Marian, Moranbah East schools win 2022 Showcase Awards gongs

Two Mackay region schools have won awards for education excellence and now they are in the running for state awards. Here’s what they are doing differently.

Teachers at Marian State School got a pat on the back when they won a Central Queensland award for inclusive education.

This year’s TUH Health Fund Showcase Award for Excellence in Inclusive Education went to the school’s Whole Child: Effective Transition program.

Marian principal Craig Homer commended his team for the achievement, which earned the school a share in $66,000 worth of development grants.

“The culture at Marian State School is that inclusive education is everyone’s business, and we hold the belief that high expectation is built on high levels of support,” he said.

“We have a great team where everyone can personally connect, participate and learn, with shared responsibility of all elements of curriculum and wellbeing.

“The investment we make each day as individuals and as a school community, has a significant impact in a young person’s life – from the critical relationships with parents, community and allied health professionals – to the support for our highly skilled staff who work closely with our teachers.”

Marian State School principal Craig Homer and his team have won a 2022 Showcase Award for inclusive education for Central Queensland. Picture: Contributed

Moranbah East State School also took out a Central Queensland award for excellence in rural and remote education.

The award relates to the use of Zoom to deliver instruction in English and Auslan as a language to a deaf student.

Education Minister Grace Grace congratulated the Showcase Awards regional winners ahead of further rounds to determine the top schools in the state.

“To be named as one of the 27 regional winners, or as one of the 24 to receive a commendation, is a significant accolade for these schools,” she said.

“The Showcase Awards allow us to recognise and celebrate the great work that our schools are doing day-to-day.”

Marian State School was among 120 schools that made 86 submissions to the Showcase Awards and will be judged against the 27 other regional award winners next month to select state finalists.

The overall winners are expected to be announced at an October conference in Brisbane, with each standing to receive up to $10,000.