Wikipedia

Miami State High School

For other uses, see Miami High School (disambiguation).

Miami State High School is a school in the suburb of Miami (Queensland, Australia) established as "South Coast District State High School" in 1963.[4] It is currently the Gold Coast's second oldest state school, second in age only to Southport State High School (established 1955).[4]

Miami State High School
Location
Map
Miami, Gold Coast, Queensland

Australia
Coordinates28°3′47.04″S 153°26′19.83″E / 28.0630667°S 153.4388417°E / -28.0630667; 153.4388417
Information
TypeState secondary day school
MottoLatin: Semper floreat costa[1][2]
("May the coast always flourish")
Established1963[3][4]
PrincipalClint Curran[5]
Grades7–12[6]
GenderCoeducational
Enrolment1,651 students (February 2024)[3]
CampusUrban
Colour(s)    Yellow, blue, and white
SloganFirst Class Location, World Class Education
Websitewww.miamishs.eq.edu.au

The traditional custodians of the land on which Miami State High School rests are the Yugambeh language group of the Bundjalung nation.[1]

Originally named South Coast District State High School, Miami High was officially opened in April 1963.[7] It soon became known as Miami High and, after a number of years, the more compact name was officially adopted.[7] It was built to meet the needs of the rapidly expanding population on the Gold Coast.[7] At the time, the only public high schools were Southport High School and Tweed River High School, about 35 kilometres (22 mi) apart, with the site of Miami High about midway between the two on the Gold Coast Highway at the very northern end of Miami.[7]

Infrastructure

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Initial Construction

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The chosen site presented a number of construction challenges because the southern half was a swamp and the northern half was on the steep slope of Nobby's Headland, an upthrust of schist about 50 m high at its highest point.[7] The challenges were met by the simple expedient of blasting the slope and dumping the rubble in the swamp, but with a consequent complete loss of topsoil that created enduring problems for many years.[7]

It construction in the sixties always stayed behind the needs of the students for three reasons:[7]

    (a) competition with established schools for resources;
    (b) the transition of the Baby Boom Generation from primary school to high school; and
    (c) the inclusion of year 8.

1965 and 1966 saw open underschool areas, originally intended for protection from sun and rain, being converted to temporary classrooms and several flimsy demountable buildings being installed as other temporary classrooms.Despite their nominally temporary nature, many of these structures were still in use twenty years later.[7]

Buildings

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The school has a assembly hall with a 1,500 seat capacity. This assembly hall as the first venue on the coast that could seat more than 1,000 people.[8] It has hosted performers such as AC/DC, Sherbet, Skyhooks, and Hot Chocolate.[8]

In 1967, the Australian federal government built a two-story, four-laboratory science block, as part of a program to improve the teaching of science throughout Australia. Several of the laboratories were promptly pressed into service as regular classrooms.[7]

In 2014, construction of a multi-storey learning facility for years 7 and 8 was completed, as part of the “Flying Start” program, which brought year 7 students into the Queensland high school system.[1][2][9] The building has two prominent brick murals composed of brickwork in a standard grey mortar with recessed joints, dually functioning as cladding and a piece of artwork.[2] The northern elevation has a brick mural depicting a breaking wave.[2][9] The pattern is said to be a surfing metaphor for "the need to focus on the task at hand from start to finish and achieve the best outcome for you.", similar to the principles of surfing a tube which requires "a good start, stay calm and composed in the middle, before ending the journey in one piece, albeit a changed and inspired person."[1][2][9] The western elevation, facing the highway, has a "binary wall" mural, featuring a binary computer code spelling out the school's slogan and motto, "Miami State High School, Learning through a team effort, Semper Costa Floreat".[1][2][9] The architect, Conrad Garget, described it as "a cost effective, artistic, inspiring, character enabling, durable and low maintenance structure which both describes the story of development in education through the use of computers."[1]

The building prompted the then school principal, Jim Baker, to have the word ‘Inspire’ rise vertically on the western elevation of the entry building, and, subsequently, to similarly name all the school's existing buildings.[2][9]

Sports

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Miami State High School possesses an all-weather playing surface featuring four basketball, four netball and three volleyball courts, a sports field, fully equipped gymnasium and 25 metre swimming pool.[4]

In January 2024, The Sports Centre of Excellence was officially finished and open for school and approved community usage. Students can utilise the building's world class sports facilities to develop their athletic abilities and excel in their chosen sports.

