Marsden State High School (MSHS) is a public co-educational secondary school located in the Logan City suburb of Waterford West, Queensland, Australia.[1][2] It is administered by the Department of Education, with an enrolment of 3,702 students and a teaching staff of 271, as of 2023.[2] The school serves students from Year 7 to Year 12,[1][2] and is the largest high school by enrolments in Australia,[3] exceeding 4,000 students in March 2024.[4]
| Marsden State High School | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
 | |
| , | |
| Coordinates | 27°41′07″S 153°06′38″E / 27.6852°S 153.1106°E |
| Information | |
| Type | Co-education, secondary, public |
| Motto | Success Through Industry (1987–2010) Empowering Individuals, Expanding Horizons, Creating Futures (2010–2012) Dare to Inspire, Make a Difference (2013–present) |
| Established | 1987 |
| Principal | Marcus Jones |
| Grades | 7–12 |
| Enrolment | 3,702 (2023) |
| Colour(s) | Maroon and ash |
| Website | [1] |
History
editThe school opened on 27 January 1987,[5] in the suburb's west.[6]
A vegemite sandwich[7] was thrown at the then prime minister, Julia Gillard, by a student, the student who was caught denied any wrongdoing of the incident and was promptly suspended in 2013.[8] His suspension lasted three weeks, and he later "confronted her on radio to protest his innocence," the prime minister laughed it off and "sort of" sympathised, but did not help to appeal his suspension.[7]
On 9 November 2015, investigators started talking to students about the disappearance of student Tiahleigh Palmer.[9] Approximately 70 students were questioned by police as of 11 November,[10] with investigators encouraging students to speak up if they had any knowledge regarding her disappearance and eventual death.[11] The incident prompted a debate on school security.[9]
In 2018, Marsden was selected as School of the Year for South East Queensland by The South East Showcase Awards,[12] and in 2020, it was named the 'best public school in the country' due to being the finalist in nine out of the twenty-five categories in the Australian Education Awards, an all-time record.[13]
A brawl between Marsden students and a member of the public occurred in 2020, with footage being uploaded to social media.[14] A police investigation was prompted by the incident.[14]
Student enrollment was recorded at 4,043 in March of 2024, even though the school's maximum enrollment capacity peaked at 3,444 students.[4] It was estimated if current trends continue, student enrollment could reach 4,882 within four years (2028).[4] Land in Logan Reserve was acquired by the state government to construct a new school in order to relieve the pressure on Marsden State High.[4]
Programs
editThe school's current sporting, academic and awareness programs are:
- MTC – Mates Talk Change, a program encouraging good mental health provides a variety of positive mental strategies, including Top 5 Squad
- ELP – Exceptional Learners Program, a discipline for high achievers
- Soccer Excellence – a popular sporting excellence program
- Rugby League Excellence – a popular sporting excellence, see notable alumni.
- Basketball Excellence – a popular sporting excellence program
- Dance Excellence – a program in which exceptional dancers join
- Music Excellence – Exceptional students can choose to sing or play an instrument
- The Arts – The arts is a group of subjects in the creative fields such as Music, Dance, Film & Television and art.
- AVID – A class built on traditional American-style AVID principles.
- M.A.D. – Make a difference program, bringing change to the community.
Notable alumni
editThis is a list of the Notable alumni of Marsden State High School in alphabetical order, by last name.
- Corey Allan[15] – rugby league player with the Sydney Roosters.
- Israel Folau[16][17] – rugby league player with the Catalans Dragons, former Australian rules and former Rugby Union player for the New South Wales Waratahs.
- Hulita Haukinima[18] – Queensland Firebirds netball player.
- Brenko Lee[15] – current NRL player for Dolphins.
- Patrick Mago[citation needed] – former NRL player for Brisbane Broncos and South Sydney Rabbitohs, currently with the Super League team Wigan.
- Tesi Niu[19] – rugby league player with the Dolphins.
- Tiahleigh Palmer[11] – student who was murdered by her foster father in 2015.
- Chris Sandow[17] – rugby league player.
- Cameron Smith[16][17] – rugby league former player with the Melbourne Storm.
- Jaydn Su'A[15][16] – rugby league player with the St George Illawarra Dragons.
- Caleb Timu[20] – former NRL player for the Brisbane Broncos, former Rugby Union player for the Queensland Reds, Australia national rugby union team Wallabies, and Montpellier Hérault Rugby.
- Joe Tomane[17] – former professional rugby league footballer, now rugby union player.
- Antonio Winterstein[16][17] – rugby league player.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Marsden State High School | Department of Education". Schools Directory. Archived from the original on 9 July 2024. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
- ^ a b c "ACARA Data Access Program - School Profile 2023". Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. Archived from the original on 1 May 2024. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
- ^ Kerr, Judith (3 March 2022). "Marsden State High School chalks up record as country's largest secondary school". The Courier Mail. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ a b c d Caldwell, Felicity (24 March 2024). "Qld's biggest high school hires extra staff as enrolments exceed 4000". The Brisbane Times. Archived from the original on 14 August 2024. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
- ^ "Opening and closing dates of Queensland schools". Queensland Department of Education. 14 April 2019. Archived from the original on 24 July 2024. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
- ^ "Waterford West | Queensland Places". The University of Queensland. Archived from the original on 14 April 2024. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
- ^ a b Jabour, Bridie (8 May 2013). "Sandwich 'thrower' suspended". The Brisbane Times. Archived from the original on 10 February 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
- ^ "Queensland student denies throwing sandwich at PM". Nine News. 8 May 2013. Archived from the original on 14 August 2024. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
- ^ a b "Tiahleigh Palmer suspected murder: school security debated as community mourns 12yo girl". ABC News Australia. 8 November 2015. Archived from the original on 14 June 2024. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
- ^ "Police and SES scour land near school for clues in Tiahleigh Palmer case". ABC News Australia. 11 November 2015. Archived from the original on 18 April 2017. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
- ^ a b Rafferty, Michelle (13 November 2015). "Tiahleigh Palmer planned to skip school the day she disappeared, police say". ABC News Australia. Archived from the original on 18 April 2017. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
- ^ "Future Logan: Marsden State High School named South East's School of the Year". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 14 August 2024. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
- ^ "Marsden State High School named best public school in the country". ABC listen. 26 November 2020. Archived from the original on 14 August 2024. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
- ^ a b "Footage of students of Marsden State High School fighting man sparks investigation". Seven News. 27 October 2020. Archived from the original on 28 September 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
- ^ a b c "Schoolboys trial game to be played before Titans v Eels match this Saturday". The Gold Coast Titans. 6 April 2022. Archived from the original on 6 April 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
- ^ a b c d Walsh, Dan (16 October 2020). "'Talk it out': Allan's lasting legacy in critical mental health battles". National Rugby League. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Marshall, Matt (23 April 2009). "School days to class acts". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 14 June 2011. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
- ^ Cormack, Michael (9 September 2015). "Marsden's Hulita Haukinima earns the final place on the Queensland Firebirds' 2016 roster". The Courier Mail. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
- ^ "Tesi & Tony: The Story Behind A Photo". The Brisbane Broncos. 2 June 2020. Archived from the original on 25 June 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
- ^ "Caleb Kalisi Timu | Player Profile | Classic Wallabies". The Classic Wallabies. Archived from the original on 11 April 2024. Retrieved 14 August 2024.