Students
Inter-Island Activities
The four sporting houses or islands are Brampton, Carlisle, Keswick and St. Bees. The islands keenly contest a wide variety of cultural, sporting and academic competitions.
These include:
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Inter-School Sport
Students have the opportunity to trial for selection in Mackay and District representative teams via a series of Trial Days. These trials cater for a wide range of sports and successful sportspersons have the opportunity to advance on to Regional and/or State Trials.
Because Year 8s have limited opportunities to compete in Mackay and District Trials, they are encouraged to participate in a Year 8 Sports Day where they compete socially against other Year 8s from District schools in a wide range of sports.
Besides Inter-School Sport which focuses on the selection of Mackay and District teams, students have the opportunity to compete in a variety of school-based state-wide competitions whereby school teams compete in a series of elimination games in order to advance onto district, regional and state levels of competition. Our school has competed in a number of competitions including the Hockey, Netball, Rugby League, Rugby Union and Australian Football.
Students on Level 2 are not able to represent the school. Level 3 students may negotiate participation.
Musical Production / Theatrical Performances
Students from all year levels are given many opportunities to participate in a wide variety of productions.
Performances are a mixture of:
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small scale productions (puppet shows, theatre restaurant activities, arts soiree and talent quests) held primarily in Pioneer's own theatre complex;
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large scale musicls involving over 100 students and teachers, three solid months' preparation and heaps of fun;
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participation in dance activities - eg Rock Eisteddfod and the annual Rock Pop Mime which is part of the Sugartime Festival
Students who do not wish to perform are given the opportunity to offer their services for the numerous tasks "behind the scenes"
Performance Groups
Students who learn advanced brass, woodwind and percussion instruments will be asked to be included in a variety of ensemble situations. The school already has a regular Junior Band, Concert Band and Stage Band. These groups rehearse weekly and perform at occasions such as school assemblies, Arts Festival, Eisteddfod, N.Q. Junior Jazz Festival, Awards Night and with other individuals and groups like Don Burrows and the Mackay Big Band.
Choir
The Pioneer State High School singers go by the name “Pioneer Voices”.
Pioneer Voices is a fledgling group in the school’s strong musical program and is open to students of all ages who like to sing, improve their singing voice or become more expert on their musical instrument.
Members of Pioneer Voices are involved in many activities and performance opportunities in the Mackay community such as the Mackay Festival of Arts Lunchbox Concerts, the Mackay Eisteddfod, as well as supporting school events and having an annual choral camp. Uniform is formal school shirt and tie or, for special occasions, white formal shirt with black trousers or skirt.
Co-Curricular Activities
These include a wide variety of opportunities for participation like
(a) National academic competitions;
(b) OptiMinds;
(c) CQU Science Quiz;
(d) Science Olympiads;
(e) Business ventures;
(f) Catering for functions;
(g) Japanese visitors on tour;
(h) Local competitions eg. Pacific Coal Maths;
(i) Mackay Show entries;
(j) Mackay Eisteddfod entries;
(k) Arts Council performances;
(l) Motivational Media.
Year 8 and Year 11 camps will be conducted. The Year 8 camp emphasises the co-operation within a group, while the Year 11 camp seeks to provide Year 11 students with some leadership skills, self‑confidence and a desire to be involved in school activities as leaders of the student body, when they are in Year 12.