The new hall features two sports courts, a kinesiology lab and theory room, three learning areas and a staff room. There are also additional amenities and equipment storage, office space, a performance stage and a kitchen with kiosk facilities.

An exciting addition to the sports courts are professional glass backboards for basketball, which were jointly funded by the school and the Department of Education.

A total of $13.2 million (including GST) was invested to deliver the new multi-purpose hall.[10]

TV and film studio

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The school has a film and TV studio.

Hollywood Sign

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Miami's most iconic landmark is the school's yellow ‘Hollywood-style’ sign.[8][11] Exerect in 1979, the sign was the brainchild of then principal, William Callinan, and was designed to cover the scarp face, once the site of a rock quarry.[8][11] After a trip to Los Angeles, Bill was inspired by the Hollywood sign to build the school's sign in the same design.[11] Originally, it read 'Hi Miami High', but it now reads simply "Miami High".[8] The school's sign on the side of the hill is listed on the Gold Coast Local Heritage Register, due to it being "historically significant in demonstrating the important fun and fantasy phase of development on the Gold Coast.".[12][11]

Fencing

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The school grounds are enclosed in a 2-metre tall spiked black steel perimeter fence.[13] The fence was constructed in 2022, as part of a state government initial which saw similar fence erected in 140 school in 2021.[13] The reason for the fence was attributed to the general "rise in crime around state schools in south-east Queensland".[13]

Curriculum

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Exchange Academy

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Miami State High School offers a number of Excellence and Specialisation programs for high achieving and goal driven students in the following fields: Academic, Cultural and Sporting.[14]

Exchange Program

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Miami High has introduced an international exchange program with students from all over the world now attending the school.

Aviation

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Since 2007,[15] Miami State High School has offered Aerospace studies.[16] In 2012, this made it unique as the only school in south east Queensland to offer aviation as a subject in the senior syllabus.[15]

Languages

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The school's language department offers Japanese, Spanish, and Auslan (Australian Sign Language).[3]

As part of it extra-curicullar program it organises international trips to Japan and Spain.[3]

Executive

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Principals

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The following is a full list of the school's principals since the schools inception:

Previous principals
Tenure Name
1963–1966 Claude Rayner
1967–1968 John Rowe
1969–1985 William "Bill" Callinan[11]
1986–2016 Jim Baker[17]
2017–2023 Susan Dalton[18]
2024-Present Clint Curran[19]

In 2024, the current principal of Miami State High School was Clint Curran[19] and the deputy principal is Michelle Flynn.[20]

Students

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Years

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In 1964, Queensland's primary schools ceased to teach year 8, which was transferred to the high schools.[citation needed] The "infant" Miami State High School went from catering to year 9 to catering to years 8–10, causing the school to be barely being able to provide enough classrooms for the start of the year.[citation needed]

As part of a 2013 trial, officially implemented in 2015, year 7 was subsequently included, so that Miami State High School now catered for years 7–12, to align Queensland with the other states, as part of Anna Bligh's state-wide "Flying Start" program.[21]

Student enrolments

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In 2022, Miami State High School was reported to have a maximum student enrolment capacity of 1,449 students.[22]

The trend in school enrolments (August figures) has been:

Student enrolment trends
Year Year 7 Year 8 Year 9 Year 10 Year 11 Year 12 Boys Girls Total
2014 - - - - - - 560 586 1,146[23]
2015 - - - - - - 627 644 1,271[24]
2016 - - - - - - 621 625 1,246[25]
2017 - - - - - - 596 620 1,216[26]: 3 [27]
2018 - - - - - - 620 635 1,255[26]: 3 [28]
2019 253 253 199 224 231 163 656 666 1,322[26]: 3 [29]
2020 270 253 248 197 198 166 659 673 1,332[30]: 2 [31]
2021 313 268 264 247 178 190 728 732 1,460[30]: 2 [32]
2022 302 309 261 259 252 157 754 786 1,540[33]: 2 [34]
2023 TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA 1,600[3]
2024 1,651[3]

