Forest Lake State High School is preparing to celebrate 25 years of growth, memories and community connection, with anniversary events planned for current students, alumni, staff and local families.
The school will host an open day on Saturday, 13 June, before holding a gala dinner on Saturday, 25 July in its activity centre, which will be transformed for the evening.
Principal Sally Hawkes said the milestone was a chance to reflect on the school’s history while also looking ahead to the next generation of Forest Lake students.
Ms Hawkes said the school’s early years reflected a period of rapid change for both the school and the wider suburb.
“It was a pretty big time of change for Forest Lake as a community,” she said.
Ms Hawkes said the school grew from about 208 students in its early years to more than 1000 students within about five years, while the Forest Lake community also expanded rapidly.
“The first five years of the school was a time of really big growth for the school, but also for the community,” she said.
As part of the anniversary, staff and students have been reviewing 25 years of yearbooks, archival photos, video footage and school artefacts.
The school is preparing a 25th anniversary yearbook, students will receive a commemorative badge and a time capsule is also planned as part of the celebrations.
Ms Hawkes said one of the major anniversary projects was a short student-led performing arts production exploring the question: if the school could talk, what would it say about itself over the past 25 years?
The production will draw on interviews with foundation staff, past principals and community members and is expected to be performed during the school’s major anniversary events.
The open day will also feature an alumni band, bringing former instrumental music students back together across different decades.
Ms Hawkes said the arts had long been an important part of the school’s identity.
“The arts will be a real showcase,” she said.
Two staff members who have been with the school since its foundation, Trudy Lavery and Lex McBean, have also reflected on the milestone.
Ms Lavery said she felt “incredibly privileged” to have been part of the school’s journey from the beginning.
“It has been truly rewarding to watch so many students grow and develop into mature, thoughtful young people, alongside witnessing the transformation of the school itself,” she said.
“As we look to the future, it is inspiring to see the next generation of teachers — some of whom were once our students — now stepping into these roles.
“It is a reminder that the school is in very good hands.”
Mr McBean said each year brought new students, new highs and new struggles, but he was still enjoying life in the classroom.
“I’m still here and still loving maths,” he said.
“The next major step for me is retirement. But how can I consider that, when I still love teaching, still love being with young people and still love sharing the beauty of mathematics.”
Ms Hawkes said the school still had about 20 staff members who had been part of Forest Lake SHS during its first five years.
“There’s quite a strong contingent of people who are still here,” she said.
“There’s quite a strong kind of presence of people who come to Forest Lake and don’t want to leave.”
Looking ahead, Ms Hawkes said the school would continue building pathways for students across areas including STEM, science, maths, health, creative industries, sport, the arts and esports.
She said the goal was not just high achievement for a small group, but meaningful opportunities for all students.
“It’s not just excellence for a few people, it’s excellence for every student,” she said.
Ms Hawkes said she wanted students to leave Forest Lake SHS not only with good results, but with purpose, confidence and a sense of direction.
“They’re not just attending school — they’re part of something,” she said.
She said the anniversary was ultimately about recognising the people who had shaped the school while keeping a strong focus on the future.
“We’re trying to honour the past, celebrate the present and then focus on who we are and who we want to be moving forward,” Ms Hawkes said.
