Kingston High School (Tasmania)

Kingston High School is a co-educational high school in Kingston, Tasmania.

The school teaches students in grades 7-10 and currently has approximately 700 students enrolled. The school is a six-stream school, with at least six class groups for each year level at the school.^[1]

The current principal is Mrs Bird who is supported by two assistant principals.^[2]

History

Kingston High School was officially opened on Saturday December the 2nd 1972 by the then Minister for Education, Mr. Bill Neilson.

The school had an initial enrollment of 168 students, with students coming from the rural townships surrounding Kingston. The school gained a reputation for operating in a progressive manner when compared to other schools in the area. The school encouraged development of relationships between students and staff, organising whole school camps and introducing regular activity afternoons.^[1]

In 2000 student numbers peaked at 797 students, with enrollments steadily declining over the next six years. From 2007, numbers have been steadily growing again with the student population expected to continue to increase.

The school relocated from the Kingston CBD campus to the new Kingston View Drive campus at the beginning of the 2011 school year. The school was officially opened on November the 4th 2011. The original CBD high school building was condemned and demolished publicly in 2014 by the Kingborough Council, after numerous requests by former students to have the buildings demolished. The remaining greenfield area is to be turned into a public space to bring the community together.

Sports

All students belong to one of four house groups - Mangana (Red), Hartz (Purple), Nelson (Blue) or Wellington (White). The houses are named after mountains surrounding the school. Each year the school runs an athletics, cross country and surfing carnival. On each of these days, students compete for their houses.^[3]

Kingston Education Project

Initial construction of the Kingston High School current campus was announced in 2007, which replaced the campus in the centre of Kingston. The approximate cost of the project was $34 million. The new campus is located in Kingston View Drive, on the grounds bordering the Kingborough Sports Centre in western Kingston. ^[4] Construction on the project commenced in May 2009.^[5]

With the launch of the new school the image of the school has been refreshed. The new school colours are Teal green, blue and white. The uniform has now been produced.^[6]

References