Notable alumni

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The following are notable alumni of the school:

Notable alumni in Politics & Business
Name Achievement
Anna Bligh Former Premier of Queensland.[35]
Richard Black Former Chief Technology Officer, Bank of England
Notable alumni in the Entertainment Industry
Name Achievement
Amanda Ware Australia's Next Top Model (Cycle 6) Winner[36][37]
Kim Watkins TV Presenter
Notable alumni in sport
Name Sport Top-level team/affiliation
Maddison Levi[38] Australian rules football
Rugby sevens 		Gold Coast
Australia
Teagan Levi[39] Australian rules football
Rugby sevens 		Gold Coast
Australia
Lucy Single[40] Australian rules football Gold Coast
Scott McGrory[41] Cycling Australia
Heidi Piper[42] Fencing Notre Dame
Sharon Jaklofsky Long jump Netherlands
Alex Glenn[43] Rugby league Brisbane, New Zealand
Wayne 'Rabbit' Bartholomew[8] Surfing Australia
Benjamin Schulte[44][45] Swimming Part of the contingent for Guam at the 2012 Summer Olympics (London).

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Miami State High School". Architectus Conrad Garget (http://www.conradgargett.com.au). Archived from the original on 3 June 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Project: Miami State High School – School's Up! Year 7 students catch a wave at a surf-mad Gold Coast suburb". Brickworks (http://www.brickworks.com.au). 9 April 2020. Archived from the original on 1 March 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Miami State High School". Education Queensland International. Queensland Government – Department of Education and Training. Archived from the original on 12 September 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  4. ^ a b c d Scanlon, Meaghan (6 October 2022). "Miami State High School scores first-ever indoor sports hall". Queensland government (http://www.qld.gov.au). Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  5. ^ "Our Staff". 6 December 2021.
  6. ^ "Miami State High School – School annual report – Queensland state school reporting – 2022" (PDF). Queensland GovernmentDepartment of Education and Training. 2 June 2023. p. 2. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Description". Miami State High School (http://www.miamishs.eq.edu.au). Archived from the original on 20 September 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023 – via Facebook (http://www.facebook.com).
  8. ^ a b c d e f "History". Miami State High School (http://www.miamishs.eq.edu.au). 26 September 2019. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  9. ^ a b c d e "Miami State High School – Year 7 students catch a wave at a surf-mad Gold Coast suburb". Brick Works (http://www.brickworks.com.au). 5 November 2015. Archived from the original on 16 March 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  10. ^ "Miami State High School celebrates its 60th birthday with the opening of a new Sports Centre for Excellence". Department of Education. 22 January 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  11. ^ a b c d e Marshall, Candice (14 February 2013). "'Hi Miami High' - When Hollywood Came to the Coast". Australia Broadcasting Corporation News (http://www.abc.net.au). Archived from the original on 7 June 2019. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  12. ^ "Gold Coast Local Heritage Register - A to M" (PDF). Gold Coast City Council. pp. 77–78. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 August 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  13. ^ a b c Moore, Ann Wason (18 October 2022). "Miami State School Installed new Fence to Stop Youth Crime". Gold Coast Bulletin (http://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au). Archived from the original on 18 October 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  14. ^ "Excellence and Specialisation Programs". Miami State High School. 4 March 2022. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  15. ^ a b Kane, Charmaine; Marshall, Candice (31 May 2012). "Gold Coast School Gives Would-Be Pilots a Flying Start". Australia Broadcasting Corporation (http://www.abc.net.au). Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  16. ^ "Senior Subject Guide – Miami State High School – 2021" (PDF). Miami State High School (http://www.miamishs.eq.edu.au). Queensland Government – Department of Education and Training. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  17. ^ "Wishing Mr Jim Baker all the Very Best on his Retirement after 20 Years of Service to Miami State High School. School's Out!". Miami State High School (http://www.miamishs.eq.edu.au). 9 December 2016. Archived from the original on 21 September 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023 – via Facebook.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  18. ^ Moore, Ann Wason (31 March 2019). "Ann Wason Moore on Miami State High School with principal Sue Dalton". Gold Coast Bulletin (http://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au). Archived from the original on 20 September 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  19. ^ a b "Principal's welcome". Miami State High School. 7 September 2020. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  20. ^ "Our Staff". Miami State High School (http://www.miamishs.eq.edu.au). 