Building)
- Professional tennis courts with in-house tennis professional and access available for private coaching
- Industrial kitchen
- Performing arts theatre
- Dance studio
- Music block
- Apple Mac edit suite
- Multi-purpose Sports Centre
- Tuck shop
Excellence programs
Southport State High School offers excellence programs that extend high-achieving students through a range of specialist areas. These learning areas include academia, sport, music, performing arts and visual arts.
Academic Excellence
Students enrolled in the Academic Excellence Program (ACE) participate in Learning Enrichment Days and extension activities including STEM Club, Chess Club, Interact Club, Public Speaking and Debating to develop teamwork and communication skills.
Creative Arts Excellence
Students in Creative Arts Excellence regularly receive performance opportunities outside of the classroom through representation at Dramafest, Gold Coast Eisteddfod, Starbound Eisteddfod and participation at festivals and events, specialist workshops with industry professionals, excursions, school productions and musical showcases. Programs offered in Creative Arts Excellence include:
Sport Excellence
The Sport Excellence Programs are based on the 'Long Term Athlete Development' model created by Istvan Balyi. The model emphasises age-appropriate skills acquisition to maximise athletic potential. The six programs offered by Sport Excellence are:
- General sport
- AFL
- Basketball
- Netball
- Football
- Touch football
Apple Distinguished School
Southport State High School is an accredited Apple Distinguished School. The program promotes the use of Apple products by students and teachers in and out of the classroom.
Violence
In 2009, a student at the school was charged with assault. In the same year, 303 students were suspended from the school. In 2014, a 14-year-old student was stabbed by his classmate.
Notable alumni
Southport State High School has produced a number of distinguished alumni:
- Lex Bell, politician and former Gold Coast mayor
- Annise Bradfield, Australian rules footballer with the Greater Western Sydney Giants
- Ricki-Lee Coulter, singer and television personality
- Russ Crane, former Chief of the Royal Australian Navy
- Darcie Davies, Australian rules footballer with the Gold Coast Suns
- Stefan Dennis, Actor on Australian soap opera Neighbours
- Olivia Gadecki, tennis player
- Michael Groom, mountaineer who famously climbed Mount Everest
- Fred Hilmer, academic and businessman
- Doug Jones, international arbitrator
- Peter Lawlor, politician
- Jodhi Meares, fashion designer and model
- Clive Palmer, politician and mining magnate
- Bob Quinn, politician
- Larry Sengstock, basketballer and former CEO of Basketball Australia
- Amy Shark, singer
- Miles Stewart, Olympic triathlete and current CEO of Triathlon Australia
Notable staff
- Katrin Garfoot, former Commonwealth Games cyclist
- Steven McLuckie, former Australian rules footballer
- Jamie Stanton, Australian rules footballer with the Gold Coast Suns
See also
References
- ^ "Proposed High School at Southport". The Brisbane Courier. No. 17, 817. Queensland, Australia. 22 February 1915. p. 6. Retrieved 24 January 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "SOUTHPORT STATE HIGH SCHOOL". The Brisbane Courier. No. 18, 251. Queensland, Australia. 15 July 1916. p. 7. Retrieved 24 January 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Mission and values". Southport State High School. 25 March 2019. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
- ^ "Southport State High School (entry 650034)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
- ^ "SOUTHPORT". Logan Witness. Vol. II, no. 93. Queensland, Australia. 15 November 1879. p. 3. Retrieved 24 January 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "SOUTHPORT STATE HIGH SCHOOL '". South Coast Bulletin. No. 1596. Queensland, Australia. 23 September 1953. p. 1. Retrieved 24 January 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "STATE HIGH SCHOOL FOR SOUTHPORT". Queensland Times. No. 20, 477. Queensland, Australia. 22 August 1952. p. 6 (Daily.). Retrieved 24 January 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Southport High School Building to be demolished by a suspicious fire". Brisbane Times. 4 October 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
- ^ "Excellence Programs". Southport State High School. 25 March 2019. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
- ^ "Academic Excellence". Southport State High School. 28 January 2022. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
- ^ "Creative Arts Excellence". Southport State High School. 28 January 2022. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
- ^ "Sport Excellence". Southport State High School. 28 January 2022. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
- ^ "Apple Distinguished Schools" (PDF). Apple.
- ^ Greg Stolz and Tanya Chilcott (31 March 2011). "Student, 14, charged over Southport State High school stabbing". The Courier Mail. News Corp. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
- ^ "Golden Girl Gadecki". tennis.com.au. 19 April 2017. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
- ^ "THE GOLD COAST HAS NO SHORTAGE OF EXCEPTIONAL WOMEN TO CELEBRATE". 1 February 2020.
External links
