Exceptional Learning
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Building Confidence
Westside offers a wide range of enriching opportunities for our Secondary students. These are founded on the understanding that students feel a greater sense of belonging when working together. As they become involved in activities that suit their interests this leads to a sense of personal wellbeing, and builds greater confidence.
Mooting
Mooting requires teams to provide oral submissions based on arguments of law regarding a case being appealed, either as Appellant or Respondent. This competition is conducted in a simulated court environment and the judge or judges can interject to challenge a barrister on a point of law, a fact of the matter, or a precedent. Mooting can be intense and qualifies as extension learning for our Legal Studies students.
We congratulate our Secondary Mooting Team which won the University of Southern Queensland Secondary Schools 2024 Moot Competition. One of our students also was presented with the award for Overall Best Performing Barrister.
Sporting Opportunities
Westside has developed a strong sporting culture based on integrity, sportsmanship and skill development. We approach sports with the precept of providing meaningful sporting opportunities. We encourage each student to participate in some way, through either of two streams of sport - Focus sports and Social sports.
Competitive Sport
Each year, the Focus sports stream offers the opportunity to trial, and be involved in well recognised and established competitions for Girls Netball, Volleyball, Football, and Boys Basketball. The social sports stream allows students to get involved, learn skills, and have fun in the sports of Touch Football, Netball, Girls Basketball and Rugby League. These opportunities are complemented by the Christian Secondary Sports Association Queensland (CSSAQ) one-day carnivals, often the highlight of the season!
Westside also often participates in the Queensland All Schools weekend competitions, plus competitive opportunities through Central Districts and Metropolitan West in team sports, and Swimming, Cross Country and Athletics. Students who achieve well in these three disciplines will also compete at CSSAQ competitions.
Secondary Houses
Our Secondary Campus Houses are Cuthbert, Gould, Nicholls, and Chappell. Each House plays a large part in college life. Students get to know their House Captains, build team spirit, and feel part of the school. TAG groups are determined by House, and attend fortnightly House Meetings, along with our main sporting events—swimming, cross country, and athletics. There is healthy competition between our Houses, and competition is not just for the sports savvy. Our House Games include table tennis, volleyball, frisbee golf, and dodgeball. There are also opportunities to compete in theatre, debating, spelling, street art, chess, and 'A Minute to Win It’ games. Depending on students' interests, Running Club and Gym Classes can also be offered.
Science & Engineering Challenge
Each year our Science & Engineering Challenge team gears up to compete with students from other schools. The selection of students for this event is based on their performance and contributions in Year 9 and Year 10 Science.
Lighthouse Arts
Lighthouse Arts is the artistic, creative arm of the co-curricular activities offered at Westside, encompassing dancing, drawing, sculpting, painting, filming, editing, singing, acting, rehearsing and performing. Dedicated teachers and teacher aides work collaboratively to offer our students incredible opportunities to showcase their skills and talents to the College community and abroad. Lighthouse Arts benefits from the College's state-of-the-art Creative Industries Precinct, a purpose-built facility designed to foster collaboration across artistic disciplines, cultivated in a vibrant environment that encourages creativity and practical experience in the arts.
Drama Productions
Each year, Lighthouse Arts prepares and performs a Secondary College Production for students in Year 7 through to Year 12. In some cases, more than one production is offered within a year. Performing to sell-out audiences across multiple nights, our cast and crew gain valuable experience that builds their skills in planning, collaboration and dramatic performance.
Dance Performance Teams
We offer two Dance Performance Teams—a Junior team for Years 7—9, and a Senior team for Years 10—12. Each year, our Dance Performance Teams compete in local and regional eisteddfods, performing pieces showcasing dazzling costumes and engaging choreography across a range of genres including Jazz, Hip Hop, Contemporary and Lyrical. Our Dance programme is now having a generational impact, as dedicated College alumni return each year to help choreograph a number of pieces performed by our teams.
Co-curricular Bands
Students across all Secondary year levels are able to be a part of a number of co-curricular bands at Westside. As the name suggests, our multiple FJR (Funk, Jazz, Rock) Bands play an exciting and energetic repertoire from various genres. The Shiloh Band plays contemporary worship music at our Secondary Shiloh (Chapel) Assemblies which happen twice a term. Students also have the opportunity to join other bands and ensembles as part of the Instrumental Music programme offered at Westside. Our bands benefit from the use of contemporary performance technologies that are available in the Creative Industries Precinct and embedded in the Secondary Music curriculum.