Dakabin State High School was established in 1978 and is located on the northern side of Brisbane approximately 30 kilometres from the Central Business District. The school’s large feeder areas include the suburbs of Dakabin, Kallangur, Narangba, Undurba, Dayboro, Kurwongbah and Petrie. It is conveniently positioned with good access by road, rail and bus.
Dakabin State High School’s vision is to be a high performing school that develops a culture of learning that will enable students to be resilient, healthy and successful citizens in the 21st century. The school believes learning is a lifelong process of transforming information and experiences into knowledge, skills, behaviours and positive attitudes.
The school’s goal for students who study at Dakabin is to equip them for future success. The school achieves this through high teaching standards, encouraging commitment to study, rewarding appropriate behaviour and choosing subjects that will help in the selected career path. Through the promotion of learning communities, which are local, national and international relationships, the quality of education will gain purpose.
Subjects/Electives Years 7 to 10: The Junior Secondary Schooling faculty also oversees the NAPLAN test including the preparation for NAPLAN. Results from Year 7 testing with other school-based testing are used to develop targeted programmes for students who may struggle with Literacy and Numeracy. These programmes are designed to run alongside the core English and Maths programmes but involve smaller class sizes, more scaffolding of learning and assessment and more one-to-one teacher/student time. Two English Studies classes provide an alternative subject for approximately 30 students. Likewise two Maths Studies classes provide support for approximately 30 students. Each of these classes are taught by learning support staff.
Subjects/Electives Years 11 and 12: Students in Years 11 and 12 are able to study a wide range and variety of subjects. Subject choices – determined in Year 10 – will be determined by a student’s intended future pathway. Students undertaking a Tertiary pathway choose from a range of Authority subjects (minimum of 5). Results from these subjects contribute to the calculation of an Overall Position (OP) which is used by universities to gain a place in a tertiary course. The QCE is Queensland’s senior schooling qualification. It is a school-based qualification awarded to young people who are eligible at the completion of the senior phase of learning, usually at the end of Year 12.
Sport: The school is a member of the Pine Rivers District Sport organisation and offers Dakabin SHS Community Gym, Inter-House Carnivals, Inter-School Sport, participation in junior inter-school sport in the Pine Rivers District, competing against most of the local and surrounding schools, Representative Sport and Sports Awards Night. The school’s sporting program has Years 8/9 playing in an optional Thursday afternoon interschool program. In Years 10-12 Sport is optional, but large numbers participate in an interschool competition on a weekly basis. Opportunities are provided for district, regional, state and national representation. Also offered is a Basketball Academy Program in conjunction with the Northside Wizards.
Extracurricular activities: Dakabin provides all students of diverse interests a great variety of options for extra-curricular participation. THE ARTS – Instrumental Music – Strings Group, Concert Band, Big Band, Vocal Groups, Talent Quests, Dance and Drama Performances, Concerts, Dance Squad, Art Shows, School Dances. CITIZENSHIP – Student Council, Youth Parliament, World Vision (40 Hour Famine Appeal), Lions Youth of the Year, Blue Earth Committee (environmental awareness and action) , Red Shield Appeal fundraiser, Anzac Parade. COMPETITIONS – QDU debating, chess, curriculum based eg Maths Team Challenge, UNSW Maths competition, writing competition in English, UNSW English competition, Chemistry competition, Geography, Chefs of the Future, Holden Maryborough Technology Challenge, Ministerial Art Awards. CATTLE AND SHEEP SHOW TEAMS – compete in local shows – a very successful aspect of the school farm and Agriculture program. Students participate in Show handling (managing a large animal like a bull in an arena judging environment) as well as Junior judging competitions. At the local shows both the students and the animals are judged, often against those from professional animal studs. The many championship ribbons are displayed in the Agricultural Department. LOTE – an extension program sees students travel to Japan approximately every second year to be immersed in the culture through home stays with host families and by visiting sites of Japanese cultural significants. Dakabin also hosts students from Japan each year.
Welfare and personal development: Guidance Officer, School-Based Police Officer, School Nurse, Indigenous Liaison Officer, School Chaplain, a Youth Support Coordinator, and a Student Support Room Coordinator.
Special features: Academic Achievers Program – High achieving students are mentored and are provided with a range of University experiences; One-to-One Laptop Program – a voluntary laptop program for students in Year 9, 10, 11 and 12; English as a Second Language Program – the ESL unit provides extensive support for students from all parts of the region; Learning Support in Literacy and Numeracy – students struggling in these areas are provided extra support in small class groupings in Year 8 and 9; Indigenous Student Program – an Indigenous Teacher Aide provides extra support in Literacy and Numeracy, school attendance and employment opportunities; Special Education Unit – provides support for students with disabilities; Reading Program – students with low reading ability are exempted from LOTE in year 8 and are placed in an intensive reading program; Student Leadership Program – allows students to nominate for portfolio captain positions in areas of interest and passion both in our junior and senior cohorts; Instrumental Music Programs – caters for all instruments, including strings. The stage band is a regular performer in a range of competitions; Hospitality program – recognised by industry for its quality outcomes; award winning Agriculture Program.