By JONATHON HOWARD
STUDENTS from Tewantin State School are looking forward to a busy third term after they returned from holidays this week.
But the nerves are beginning to set in as Year 6 students prepare for high school next year.
From the beginning of 2015, Year 7 students will become the first year of high school in Queensland, as part of the Flying Start suite of education reforms.
Moving Year 7 to high school follows other major changes, such as the introduction of a Prep year in 2007 and raising the school starting age by six months in 2008.
The change will also bring Queensland schools into line with the rest of the country, except South Australia.
Tewantin State School Year 6 school captain Lily Canavan said she was really excited about taking the step up to high school one year earlier.
“It’s a really exciting and a little bit scary at the same time – the other students are a lot bigger,” she said.
“But I’m looking forward to getting started in high school.”
Fellow Year 6 school captain Harry Baker said he was keen to see the curriculum.
“I’m just hoping to do my best and focus on the curriculum,” he said.
Tewantin State School principal Neil Jenkins said the school was arranging several field trips for younger students to visit Noosa State High School and Sunshine Beach State High in the coming weeks.
“It’s important our Year 6 students feel comfortable in making the transition to high school,” Mr Jenkins said.
“So our field trips are designed to help them gain a greater understanding of high school life.”
Mr Jenkins has also revealed a range of exciting announcements for Tewantin State School.
“We’re hosting our Year 4-7 athletics carnival on 30-31 July,” he said.
“There’s also a big announcement that Busby Marou will be visiting the school soon.”
Busby Marou are an Australia country duo originally from Rockhampton.
The duo won the the Indigenous Award at Brisbane’s Q Song Awards and took out a Deadly for Most Promising New Talent in Music in 2010.
Mr Jenkins said the Busby Marou visit was part of the school’s NAIDOC Week celebrations.
“It’s really important to have a range of events and activities in place to celebrate NAIDOC Week and a visit from Busby Marou will be great for the students,” Mr Jenkins said.
To find out more about Tewantin State School including enrolments phone: (07) 5335 8888.
