TannumSandsStateHighSchool

Tannum Sands State High School (“TSSHS” or often “Tannum High”) is a public high school located in Tannum Sands, Queensland, Australia. Each grade has an average of about 213 students. It is the first and only secondary school established in the Tannum Sands area. The school offers an extensive curriculum for its students, and receives approximately 95% of the students living in the Tannum Sands catchment area for Year 8 each year.

Recent Academic Achievements

Tannum Sands State High School has always had a very consistent percentage of students graduating in the OP1 to OP5 range each year, with their long-term average sitting at approximately 15%. In 2010, three students received an OP1, with a further five scoring an OP2.

2007 saw Nirnitha Manivasagan the recipient of the Lord Florey Student Prize, which only the top 500 most outstanding academic achievers are awarded each year. Magdalene Schoene and Alvaro Reyes also joined the school from Germany and Mexico respectively, as the first International Fee-paying Students at the school.

In 2008, Tannum High had three National Sports Champions, and five students represented Queensland in their respective sports. This was their best representation of the school in its history. 71 students also tried out for Capricornia at the Port Curtis District Selection, and 41 qualified to represent the Port Curtis region at the Capricornia Regional level. Two students competed in the Olympic Selection Trials that year.

Tannum Sands High School also saw Lauren Rearden participate in a trip to Egypt to assist with establishment of micro-businesses for women in that country in 2009. Zac Bond, one of their indigenous students at the time, was also awarded the Pierre de Coubertin Award, recognising his success in sport, especially his exemplification of the ideals of the Olympic movement.

2010 was another successful year in Tannum Sands State High School‘s history. Jenni Mercer, one of the three OP1 students, flew to Canada after being selected as one of six students to attend the National Youth Science Forum. Jenni was also one of ten state recipients of the Peter Doherty Outstanding Senior Science Student Award; a $2000 bursary. Jenni, along with Jacob Johnston, another of the OP1 students, won a $24 000 Academic Excellence Scholarship from the University of Queensland. Both Jenni and Jacob had accelerated through their Senior mathematics a year early, enabling them to complete university subjects in veterinary science and philosophy, whilst still at school. Jacob was also chosen to attend a two-week residential summer school at the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra.

2010 also saw a team of Year 9 students named as Reader’s Cup State Finalists. Another team of Year 10 Brain Bee State Finalists took part in Australia‘s only neuroscience competition for high school students, and Jack Hales came second in Queensland in the individual competition. Samuel O’Neill was another high-achiever, and finished first in the state in the National Geography competition.

Tannum Sands State High School (“TSSHS” or often “Tannum High”) is a public high school located in Tannum Sands, Queensland, Australia. Each grade has an average of about 213 students. It is the first and only secondary school established in the Tannum Sands area. The school offers an extensive curriculum for its students, and receives approximately 95% of the students living in the Tannum Sands catchment area for Year 8 each year.

History

Tannum Sands State High School opened in 1998 with 287 Grade 8 and 9 students. Their first Seniors graduated in 2001. Mr Ray Johnston, Tannum High‘s principal, has served for 14 years, and has overseen the devising of the school’s motto (Creating Our Futures) and the establishment of the house system.

Recent Academic Achievements

Tannum Sands State High School has always had a very consistent percentage of students graduating in the OP1 to OP5 range each year, with their long-term average sitting at approximately 15%. In 2010, three students received an OP1, with a further five scoring an OP2.

2007 saw Nirnitha Manivasagan the recipient of the Lord Florey Student Prize, which only the top 500 most outstanding academic achievers are awarded each year. Magdalene Schoene and Alvaro Reyes also joined the school from Germany and Mexico respectively, as the first International Fee-paying Students at the school.

In 2008, Tannum High had three National Sports Champions, and five students represented Queensland in their respective sports. This was their best representation of the school in its history. 71 students also tried out for Capricornia at the Port Curtis District Selection, and 41 qualified to represent the Port Curtis region at the Capricornia Regional level. Two students competed in the Olympic Selection Trials that year.

Tannum Sands High School also saw Lauren Rearden participate in a trip to Egypt to assist with establishment of micro-businesses for women in that country in 2009. Zac Bond, one of their indigenous students at the time, was also awarded the Pierre de Coubertin Award, recognising his success in sport, especially his exemplification of the ideals of the Olympic movement.

2010 was another successful year in Tannum Sands State High School‘s history. Jenni Mercer, one of the three OP1 students, flew to Canada after being selected as one of six students to attend the National Youth Science Forum. Jenni was also one of ten state recipients of the Peter Doherty Outstanding Senior Science Student Award; a $2000 bursary. Jenni, along with Jacob Johnston, another of the OP1 students, won a $24 000 Academic Excellence Scholarship from the University of Queensland. Both Jenni and Jacob had accelerated through their Senior mathematics a year early, enabling them to complete university subjects in veterinary science and philosophy, whilst still at school. Jacob was also chosen to attend a two-week residential summer school at the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra.

2010 also saw a team of Year 9 students named as Reader’s Cup State Finalists. Another team of Year 10 Brain Bee State Finalists took part in Australia‘s only neuroscience competition for high school students, and Jack Hales came second in Queensland in the individual competition. Samuel O’Neill was another high-achiever, and finished first in the state in the National Geography competition.