Term 1 champions and achievements from Gold Coast secondary schools for 2024
As Term 1 comes to a close for schools on the Gold Coast, here are some of the biggest achievements by the city’s next generation. Take a look
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Benowa State High School student Charli is racing ahead to the BMX world championships.
Benowa State High School student Charli is racing ahead to the BMX world championships.
Earlier this year, the Year 11 student became the youngest competitor in the under 23 category to race at the UCI BMX Racing World Cup in Brisbane, placing fifth and four in rounds three and four.
Taking to social media Charli said: “If someone told me a year ago I would be walking away from my first UCI BMX Racing World Cups making the final both days at 16 years old, I definitely wouldn’t believe them.”
“(It) has been so incredible and one I will never forget.”
The Benowa student also remains the undefeated Superclass champion in the AusCycling National series.
“I have been racing BMX since I was three, so 13 years now. I love the excitement and thrill of the sport – the feeling of going fast – especially jumping,” she said.
However, Charli’s parents are quick to remind her that her academic results are just as important as her medals and trophies.
“It’s definitely challenging balancing school and BMX, but my parents tell me if my schoolwork isn’t up to date then I can’t ride my bike,” she said.
“(But) my school has been pretty supportive of my racing, especially the sporting department and Miss Passmore, who is always very excited to hear about my achievements.
“My ultimate goal is definitely a career in BMX and to go to the Olympics.”
Going for Gold: GC student aiming for Paris Paralympics
As a baby Montana Atkinson loved everything to do with water, now the Foxwell State Secondary College student has her eyes set on representing the nation at the 2024 Paris Paralympics.
The Year 11 student is a swimming star on the rise with both national and international accolades to her name.
“I have always swum since (I was) a little girl,” Montana said.
“I started swimming lessons at 12 weeks old but I only started competing when I was 12 years old.”
When Montana was 11 years old, she experienced a massive seizure that left her with a brain injury and intellectually disabled.
Despite that, Montana has accumulated a number of swim records.
Last year, Montana was named Commonwealth Game’s Emerging Athlete of the Month after scoring three gold medals, two silver and one bronze at the 2023 Australian Age Swimming Championships where she also broke three Queensland swim records and set five personal best times.
Earlier this month, the 16-year-old took home five gold medals at the Queensland Representative School Sport competition at the Brisbane Aquatic Centre, setting a state record for the 100m butterfly.
At the 2024 Citi Para Swimming World Series in Melbourne, Montana recently won a Bronze Medal in the Open Women’s 50m butterfly event and is currently ranked third in the world for this category.
“Swimming has many health benefits as it has helped me overcome challenges,” she said.
“Now I am about to embark on the first of many adventures overseas.”
Montana will soon be heading to Portugal to compete at the Madeira 2024 Para Swimming European Open Championships in April.
And in June, Montana will look to set swimming records at the Australian Para Trials in Brisbane in order to qualify her for the 2024 Paris Paralympics.
Montana said the school’s support through its Sporting Minds Program of Excellence and personalised academic programs has helped her overcome the challenges of her intellectual disability.
“After graduating school in two years, I will be focusing on making LA 2028 and Brisbane 2032 Paralympics,” she said.
“I would love to be able to teach swimming to children with impairments.”
Gold Coast student appointed to Qld ministerial advisory council
A Gold Coast student has been named one of 18 from across the state to be appointed to the 2024 Ministerial Student Advisory Council.
Queensland Academies Health Science Campus student Naajiya Mohinudeen said she was “extremely grateful” for being appointed to the role, which carries a two-year tenure.
In the role, Naajiya and council members will meet regularly with the Minister for Education and Minister for Youth Justice to discuss issues impacting youth including mental health and wellbeing, equity and excellence, respectful relationships education and consent, virtual learning and cyber-bullying.
“I have always being fascinated by the journey that education paves for us and saw this as a wonderful opportunity,” Naajiya said.
“One of my goals (is) to make education more accessible, and more student accommodating for every single student. I believe, every student has their own style of learning and their own approach to school.
“Creating an environment to celebrate this is my main goal.”
Throughout her schooling career, Naajiya has excelled both academically and in her extra-curricular activities.
Last year she was appointed to the 2023 Queensland Global Youth Summit Student Advisory Council designed to enhance knowledge and understanding of global competence, diversity and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
“My school has been instrumental in paving this journey for me,” she said.
“Queensland Academies for Health Sciences has provided me with immense ongoing support and guidance, for which I am very grateful.”
Pacific Pines State High School students show their community support
Pacific Pines State High School students are helping the community save thousands of dollars in costs with a unique student-led program.
The school’s Boomerang Project, led by Year 11 and 12 students completing their Queensland Certificate of Individual Achievement (QCIA), re-purposes lost or donated school uniforms to the community.
“Since term four, 2023, more than $5000 worth of uniforms have been donated, retrieved, repurposed or returned here at the school,” Inclusion Faculty access advocate Janine Victor said.
“To help prepare our students for life outside of school and give back to the community, our QCIA students meticulously clean the uniforms using our on-site washing machines, dry them and get them ready for their new owner.”
“During our recent parent teacher interview evening, several boxes of uniforms were handed out to incredibly grateful families. One parent was in tears and so appreciative for the help for her grandchildren in her care.”
The QCIA students and school staff also run a food rescue program which ensures food made during home economics classes and events aren’t wasted. Fruit and vegetables from the school’s patch is also often donated to create nutritious meals.
“(The meals) are provided to our wellbeing team in the Youth Hub to ensure students in need have access to food,” Mrs Victor added.
Head of School Troy Olsen said he could not be prouder of the collaborative team work.
“We are incredibly fortunate here at Pacific Pines State High School to have such dedicated students and staff who certainly go above and beyond to give back to our community,” Mr Olsen said.
“With a student cohort of more than 2300 students we are a growing school catering to families who have various needs and this is just one of the many ways we are helping to support our school community.”
Sports equipment destroyed in arson attack at school
Police are investigating a suspicious fire at a Gold Coast school that saw sports equipment destroyed – the second blaze to affect the school in just 16 months.
‘It was astounding’: Full story of students’ heroic actions finally revealed
Three weeks after their school bus crashed when the driver had a heart attack the full story of what these students did next can finally be revealed, with police and paramedics heaping praise on their remarkable actions.