2006
SSHS pioneered "Middle Phase of Learning" project for the State Government. The school also pioneered the "Green and Healthy School" program. Mrs Ward and the P and C totally reorganized the canteen's cuisine!
"Farm Fest" was a highlight of the year when their exhibits achieved a well-publicised "City" success over their many country rivals. This year the Film and TV students filmed lots of our activities including the animal nursery at the Gold Coast show. The nursery presented a menagerie which included an Ostrich!
The 2006 musical was written by a staff member Rachel Parrett, Oztraya! This was a comical extravaganza which featured songs from Australian rock legends which fitted in to a BBQ theme. Brilliant choreography in contemporary styles as well as jazz, was very special.
This year students attended the Model United Nations Assembly which was sponsored by the Rotary Organisation. Students felt that the whole experience was very insightful and they enjoyed interacting with student from many other schools. One of the students Kristin van Saldern was selected to be in the only Queensland Team to go to Canberra for the National MUNA.
The Gifted and talented students in the special program for years 8, 9 and 10 students were encouraged to challenge themselves in individual and group tasks.
2007
New buildings were constructed. The first to come was the Automotive and Construction facility. Work also began on the Enterprise Centre which would later, by 2008, provide new direction for Catering and Hospitality students with facilities such as Industrial style kitchens. Also Health Education was housed in the building and a Convention facility and Coffee shop was in the mix. The farm acquired a new food processing facility.
The school welcomed its first onsite Chaplain to the school and also a Smith Family office at the school. This further demonstrates the caring and supportive nature of services offered for student welfare.
Also introduced this year was a larger suite of vocational programs to academic and personal experience programs.
A trip to Vietnam organised by Mrs Bella Meagher visited several UNESCO World heritage sites; cities from North to South. A highlight was a visit to the Australian War Memorial at Long Tan.
A successful 90th year reunion was organized by Elizabeth Maradeen and the ALUMNI's committee. Old friends shared memories and new one were made.
The SEU won Champion school at the Gold Coast Rec and Sports Athletic carnival and they also won first place in the Gold Coast Eisteddfod Song and Dance! Many of the SEU students obtained Work experience placements. There were excursions and community outings but a visit by Scott Sattler from the Gold Coast Rugby league team was a real thrill.
The Musical this year was the very unusual and very funny, Alice in Wonderland which embraced the Pantomime style. Audiences loved the "twisted nature" of the presentation of the much loved Lewis Carroll classic.
2008
The School focused forward and saw the "Future leaders" pathway to leadership of self, discovery of purpose and passion. The Program was launched with inspirational speakers and presenters Glen Gerryn and Keith Abrahams who were past students. This was designed to help more of Southport's students to "dream large and passionate dreams and to take action to fulfil them" as the Principal Mr Stones wrote in IBIS.
The Design and technology students attended a Building and Construction Expo at Robina. The Seniors built a 15 metre internal wall upstairs in the Administrative Building to provide a larger meeting room!
Some year 9 and 10 students won a Griffith Science and Engineering challenge "Gold Fever" Bridge construction and testing, showing budding structural engineers in the making.
Marine Studies and Marine Aquatic Practices was growing and developing. Boating practice and excursions were conducted along Broadwater Slipping Sands- North Stradbroke Island. Year 11 Biology students participated in an overnight excursion to Hastings Point which studied human impact on rocky foreshore ecosystems.
The annual ski trip visited Perisher which is part of the Kosciuszko National Park. There was a big dump of snow which enabled 'better boarding and skiing' which caused lots of fun, laughter and tumbles but it was cold!
The Wiz exploded on to the stage as the year's musical. It was full of brilliant entertainers, amazing costumes and makeup plus weird and wonderful creatures. The musical featured the talents of Mr Trevor Love as the Wiz in his final year at Southport High, both as student and teacher.
2009
The Enterprise Centre, a very modern building, was opened with the cutting of a giant ribbon. A performance by Adrienne Kenafake with her acrobatic "silks", enthralled the crowd. There was also fantastic food created in the new kitchens by the catering and hospitality students. This new centre offers the chance in new directions in Food technology and Catering courses.
Agricultural Studies saw SSHS recognised as a serious contender in the beef cattle arena. Past student Matthew Haynes allowed SHS to show one of his bulls and was awarded 3rd place at the Brisbane Ekka. New gardens with plant propagation shade house were redesigned and renovated. Compost and soil bins were constructed and new irrigation systems installed, which produced a successful harvest of an assortment of vegetables.
This year also saw the resurgence of Art Education culminating in a successful Art Expo.
Drama students enjoyed success once again at the Gold Coast Secondary Schools' drama Festival. They also enjoyed and exciting performance from ZEN ZEN ZO, a specialty physical theatrical company. Mr James Andersen was Artist in Residence, a new concept for SSHS.
The Queensland Premier, the Hon. Anna Bligh and Cabinet held the first ever Community Cabinet at the school. A former student, Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Russ Crane was a guest in the school's leadership program.
Mr Rob Stones retired as Principal and was farewelled after nine years at the helm.
2010
Mr Steve McLuckie was appointed as the new Principal.
The School began to look physically very different. The Discovery Centre for Science was built, providing 2 new science labs and 2 computer labs with two new fully equipped computer labs. Staffrooms were upgraded, Basketball courts were improved and the Tennis Centre opened, giving a fantastic new sports facility for both students and the public alike. The school grounds were given a facelift with new plantings in the quadrangle and better pathways around the school were constructed. Financial assistance for this work was given by Local Member Mr Peter Lawlor and local Gold Coast Councillor Mrs Dawn Critchlow
Sadly, the Art Block was once again the victim of an arson attack and was destroyed. This caused a heartbreaking loss of student work and valuable equipment. The old C and D blocks and Home Economics buildings were demolished for structural reasons! One of the buildings was a pre-fab structure left over from British WW2 stock and located at the site in the late 50's. At one time it served as the administration block and also almost burnt down! The removal of these buildings created open space at the Smith Street frontage.
Teaching and Learning improvements were attained across all levels of the curriculum. SSHS joined the Literacy and Numeracy national partnership to improve students' achievements and to support teachers to develop and enhance skills.
As Mr McLuckie commented about the happenings around the school in the newly renamed Yearbook, Reflections, "If you blink, you will miss it".