Park Ridge State High School have been named as a state finalist in the Showcase Awards for Excellence in Schools.
The school was nominated in the Excellence in Community Partnerships section for their AFL academy program.
Deputy principal Craig McBrien said the collaboration between the school and their community partners made a positive holistic impact on students.
“Our program doesn’t just focus on AFL but it focuses on the relationship between sport, community and academic achievement,” he said.
“We are lucky to have strong community partnerships with AFL Queensland, the Gold Coast Suns and the Park Ridge Pirates and we have some excellent facilities from that.”
Mr McBrien said the school could potentially win a $30,000 grant if they were successful at the state stage.
“The funding provided with the win would be placed right back into our school and the AFL program,” he said.
“We would look at purchasing new jerseys, further excursions for the students and supportive programs.
“This will allow us to further increase our students outcomes.”
Mr McBrien said the nomination as a state finalist was great recognition for the hard work our forward by the Park Ridge staff.
“We are so excited to be recognised at this level of the awards,” he said.
“It is just a really good reflection that what we are offering is resonating.
“If we achieve the win that would be fantastic.”
Mr McBrien said there had been significant enrollment interest in the program.
“Students in the program have grown from 22 in 2008 to 212 in 2016 with 52 per cent of the participants being female,” he said.
The winners will be announced at a gala dinner in Brisbane on Friday, October 27.
The dinner will be attended by Minister for Education Kate Jones, Department of Education and Training Director-General Doctor Jim Watterston and Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.
