Pimlico State High School

"For other uses, see Pimlico (disambiguation)."

Pimlico State High School is a high school in Townsville, Australia. It is an under the Queensland public school system. The school places much emphasis on academic achievement and performing arts especially music.

Facilities

The school's performing arts centre is highly regarded in the community and many concerts are held there. The air-conditioned building contains a raised stage complete with theatre lights and sound systems, a rehearsal room, and backstage storage and dressing rooms.

There is a building dedicated to manual arts, and many computer rooms. There are three home economics kitchens which have recently been upgraded to better facilitate the students. All classrooms are air-conditioned.

The school also has two large ovals for various sports and physical education classes. The MPS or multipurpose shelter is extremely large, it is used for school assemblies, indoor sports and for functions with attendances too large to fit in the performing arts centre. At the end of this building there is a sprung gymnastics floor used for physical education classes and for external gymnastic classes.

History

Pimlico State High School first opened in January 1959 with 6 teachers and 168 students. Initially, classes were held in the Exhibition Hall at the Townsville Show Grounds, but by April, B Block was completed and students moved to the present school site. Before the zoning of the land for education purposes, the site known as "Anderson's Paddock" and was used as a military base by American forces during World War II.Fact|date=August 2007

The first Principal of the school was Mr J. A. Wolfe B.Sc., followed by Mr M. J. Bourke B.A. In October 1961, the Minister for Education, Mr Pizzey, officially opened the school.Fact|date=August 2007

In 1962, the school was gazetted as a Class II High School and gained its first Deputy Principal, Mr B. Shaw B.A. The first matriculation students from Pimlico entered the University College of Townsville (then situated on the site of the present TAFE College - Pimlico Campus) in 1963.Fact|date=August 2007

In 1964, the school enrolled 500 year 8 students and in 1966 a number of former year 12 students became some of the original undergraduates of the new James Cook University at Douglas. Total student numbers at the school increased rapidly from the mid 1960's, with numbers peaking at 2043 in 1975. In this year, Pimlico State High School has become one of the largest school in term of attending students in Townsville.Fact|date=August 2007

In 1991, the school was gazetted a Band 11 High School.Fact|date=August 2007

Pimlico State High School is currently attended by almost 1500 students, has just updated its musical facilities and is under the reign of newly instated (since the beginning of 2007) Principal, Mr James Sloman. The new Principal has made some drastic changes, particularly to the disciplinary side of management, but all changes to the school have been both positive and hugely beneficial while he has been Principal.

Performing Arts

Pimlico students annually participate in the Festival Of One Act Plays held at the Townsville's Civic Theatre. Also, the students of Pimlico High annually hold a variety concerts called 'Pimlico Presents' (normally around August) featuring acts such as dancing, humorous short dramas and rock bands. The school offers dance and drama as educational subjects from grades 9-12.

tudent Organisations

Pimlico High School offers a range of English oriented Extracurricular activities in which its school attendants may participate in at will. The school is a part of National Debating Tournamants, the Annual Optiminds Challenge, multiple Inter-State Sporting Teams as well as a competing musical symphony, all of which the students are moer then willing to give up their free time after school and on the weekends to be apart of.

Debating

Students actively participate in inter-school debate competitions, with Pimlico State High School having a rich history of participation. There are several school teams that participate each year, depending on participants age group or skill level, and over the years of participation, Pimlico has enjoyed a long and successful debating history, with several inter-school debating competition wins, and even several inter-state triumphs.

Tournament of the Minds

As well as debating, Pimlico students who excel in the creative thought or acting areas of schooling life, often participate in the yearly Tournament of the Minds or Optiminds competition. Students usually have 6 - 8 weeks of preparation time in which to write, design and perform a small composition piece directly linked to the years Optiminds challenge. As in debating, this is also an inter-school competition, with Pimlico normally submitting several teams, and usually performing quite well with a good percent of their participants making it to state level qualifiers.

Young Diplomats Program

The Young Diplomats Program (YDP) is a newly adopted student program for Pimlico State High School, with the Program only being started by the school in May 2007. Pimlico hopes to have another group of participants for this year's Program, as it is something the school wishes to make a permanent part of its extracurricular program's for future attendants of the school.

porting Programs

Pimlico State High School has a large range of Inter-School competing sports teams, with students forming a variety of Soccer, Hockey, Football, Tennis, Rowing, Swimming and Netball groups. Pimlico students are divided into 4 houses, Royal, Alexandra, Phoenix and Pandanus (all native palm trees) and compete against each other at the Inter-School swimming and athletics carnival along with the cross country to fight for either the house or spirit trophy.

ymphony

Pimlico's renound Symphony Orchestra is a school wide musical collaboration of students from all grades who excel in a particular instrument. Getting into Symphony is a sought position, as it is perceived as having the best musicians. However, Pimlico also has several concert bands featuring students of equal talent who also perform around the country, both competitively or simply to perform.

External links

* [http://www.pimlicoshs.qld.edu.au/ Official Site]
* [http://www.elitestyalz.com/ Pimlico's YAA Team Website 2007]