Woree State High School

Woree State High School (WSHS) is a public co-educational secondary school located in the Cairns suburb of Woree, Queensland, Australia.[1][2] It is administered by the Queensland Department of Education, with an enrolment of 822 students and a teaching staff of 74, as of 2023.[2] The school serves students from Year 7 to Year 12.[1][2]

Woree State High School
Location
Map
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Coordinates16°57′39″S 145°44′29″E / 16.96083°S 145.74139°E / -16.96083; 145.74139
Information
TypePublic
MottoQuality & Equality
Established1985
PrincipalKathryn Todd
Grades7–12
CampusWoree
Colour(s)Maroon and white and black
Websiteworeeshs.eq.edu.au

History

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WHS high was built on an old Sugar Cane Farm, along with the surrounding suburbs and construction on the school was started in 1984,[citation needed] with the school opening on 29 January 1985.[3] At the time of the school opening, there were only 5 buildings within the school (A, B, C, D Blocks), with construction continuing until 1989 when all but two blocks (H and Community Centre) were completed. In 1992, another block was added to WSHS (H Block) and in 2007 the Community Centre was completed.[citation needed]

In 1999, 124 students participated in what was then considered 'the largest competition of its kind in the world'—the Australian Mathematics Competition for the Westpac Awards.[4] Of these participants, two received high distinctions, 11 received distinctions, and 47 received credits."[4]

In 2009, Brendan O’Connor, the Minister for Employment Participation, provided the school $98,000 to introduce a program "to engage Indigenous students in far north Queensland in science."[5]

Houses

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The schools four sporting houses (Trojan, Gemini, Pindar & Apollo) are named after types of sugar cane, as a reminder of the history of the land.

Community

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The Woree State High School community is very multicultural, with many different cultural backgrounds. This is reflected in the many NAIDOC ceremonies, and at all formal events. Additionally, as part of Stage II of the Cairns Regional Gallery Mural Project,[6] in 1996, an indigenous mural was added to the basketball stadium, which the artists wanted "to provide works indigenous pupils at the school could relate to and be proud of".[7]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Woree State High School | Department of Education". Schools Directory. Archived from the original on 20 August 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "ACARA Data Access Program - School Profile 2023". Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. Archived from the original on 1 May 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  3. ^ "Opening and closing dates of Queensland schools". Queensland Department of Education. 14 April 2019. Archived from the original on 24 July 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Local students receive outstanding results". Torres News. 10 December 1999. p. 18. Retrieved 22 October 2024 – via Trove.
  5. ^ O'Connor, Brendan (16 March 2009). "Bringing Science to Remote Indigenous Communities". Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  6. ^ "Bamaga School Students Finish Gallery Mural". Torres News. 31 March 1995. p. 12. Retrieved 22 October 2024 – via Trove.
  7. ^ "Artists At Work". Torres News. 22 November 1996. p. 15. Retrieved 22 October 2024 – via Trove.