Keebra Park State High School has always been a place of diversity and difference with as many as 64 nationalities making up its student cohort. The name itself is an aboriginal word meaning “Place of Happy People” and it certainly embraces this ideal.

There is the extremely successful ESL program (English As a Second Language) attracting students from as far away as Honduras and Iceland, its rugby league program attracting students from Samoa, Tonga and the Cook Islands and its International Student program with students from as far afield as Brazil and Germany and of course our local Australian and indigenous populations.

There is no doubt this diversity, assists with teaching and understanding in the classroom with students able to access cultural knowledge from their peers that is not so readily available in the homogenous environments in some schools.

There also seems to be some advantages in the sporting realm with students from these very different backgrounds able to come together and contribute to produce fantastic results. “We all mix in really well and I think its all of us coming together that makes us a formidable opposition.” Said year 11 student Henare Wells. “Ive met students from everywhere this year and they teach me as much as I teach them” He added.

This was evident this year at Keebra Park where Samoans and Tongans mixed in with Australians, Germans and Brazillians to take out three much sought after trophies. First of all there was the Arrive Cup win, followed by the Queensland All Schools Touch Competition and most recently the Gold Coast 9 aside AFL championship.

Schools often fend off a fair bit of negative press in the mass media and stories such as this are a way for the students to let what they do in the classroom and the sporting field talk for them and their peers. “We study the media industry as part of our sports specialisation program and realise that schools are an easy target for journalists and its disappointing but part of society today.” Said Wells. “We’ll just keep on doing what we do best and make our parents and teachers and those who know us as proud as we can.” He Concluded.

Well said Henare and well done boys.

Darren Hart H.P.E

Recent Headlines

Remember for any information you may need on the school and its programs please contact the school on 07 55 092 555