The Kooralbyn International School

Infobox Aust school private
name = The Kooralbyn International School


motto = Absol Fiducia
established = 1985 (original)
type = P - 12 Co-Educational
denomination = Non-Denominational
slogan =
key_people =
fees =
city = Kooralbyn
state = Queensland
country = Australia
enrolment = 151 (2006)
num_employ = 22 teachers
revenue =
products =
colours = Maroon, Grey
homepage = http://www.tkis.qld.edu.auThe Kooralbyn International School (TKIS) is an independent, co-educational, boarding and day school, located in Kooralbyn, about 64 km south of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

TKIS offers classes from prep to grade 12. [http://www.tkis.qld.edu.au/] According to the school's website, a 'graduate school' offering post-secondary courses in Business, Technology and TESOL is expected to open in 2009.

History

The school was originally founded in 1985, at a site on the banks of Cannon Creek now known as the 'Lower campus'. However in the mid-1990s, it was largely relocated to a nearby hillside after flooding incidents in 1990 [http://www.bom.gov.au/hydro/flood/qld/fld_history/brisbane_history.shtml] and 1991 caused extensive damage to the school. [http://www.tkis.qld.edu.au/ss_about_history.html] A wooden pillar from one of the school's original buildings still stands on the grounds, as a monument to these events.

TKIS closed in 2002 due to funding issues, but re-opened in 2004 with a new Principal, Mr Geoff Mills, new staff and new financial backing.

TKIS has a history of producing very notable graduates and many successful sportsmen and women. Despite being a small school, it is the only school in Australia responsible for producing TWO 'Young Australian of the Year' awardees.

It's current Gifted & Talented Program has been responsible for producing some impressive students including two in 2007 who were accepted into local universities at the age of 13 and 15 respectively.

The school runs several mastery and excellence programs including Golf, Equestrian, Aviation and Gifted & Talented.

Former school principal Robin Collins and other senior staff members are also responsible for the creation of the Spring Hill based company 'International Education Services' (IES). This company has, since 1998 successfully run the University of QLD's Foundation Year program in Spring Hill and is seen by many educators as being a leading Foundation Year program. However, the current school administration has no links to International Education Services.

Notable alumni

* Cathy Freeman OAM - Olympic and Commonwealth Games gold medallist for athletics (Class of 1990) (also attended Fairholme College)cite encyclopedia| editor = Suzannah Pearce| encyclopedia = Who's Who in Australia Live!| title = FREEMAN (Cathy) Catherine Astrid Salome| accessdate = 2007-09-21| date = 2006-11-17| year = 2007| publisher = Crown Content Pty Ltd| location = North Melbourne, Vic]
* Rajnesh Singh - Entrepreneur and engineer; Chairman of PICISOC, President of IPv6ForumPacificIslands, Director of pacificIT, Chief Operating Officer at [http://www.patarapacific.com PATARA]
*Scott Hocknull - Vertebrate palaeontologist and assistant curator in Geology at the Queensland Museum; Recipient of the Young Australian of the Year Award 2002; Youngest Australian to hold a museum curatorship; Described and named 10 new species and four new genera [http://www.unsw.edu.au/news/pad/articles/2002/jan/studentYoungAust.html] (Class of 1994)
*Evan Paki - Ambassador of Papua New Guinea (Washington, DC); Recipient of a Fulbright Scholarship (Class of 1992)
* Willy Arthur - Rugby Union player for Papua New Guinea (Class of 1992)
*Adam Scott - Golfer currently placed 3rd in the world; Winner of multiple PGA championships (Class of 1997)
*Dan Teasdale - Founding member of Pandemic Studios Australia; Co-creator of the "Destroy All Humans!" franchise; Senior developer on Harmonix's Rock Band (Class of 1997)
*Andrew Buckle - Golfer (Class of 1999)
*Steven Bowditch - Golfer (Class of 2000)
*Jason Day - Golfer (Class of 2002)
*Jon Riely - Golfer (Class of 1994)
*Gavin Flint - Golfer (Class of 1998)
*Kristian Poole - Businessmen (Class of 1999)
* Cec Condon - Drummer and vocalist of Sydney indie-rock duo, "The Mess Hall" (Class of 1999)
*Alex Dunlop - Lead guitarist and vocalist for the "Granite Lakes" (Class of 1999)
*Yuri Johnson - Bass Guitarist for the "Granite Lakes" (Class of 2001)

References