Pine Rivers State High School (Also referred to as Pine Rivers or simply The Pine] is a government state secondary school in the suburb of Strathpine, City of Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia which caters to grade 7 to grade 12 students (11-18 year olds).

First opened in 1964 under Principal William Kemp, Pine Rivers High School is a medium sized school.

Principals

Pine Rivers State High School has had eight principals in its 62-year history. Graham James Sprott was the longest-reigning principal of Pine Rivers High School - leading the school for 21 years from 1976 to 1997. PrincipalYear startedYear endedTotal time in officeWilliam Leslie Kemp196419652 yearsWilhelmus Leonardus Goossens196619661 yearJohn Henry Bowen196719758 yearsGraham James Sprott1976199721 yearsJanelle Kay Deakin1997201417 yearsJohn Schuh201520173 yearsDoug Watson201820236 yearsRichard James2024current2 years

Captaincy/SRC Year 11 and Year 8 students are announced at the end of year assembly to transition into leadership roles the following year. The role of the school captains is to represent the school at events, ceremonies, and special occasions. They also work as ambassadors on behalf of the school cohort. Within the school community, captains work alongside the Student Representative Council Executive to conduct change within the school. There’s also a junior captaincy team made of people in grade 9, albeit this board has lesser power than the grade 12 captaincy. As of 2025, teacher Josh Nugent, now head of year at grade 11, monitors the SRC (Student Representantive Council). The SRC consists of ambassadors, indigenous captains, school captains, music captains, sports captains, etc.

Sporting houses Prior 2007, Pine Rivers High School was split into four sporting houses: Kulukan, Kuran, Tjingilli and Wandajina. Upon enrolment of the school, students were put into these houses - each of which were allocated a colour that the students could choose to wear on sporting occasions, including swimming carnivals and athletics days. Sporting houseMeaningColourKulukanAnimalsKuranPlantsTjingilliPeopleWandajinaSpirits

In 2007, a choice was made to abandon the previous system of houses and split the school cohort into two sporting houses. All students (and teachers) with a surname ranging from 'A' to 'L' were assigned to the 'Pine Panthers', whereas 'M' to 'Z' were allocated to the 'Rivers Rhinos'. Sporting houseColourPine PanthersRivers Rhinos

In 2027, the sport teams will revert back to 4 after debates from the sporting council / general administration. The names of the new teams have yet to be revealed. This change asks us, “Why did we change it in the first place?” And more importantly, “If the current system wasn’t broken, why try and ‘fix’ it?” Change doesn’t hurt, but these questions must be answered.

Publications PRISM Pine Rivers also releases an annual yearbook, entitled "PRISM" (The P.R. standing for ‘Pine Rivers’). This magazine is a free yearbook available to the students and teachers at the conclusion of the school year and includes photos of various school events, list of annual highlights, achievements and a complete record of the student and teacher cohort. Previously, the publication has been compiled and designed by a class of Year 12 Senior Students known as the 'PRISM Committee', however since 2015 the magazine has been formed by a group of older students and teachers, most notably a Year 10 Information Communication and Technology class.

Events Pine Rivers High School has an extensive background in both communal and school-based events. The various causes of the events range from the general enjoyment of students (walkaton, swimming/athletics carnival, etc) to showcasing the school to the public. The school also promotes various public events including Harmony Day, Anzac Day and NAIDOC Week.

EXPO The school hosts an annual expo, which primarily serves as a way of showcasing the school to the public. Members of the general public, typically graduates from primary schools, attend the EXPO to gain a general feel of the school's atmosphere, and can sample different activities available from the school curriculum. Traditionally, EXPO showcases aspects of departments including the school's multi award-winning performing arts program. Typically, the performances include the String Ensemble, Concert Band and Stage Band, and the various dance squads the school offers.

Musical For nearly 50 years (with the exemption of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic), Pine Rivers State High School has annually staged a musical theatre production. While the production is decided by the members of Performing Arts staff, the musical includes members of the school's students. After a vigorous creation period, the musical is performed to paying members of the general public. Pine Rivers' annual musical is held around the months of March–May, and is performed over a 3-day period of Wednesday, Friday and Saturday on its respective week, with a Matinée for local primary schools to view the Musical on Tuesday morning. The school boasts the reputation of never performing the same musical twice, and celebrated its unique performance standard in 2006 by staging a remake of the 'Wizard of Oz', entitled 'The Wiz', to commemorate its original performance years earlier. The musicals vary in theme, with the most recent, 40th production, being a rendition of Little Shop of Horrors.

On 2 September 2016, Pine Rivers State High School announced that the 41st annual musical, would be Disney's "The Little Mermaid" which was performed in late April 2017.

Full list of Pine Rivers State High School musicals YearProduction2026Mamma Mia!2025The Addams Family2024School of Rock2023The Wiz2022Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory2021Grease2020Absolutely nothing COVID-192019We Will Rock You2018Popstars The Musical2017The Little Mermaid2016Little Shop of Horrors2015High School Musical2014Fame2013Hairspray2012Seussical2011Back to the 80s2010Godspell2009Burgertown2008Disco Inferno2007Bugsy Malone2006The Wiz2005Johnny Rock2004Sweet Charity2003Phantoad of the Opera2002Return to the Forbidden Planet2001The Outsiders2000Guys and Dolls1999Blues Brothers1998Glamalot1997Oklahoma!1996Annie1995Grease1994Best Picture, Offbeat1993SherWoodstock1992Hound of Music1991Smithy1990Bats1989Alice1988The Sentimental Bloke1987How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying1986The Wizard of Oz1985Camelot1984Sheik, Rattle 'n' Roll1983Tin Pan Ali1982Man of Steel1981Joseph and His Technicolour Dream Coat1980No No Nanette1979Calamity Jane1978The Pyjama Game1977The Boyfriend Source:

Walkathon The school's major fundraiser, the walkathon is a sporting/social event in which students walk from the school to Pine Rivers Park, Strathpine. Although optional, enthusiastic participation of the students typically results in a dress up to suit a certain theme that the students have selected. Throughout the years the themes have had extreme variations, from the "Mad Hatter's Derby Day" to "Sparrow Invades Neverland" to even "favorite meme", whereas in recent years the school has adopted themes such as "Heroes and Villains", Disney and "Myths and Legends". In 2025, the theme was “Dynamic Duos” which focused on group costumes instead of individual costumes.

Tuckshop The school (as typical to Australian schooling) has a tuckshop, the Australian name for a school cafeteria or canteen. It sells large flavoured milk for $4.50, protein milk for $5.50, donuts for $3 on Fridays only, etc. A student in grade 10 who has wished to remain anonymous has been trying to add meal deals to the menu since 2024, but the process is taking longer than expected by a few years. Meetings have been conducted on this effort.

Notable alumni Annette Shun Wah, SBS TV and ABC TV and radio presenter, producer Brenden Hall, Paralympic swimmer Liam De Young, Olympic hockey team Shane King, politician Jessicah Schipper, Olympic swimmer Cameron Smith (born 1993), golfer

See also List of schools in Queensland Education in Australia

References

External links Official website