Blaxland High School

Summary

Blaxland High School is a government-operated comprehensive secondary school located in Blaxland, a suburb in the Blue Mountains region of New South Wales, Australia.

Blaxland High School
Location
Map
,
Australia
Coordinates33°45′18″S 150°36′36″E / 33.75500°S 150.61000°E / -33.75500; 150.61000
Information
School typeGovernment-operated comprehensive secondary school
MottoA School of Excellence, Opportunity and Success
School districtRegional North
Educational authorityNSW Department of Education
PrincipalEmma Le Marquand
Teaching staff74.3 FTE (2023)[1]
Years712
Enrolment981[1] (2023)
Campus typeSuburban
Colour(s)Blue, white and red    
Websiteblaxland-h.schools.nsw.gov.au
Map

Established in 1977, the school enrolled approximately 1,000 students in 2018, from Year 7 to Year 12, of whom four percent identified as Indigenous Australians and eleven percent were from a language background other than English.[1] The school is operated by the NSW Department of Education.[2]

Sexual Assault Case edit

In 2019 a Music teacher, David Leishman was found guilty of sexually touching another person. At the time, the pupil was 15 years old.[3]

Leishman was sentenced to 12 months in prison in April at Penrith District Court on the touching charges, with a nine-month non-parole period. On the kissing accusation, he was sentenced to 13 months in prison with a nine-month non-parole period.[4]

Chemical spill incident edit

In February 2019, the school was evacuated after a hazardous chemical spill that occurred in the Science Lab store room.[5] Calcium Carbide powder is highly explosive if contacted with water, resulting in the school being evacuated as a precaution by the St Mary's Fire and Rescue NSW team who responded to the incident. There were no injuries to teachers or students.

Cars for Refugees edit

In 2018, Shaun Halden's Industrial Arts class set out on a project to rebuild cars that were donated to the school that would then be donated to refugee families.[6] Mr Halden was introduced to the project by the Blue Mountains Refugee Support Group, which was hoping to find cars for refugees in need, and Halden set to get his students involved.

Notable alumni edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c https://www.myschool.edu.au/school/41836
  2. ^ "Blaxland High School". Blue Mountains Australia. Stralia Web. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  3. ^ Palin, Megan (13 November 2019). "Police accuse Sydney high school teacher of sexually assaulting student". News.com.au.
  4. ^ "Teacher jailed". Blue Mountains Gazette. 5 July 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  5. ^ Cunningham, Ilsa. "Blaxland High School evacuated after chemical spill". Blue Mountains Gazette. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  6. ^ Josh, Butler. "This Aussie School is Giving Cars To Refugees". 10Daily. Network Ten. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  7. ^ Nageshwar, Pranesh. "High excitement as Jessica Fox goes back to school with Olympic medals". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  8. ^ "Noemie Fox finds her form at Under 23 Canoe Slalom World Championships". Blue Mountains Gazette. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  9. ^ "Top honour for former Blaxland athlete Amanda Reid". Blue Mountains Gazette. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  10. ^ "Retiring Panthers captain Peter Wallace as tough as they come". Blue Mountains Gazette. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  11. ^ Lewis, B. C. ""Adam Giles' journey from Blaxland High to running the Northern Territory"". Blue Mountains Gazette. Retrieved 9 August 2014.