Mansfield State High School

Mansfield State High School is a co-educational government secondary school of approximately 1950 students. It is located in Mansfield, a suburb in the south of Brisbane, Australia. Opened in 1974, the school in more recent years has become known for its music, information technology, and french immersion programs.

The previous principal, Murray Kay, joined the school in 1990, the same year that the school's French Immersion program commenced. In 2011, James Sloman became the principal after Kay retired in 2010.

A new building is being constructed to accommodate the introduction of 300 Year 7 students, who will be joining the secondary school in a statewide effort to bring Queensland's education system in line with other Australian states.

Music

Mansfield's Music program consists of over 20 ensembles including:

• 4 Concert Bands (Beginner, Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced) - (Chamber Winds, Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Winds and Concert Band)
• 4 Jazz Ensembles (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Advanced) - (Stage Band, Jazz Ensemble, Combo and Big Band)
• 4 String Orchestras (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced) - (String Orchestra, Museaus, Sinfonia, Camerata and Celtic Strings)
• 5 Choirs:
  • Three girls choirs (Junior, Intermediate, Senior) (Cantrice, Cantus, Cantabile)
  • One male choir (Beginner) - (Male Chorus)
  • One full SATB choir (Advanced) - (Chorale)
• Two Percussion Ensembles (Beginner, Advanced) - (Percussion Two, Percussion Ensemble)
• Orchestra (Advanced)
• Woodwind Choir (Beginner)

The school's premier ensemble, Concert Band, has won the Queensland Music Festival for several years and in 2006 made it to the Grand Final of Fanfare (a Queensland music competition). In the past the band has been requested for performances such as the Commonwealth Games Torch Relay, Anzac Day ceremonies as well as private events. In 2013, under the direction of choral conductor Margaret Long, the school's Chorale performed in the biannual Education Queensland Choral Fanfare Gala Concert (representing the Queensland Metropolitan Region)^[1]

The school produces a musical once every two years; taking about 2 to 3 months of rehearsals before three performances in early August by students under the direction and assistance of alumni, teachers, volunteers, backstage and technical crew. Before 2011, Mansfield musicals productions were directed by Deputy Principal, Rowena May, and the Principal, Murray Kay, who conducted the pit orchestra. At the end of 2010, both Rowena and Murray retired from teaching at Mansfield State High, and the school's music department was in charge of the productions from 2011. The school performed Gilbert and Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance with the head of department for the Arts, Marg Overs, leading the crew.

The 2014 musical was announced in early March to be Disney's Beauty and the Beast. Past productions include: The Wizard of Oz (2012), Cloudland (2010), Olivia (2009), The Dracula Rock Show (2008), The Three Musketeers (2007), Catwalk (2006), Pimpernel (2005), Sheik, Rattle and Roll (2004), Dirty Money (2003), Pan the Man (2002), and Gumshoe (2001).

A musical was not produced in 2013 due to Marg's absence at the beginning of the year. Instead, a variety concert showcasing music, dance, film and drama acts "Mansfield Ignites" was held.

Sport

Many Mansfield sport teams have competed in Metropolitan Finals and the school has also produced students and graduates who represented Australia in international events - one Mansfield alumni student was gold medal Olympic diver, Matthew Mitcham.^[2]

Mansfield students and teaching staff are allocated a House in which they remain for their entire enrollment period at the school. This allocation is organised by the first letter of the family name. The four houses are: Hammarskjöld (Gold, family names A-D); Gandhi (Blue, E-K); Schweitzer (Green, L-P) and U Thant (Red, Q-Z).^[3]

Alumni

Mansfield has had four divers go through the school, now all representing Australia at the 2006 Commonwealth Games; Loudy Wiggins (Bronze Medalist at Sydney), Matthew Mitcham, Sharleen Stratton (Gold Medalist) and Scott Robertson.

Academics

In 1990, six students received the highest possible Tertiary Entrance (TE) score possible - 990.^[4] Before that the highest number of students gaining 990 in one year, was four, which had occurred twice.

In 2007, 20 people received high distinctions for the English Competition.

In 2013, Fifteen Year 12 students at Mansfield State High School attained an OP1^[5]

Mansfield's curriculum includes a range of disciplines including: Music; Mathematics; Film, Television and New Media; Science; English; Computer Technologies/Studies; Manual Arts; Health and Physical Education; LOTE (either French or Japanese); Business Enterprise; Art; Home Economics and SOSE (Study Of Society and Environment).

See also

• List of schools in Queensland

References

External links

• Official website

Coordinates: 27°32′42″S 153°06′22″E / 27.54500°S 153.10611°E / -27.54500; 153.10611