Kirwan State High School

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Kirwan State High School is a proud coeducational state school located in the city of Thuringowa in the state of Queensland, Australia.

With 1945 students and over 120 teaching staff, Kirwan High is a vibrant and caring school which offers many opportunities to students.

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[edit] Excellence

Kirwan State High School has six distinctive curriculum areas which offer programs of excellence. These include: Academics, Vocational Education, The Arts, Sport, Information and Communication Technology, Care and Personal Development.

[edit] Academics

Kirwan High offers an extensive range of subjects in both the middle and senior schools. These include traditional academic subjects, as well as Vocational, Arts, Sports Excellence, Business and Industry options. Highlights of the academic program include a unique award-winning Literacy program and various Science excellence programs which have been widely recognized as state-of-the-art practice. The Science programs include the North Queensland Centre for Biotechnology Excellence and the Minerals and Energy Academy.

[edit] Sport

Kirwan State High School is a nationally recognised school for its performances in Sport. Approximately 700 students were enrolled in sporting programs in 2006. A major factor in attracting such significant enrolments has been the schools focus on its Sports Excellence Programs which have been established for the past twelve years.

The aim of the Sports Excellence Department is to take some of the best sports students in North Queensland and provide them with the opportunity to excel. Initially, students enrol in the Year 8 ESP program and are guided by skilled and experienced staff. The Year 8 ESP teachers have a high level of expertise and experience in coaching and development, providing students with progressive, up-to-date programs. The highlight of this program is the Year 8 ESP Camp and in 2006, just on 100 students participated in the annual camp at Mungalli Falls. Students actively participated in three intense days of sporting experiences under close supervision of their teachers.

In Years 9 and 10, students progress to the specific Sports Excellence Programs (Basketball, Cricket, Hockey, Netball, Rugby League, Touch Football, Soccer and Volleyball). Kirwan has successfully won 16 Queensland Championships in sports such as Soccer, Hockey, Indoor Cricket and Rugby League. The Specific Sports Excellence programs allow students to develop in the sport of choice. Students continue their development through a progressive and balanced approach progressing to Years 11 and 12 in Senior Specific Sports Excellence Programs.

In 2006 approximately 100 students gained selection in NQ representative sporting teams, with numerous students achieving State and National Selection. Currently at Kirwan there are numerous students enrolled who are part of AIS and QAS programs as well as several National Rugby League Clubs. Kirwan also has many former students competing at the highest levels in their chosen sports.

In 2006 two former students from the class of 2002, Sam Thaiday and Jacob Lillyman gained selection in the Queensland State Of Origin team and Brent Webb (1996) played a significant role in the 2005 World Cup winning New Zealand Kiwis. Lisa Braunburger (Sports Captain 2005), has also gained selection in the Australian under 19’s team and has just been recruited in the Townsville Firebirds in the National Women’s Basketball League.

Kirwan also has a ‘Top Scholar’ Sports Excellence class to develop and support students hoping to balance academic achievement with sporting pursuit. This program has been especially beneficial for students wanting to excel at school and aiming to graduate into tertiary study.

The Sports Department has also developed two certificate 2 courses in Sport, Coaching and Officiating. These courses provide a level 2 certificate qualification for non-QCS students that may want to enter or participate in future careers for sport after they leave school at the end of grade 12.

[edit] The Arts

The Arts is an integral part of the Kirwan High identity. With a diverse range of outstanding opportunities in Dance, Drama, Media, Music, and Visual Arts on offer, Kirwan High is widely recognised as an Arts Hub within the North Queensland community. Students choosing to study the Arts at Kirwan High benefit from the passion and expertise of a highly dedicated team of specialist teachers, coupled with the benefits of access to an exclusive partnership with James Cook University’s College of Music, Visual Arts and Theatre.

Some of Kirwan High's many recent achievements and highlights in The Arts include:

An unparalleled range of academic and vocational Arts subjects on offer to students, including six specific subjects in the Middle School (Music, Dance, Drama, Visual Art, Design, and Craft) and seven areas of study in the Senior School (Music, Dance, Drama, Visual Art, Design, Media Studies, and Photography).

Gifted and talented Visual Art students regularly receive recognition and accolades in the annual Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Art, with Kirwan students regularly being shortlisted as Regional Award winners in every year since the competition’s inception; and three Kirwan students having received overall State awards.

An excellent instrumental music program with a proven track record of success, providing an excellent range of opportunities for students with three Concert Bands, three String Orchestras, Stage Band, and Percussion Ensemble all widely recognised as leaders in their field.

Instrumental ensembles have received outstanding results at Regional Fanfare Festivals, with five Gold Awards and eight Silver Awards received at the last two festivals – the best overall result of any secondary school in the Region.

Kirwan students are regularly invited to participate in MOST – Education Queensland’s prestigious biennial scholarship Program for Musically Outstanding STudents. Six Kirwan High music students have received these scholarships in the past two years.

Kirwan's dedicated Arts staff are recognised in the wider community for their commitment to students. Most recently, one of our instrumental music teachers, Ashley Crocker received the Thuringowa City Council Australia Day Cultural Award. Our Arts staff are also actively engaged as professionals in their field, whether it be as choreographer for local musical productions, section leader in the Barrier Reef Orchestra, or exhibitor at one of our region’s prestigious Art Galleries.