6 December 2021. Archived from the original on 14 September 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  21. ^ "Year 7 to move to high school from 2015 in Queensland, says Anna Bligh". Courier Mail (http://www.couriermail.com.au). 10 June 2011. Archived from the original on 22 September 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  22. ^ "Miami State High School". Education. Queensland Government – Department of Education and Training. 2 December 2022. Archived from the original on 24 March 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  23. ^ "Miami State High School, Miami, QLD". My School. Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA). 2014. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  24. ^ "Miami State High School, Miami, QLD". My School. Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA). 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  25. ^ "Miami State High School, Miami, QLD". My School. Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA). 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  26. ^ a b c "Miami State High School – Annual Report – 2019 – Queensland State School Reporting" (PDF). Queensland Government – Department of Education and Training. 2019. Archived from the original on 14 September 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  27. ^ "Miami State High School, Miami, QLD". My School. Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA). 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  28. ^ "Miami State High School, Miami, QLD". My School. Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA). 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  29. ^ "Miami State High School, Miami, QLD". My School. Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA). 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  30. ^ a b "Miami State High School – School annual report – Queensland state school reporting – 2022" (PDF). Queensland Government – Department of Education and Training. 14 June 2021. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  31. ^ "Miami State High School, Miami, QLD" (PDF). My School. Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA). 2020. Archived from the original on 14 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  32. ^ "Miami State High School, Miami, QLD". My School. Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA). 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  33. ^ "Miami State High School – School annual report – Queensland state school reporting – 2022" (PDF). Queensland GovernmentDepartment of Education and Training. 2 June 2023. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  34. ^ "Miami State High School, Miami, QLD". My School. Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA). 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  35. ^ "Anna Bligh talks politics". Australian Broadcasting Corporation (http://www.abc.net.au). 5 December 2007. Archived from the original on 22 March 2011. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  36. ^ Keating, Chris. "Burleigh Heads 25th April 2009 Anzac Day – Presidents Report Dawn Service 4.28 am" (PDF). Burleigh Heads RSL. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 September 2010. Retrieved 29 September 2010.
  37. ^ Phillips, Tania (12 August 2010). "Teen of the catwalk". Gold Coast Mail. APN News & Media. Retrieved 29 September 2010.
  38. ^ Cheadle, Josh (7 October 2020). "Academy product Maddison Levi drafted with pick 50". Gold Coast Suns Fan Club (http://www.goldcoastfc.com.au). Archived from the original on 22 May 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  39. ^ Decent, Tom (22 July 2022). "Meet the 'incredible' Australian sisters being chased by three footy codes". Sydney Morning Herald (http://www.smh.com.au). Archived from the original on 25 January 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  40. ^ Cheadle, Josh (7 October 2020). "Lucy Single joins the Suns with pick 57". Gold Coast Suns Fan Club (http://www.goldcoastfc.com.au). Archived from the original on 21 May 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  41. ^ Iles, Kieran (6 October 2020). "Lucy Single joins the SUNS with pick 57". Bendigo Advertiser (http://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au). Archived from the original on 25 January 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  42. ^ "Strong leadership, openness, and passion are crucial for career fulfilment, according to Griffith International director Heidi Piper". 1 July 2018.
  43. ^ Richards, Eden (8 September 2016). "Why I chose Broncos over Titans: Alex Glenn". Miami State High School (http://www.miamishs.eq.edu.au). Archived from the original on 28 May 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  44. ^ Marshall, Candice (12 July 2012). "Gold Coast teenager off to the Olympics". Australia Broadcasting Corporation News (http://www.abc.net.au). Archived from the original on 12 September 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  45. ^ Tucker, Jim (11 August 2012). "Guam's Benjamin Schulte, 16, wins battle with 'brown water' in 10km swim". News.com.au (http://www.news.com.au). Archived from the original on 12 September 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
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