November 11, 2014
by Deb Frecklington
It is a busy and exciting time of year for our high schools as they prepare our Year 12 seniors for their last few weeks of school.
This year I’ve been privileged to attend the Awards nights for three of our South Burnett high schools – Kingaroy, Nanango and Saint Mary’s.
I have to admit to loving attending awards nights, and not just for my own children.
The young people always have so much hope and excitement on their faces.
I love asking them what they plan to do after school and am always amazed at the depth and breadth of their chosen careers and work opportunities.
I would have to thank the respective schools for encouraging the students into the variety of career paths.
The awards nights also give me an opportunity to personally congratulate our students on their achievements, academically, sporting, in the community and the arts.
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We have such confident and enthusiastic young people here in our region and I’ve enjoyed being a part of their senior year, in particular, hosting our 2014 school leaders at the Future Leaders Reception at Parliament House in August.
My message to the seniors as they leave this week is to wish them the best of luck with whatever they decide to do – their education here in the South Burnett will always serve them well and they will realise as they go along what a great start school has been.
During the recent Awards Nights I also met our incoming 2015 school leaders and once again I know our high schools will be in good hands.
Here’s who is taking over the reigns:
- Kingaroy State High School – Daniel Favier and Georgie Toohey
- Saint Mary’s Catholic College – Richelle Bethke and Rory Browne
- Nanango State High School – Jasmine Kidman and Jarred Matthews
I know they’ll do a great job over the coming 12 months.
And to all of next-year seniors, I know the year ahead will be full of challenges and excitement, buit this is your chance to demonstrate to your school and wider community what being a senior is all about – providing a good example, providing guidance, working together to achieve your goals for 2015 and representing your school with honour.
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2015 won’t be like any other year for our high schools.
That’s because the first year for the transition of Year Seven to high school begins, meaning next year our high schools will have two grades to welcome, Year Seven and Year Eight.
This will be a huge change for our high schools, but it’s good to know there has been much preparation underway.
At Kingaroy State High School, a whole new building has just been completed to the total value of $4.79 million.
The facility will house the new Year Seven students and I’d like to congratulate the Kingaroy State High School’s Acting Principal Helen Maudsley and her team for overseeing such a massive project.
It’s also been great to recently learn that Saint Mary’s will also be building new learning areas after securing an $855,688 Capital Assistance Scheme grant through the Queensland Government’s Queensland Catholic Capital Assistance Authority.
They students can look forward to six new general learning areas, a new music room, practice rooms and outdoor courtyard areas.
To all of the departing seniors, please enjoy your final school celebrations.
And if you are attending Schoolies Week, please stay safe, look out for your mates and enjoy yourself!
