Canberra’s newest school, Shirley Smith High School, which will open next year, has chosen its logo and uniform.
The government sought input from the community and from future students on three design options for the school’s logo and uniform.
The community chose the ‘Curly S’ logo, which represents the initials in the name Shirley Smith.
The community’s preferred colour for the logo is ‘fresh green’. The student uniforms have both the Curly S logo on the chest, as well as the handwritten S design on the uniform body.
“The logo and uniform have been decided by the local community, and they look absolutely fantastic,” Yvette Berry, ACT Minister for Education, said.
The school honours Shirley Smith AM MBE (1921-1998), a Wiradjuri woman and prominent activist. She was a founding member of many important community services in Redfern, including the Aboriginal Medical Service, Aboriginal Legal Service, the Aboriginal Housing Company, and the Aboriginal Children’s Service. She was involved in the establishment of the Foundation for Aboriginal Affairs and in ongoing activism for land rights for Aboriginal people. Her advocacy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people influenced other communities to establish similar services.
Shirley Smith High School will cater for up to 800 year 7 to 10 students. Its first principal will be Rebecca Pearce.
“Shirley Smith High School is the latest milestone in the ACT Government’s big school build,” Ms Berry said.
“I look forward to the first day of the 2024 school year and welcoming new students into Shirley Smith High School, the ACT’s 91st public school.”
