Kedron State High School is a Queensland public secondary school which is located in the inner-northern suburb of Kedron in Brisbane, Australia.[1] The school was opened in 1956, to meet the needs of the rapidly expanding North Brisbane population whose children were members of the post-World War IIbaby boomer generation.[2]
Kedron is a co-educational and non-denominational school, renowned in Brisbane for offering a Special Education Unit for hearing-impaired students[1] and also for its accredited International Students Program.[2] In 2007, the school joined the Healthy State system and removed a large proportion of junk food including all soft drinks. In an effort to increase student voice in the school the "Kedron Connect" program was announced by acting deputy principal for middle school in February 2023.
History
Kedron State High School is situated on 134,000 m2 (1,440,000 sq ft) of land bordering Kedron Brook and Kedron Park. Originally inhabited by the Aboriginal Enoggera tribe, the site was also owned by Queensland's first Resident Judge, Alfred Lutwyche. From the 1880s onward it was used as a racecourse which was later partially owned by businessman John Wren in 1912.
Kedron was established in 1956; the school derives its name from the Kidron Valley mentioned in the Bible and located in Palestine. Over the years, enrolment has ranged from 274 students in 1956 to 1700 in 1976. Since its inception, almost 20,000 students have attended Kedron. A language census conducted in 2003 revealed 38 languages were spoken within the school community.
On the last week of the third term of the year, Kedron celebrates a week called "Kedron Week" where every day, for one week, assemblies and activities are held to celebrate the many different cultures represented in the school. The school has highly multi-cultural students from foreign countries greet the school on assembles in their own national language. Music, dancing, races, games and stories are usually put to show.[citation needed]
In 2006, Kedron celebrated their 50th anniversary and in 2016, their 60th.
International student program
Kedron makes use of their substantial language and (EAL/D) program to provide homestays to international students as well as offering full enrolments as part of Education Queensland International (EQI).[3] In partner with their sister school located in Japan, Kedron accommodates over 50 students a year from a range of different countries including Japan, Samoa & Germany and offers facilities such
as an international student hub.[4]
Asbestos
During the 2005 school year it was found that a series of seven broken roof tiles containing asbestos where found on school premises. It was later revealed by Queensland education minister Rob Welford that Kedron was one of twenty Queensland schools know at the time to have asbestos in school buildings.[5][6]
An audit conducted by the Queensland Government on asbestos presence in public schools found that an additional 95 schools including Kedron contained Asbestolux on school grounds.
Kedron is a traditional school which focusses primarily on scholastic excellence. Its students have achieved High Distinctions, Distinctions and Credits in Australasian Schools Competitions run by the University of New South Wales in English, Computer Science & Literacy, Science and Writing, and various other competitions. There have also been pupils selected to attend the National Youth Science Forum in Canberra and national winners in the National History Challenge.
In 1975, a Kedron band travelled to Longreach to play at the opening of the Stockman's Hall of Fame. They were followed 30 years later by a new generation of Kedron musicians to play at an anniversary celebration of the Hall's opening.
Kedron's Queensland Core Skills Test (QCS) preparation program has proven highly effective with 8 students in 2009 achieving an Overall Position (OP) of 1, the highest possible rank in the state.
The school participated in the 2022 Year 12 Queensland Debating Union where they beat Brisbane Girls Grammar School in the grand final.[7][8]
Sporting houses
Kedron State High School has four sporting houses each representing a distinct colour in which students are assigned to and represent during in-school sporting events.
^"Principal's welcome". Kedron State High School. 29 May 2020. Archived from the original on 25 February 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^"Principal's welcome". Kedron State High School. 19 May 2022. Archived from the original on 26 October 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2023.