Clontarf Beach State High School: Tailoring programs to students’ goals
[ADVERTORIAL]
Clontarf Beach State High School is supporting students to forge career pathways, no matter what their area of interest or future goals might be.
The Redcliffe Peninsula spoke to six students with differing education and career goals about how the school is helping them achieve those aspirations.
Principal Cath Pfingst says the students perfectly illustrate what is on offer at Clontarf Beach State High School.
“I think regardless of what the students are doing, whether they’re doing a signature program, an excellence program or pursuing a VET course … all these students are creating opportunities for themselves by choosing pathways that provide them experience and relevant curriculum to where they want to end up in the future,” she explains.
“Through our care program, our Summit academic excellence program, and our school sports excellence programs, we have the opportunities where these kids are getting extra time and extra tuition around specific areas of their own interest.
“Because they’re doing stuff that they like and it is relevant and contextualized, they do engage really well with these programs and they have the opportunities particularly in the VET and certificate courses to pursue traineeships which are also great for them to get a head start into their future careers.
“One hundred per cent of our students leave with a qualification at the end of Year 12 and that qualification is tailormade for them and tiered to their area of interest and expertise.
“They might finish with a Certificate III in Hospitality or they might finish with a Certificate II in Engineering or they might have a full year behind them in a traineeship that takes them to electrical or plumbing or a trade of their choice.
“For those students who are looking to go on to university, we have 100 per cent of kids who are applying for university being successful in getting an offer first time around.”
Year 11 student Elisha Chand is part of the Academic Extension Program and is, this year, focusing on Biology, Chemistry and Mathematical Methods. She is also working towards a Certificate III in Health Services.
“I really want to go to the University of Queensland (UQ). It’s my number one goal. I want to go and study either biomedicine or something to do with molecular biology. That’s a great passion of mine.
“The school does offer a lot of opportunities in regards to life after school and even things to do while we’re still studying. With my university pathway, I could do part of a university course while I’m still studying and I can even do one at UQ or UniSC.
“The Certificate III in Health Services will give me a step up in the medical field.”
Year 12 student Taj Morris is working towards a Certificate III in Health and Fitness and a Certificate in Electrotechnology at TAFE, which he hopes to complete by the end of the year.
“That will open up a lot of pathways for me because I want to be an electrician,” Taj says.
He says it will set him up well for an apprenticeship and being able to incorporate a day at TAFE into his school timetable each week is a big help.
Fellow Year 12 student Laitham Robinson is involved in the school’s Dance and Aquatics Programs.
“I think I started Dance in grade 7 just as a subject. I joined the dance troop only last year and I love it. It’s so much fun. We go to eisteddfods and competitions,” Laitham explains.
He is equally passionate about the Aquatics Program, which has already given him the chance to observe and record coral and fish off Moreton Island, go fishing and learn about aquaponics.
“I am very interested in animals. I have been from a young age. I think I want to do something along the lines of marine biology or working with marine life … help rehabilitate, relocate,” Laitham says.
He is grateful for the way Clontarf Beach State High School has supported him since Year 7 and feels well-prepared for and confident about the future
“I think it’s been amazing. They really are passionate. They push kids to try their best. They offer so much as well … there’s such a broad range … from fishing to dancing … I do all of it,” he says.
“It gives me such a big span of opportunities … opening me up for the big world.”
Junior school students Delores Iakopo, Year 9; Xavier Forsyth, Year 8; and Indiana Williams, Year 8, are part of the Academic Extension Program.
The program deepens their knowledge of key subjects and challenges them to take their learning to the next level.
Delores says support from the school and the knowledge she has gained through the extension program enabled her to successfully apply for Harding Miller scholarship, which starts this year.
“It helps me to learn how the world works and to build my future. They also give extra tutoring and materials I need to learn,” she says.
Xavier says: “At this moment, I don’t really have an area of interest. I do enjoy Maths though because I think it’s interesting because it’s used in daily life. It’s used all the time.
“I’m thinking of doing a trade. I’m considering being an electrician.
“The school is helping me learn. It’s also helping me get good social skills.”
Indiana is particularly enjoying English and Science and the opportunity to extend her knowledge in both subjects.
“The school support is great. There’s always someone to talk to, someone to help you if you’ve got issues and always someone to let you know everything’s OK,” she says.
To find out more about Clontarf Beach State High School programs, visit clontarfbeachshs.eq.edu.au or phone (07) 3480 4777.