TSS P&C Receives $14,000 Glencore Grant

Every year Glencore Coal runs its Queensland P&C Grants Program, offering up to $14,000 to eligible applicants. This year, a total of 14 school P&C’s across Queensland received a grant through the program, including three local recipients.

Capella State School P&C was awarded a $14,000 grant for their outdoor classroom; Capella State High School P&C received $14,000 for their outdoor gym fitness fanatic; and Tieri State School (TSS) P&C received $14,000 for upgrades to their Performing Arts Centre!

Tieri News spoke to TSS P&C President, Michael McGrath, to find out more…

Michael, congratulations to you and the P&C on being awarded this injection of funding. What led you to apply for the grant?
The Performing Arts Centre (PAC) plays a vital role in delivering the Arts curriculum to TSS students, from Prep all the way through to Year 6. It provides them with essential skills and experiences across various artistic disciplines.

In addition to being a teaching space, the PAC is used to host events. Having both attended and run several events at the PAC, the P&C became acutely aware of the limited multimedia resources in the facility. It takes many hours of setup and pack-up to do anything special or spectacular for the students and, as a result, the venue only lends itself to hosting basic events.

As a P&C, we decided to apply for a Glencore Coal P&C Grant in the hope that we could improve the multimedia facilities.

What impact do the limitations of the existing multimedia system have on the school, teachers and students?
At present, the facility is equipped with only minimal and outdated resources, including obsolete multimedia equipment, which limits the teaching and learning opportunities. For example, there is no projector or screen for presentations; there is no fixed lighting system for performances; and whilst the sound system is good quality, it’s not suited for a space that size, and is also not an intuitive system to operate. This is incredibly frustrating for teachers and students alike, as well as for any event organisers using the space for functions.

What will the multimedia upgrade include?
We’re excited to have purchased a host of brand new, state-of-the-art items for the PAC, including:
• A wall-mounted short-throw cinema-quality projector
• A huge 3-metre motorised projector screen
• A permanently installed FX lighting system, with a wireless programmable console
• 2 x high-powered wall-mounted speakers
• A professional performance wireless microphone kit
• A sound mixer with Bluetooth connectivity, that is simple and easy to use.

When will the upgrade take place?
All the equipment and hardware has been ordered and arrived in time for installation during the September school holidays, ready for Term 4.

How will the new system benefit the teachers and students?
This upgrade to the PAC will significantly enhance students’ access to high-quality arts education, enabling richer, more meaningful participation in creative practices. The improved facilities will not only support the development of students’ artistic interests and abilities, but also foster their social, emotional, and intellectual growth, helping them to reach their full potential.

How would you describe the Glencore Coal grant application process?
The process is done through a very simple and easy-to-navigate online portal, with lots of support offered by the Glencore Coal team. I’d particularly like to thank Kate French from the Oaky Creek Coal Environment & Community team for inviting and encouraging the TSS P&C to apply for the grant, and Tracey Snedden from Glencore Coal Assets Australia for providing support during the application process.

“I’d also like to thank Susan Spackman, Principal at TSS, for her strong endorsement of the project which no doubt helped get our application over the line. I’m excited to get the new system up and running, and to see what fun the students – and teachers…and us! – have with it.”