List of Summer Heights High episodes

The following is a list of episodes of the Australian television series Summer Heights High. The series has aired 8 episodes after finishing its run on October 25, 2007.

Episodes

Episode No. Title Original air date Australian viewers
(millions)
1"Episode 1"5 September 2007 (2007-09-05)1.22[1]

Ja'mie King: Ja'mie arrives at Summer Heights High for an orientation day ahead of her first day of the student exchange program. After a tour by principal Ms Margaret Murray, Ja'mie introduces herself at school assembly, bragging about her rich and lavish lifestyle from "one of the most expensive private girls' schools in the state". She tells the students that she feels sorry for them, thinking that they are all povo bogans and "really dumb".

Mr G: Mr G is supporting Head of Drama Mrs Meredith Cotton with the upcoming school production of Anything Goes. He then brags about his life story in performing arts and discusses a typical drama class, where he incorporates his unique teaching style. He sees his role at the school to teach drama and dance to change lives, inspire students, and to encourage the students to dare to dream. Along with his loyal sidekick, science teacher, Mr Rodney Parsons, Mr G criticises and is frustrated by his superior Mrs Meredith Cotton, as well as complaining about the lack of funding and support given by the school's principal.

Jonah Takalua: Jonah first appears in the office of the student welfare officer, Mr Doug Peterson, after a bullying incident at the train station. Mr Peterson later on describes Jonah's family, his school history, his erratic and aggressive behaviour, and his ADHD. In his English class, Jonah is disruptive and rude to others in the class, including to the English teacher, Ms Sarah Wheatley, however he thinks that he gets into trouble because the teachers are racist. Jonah tells of his life ambition to be a professional breakdancer when he is older, and that he is only stupid because he chooses not to be smart.
2"Episode 2"12 September 2007 (2007-09-12)1.38[2]

Ja'mie King: At Ja'mie's first day at Summer Heights High, she is paired with fellow student, Ashley, whom Ja'mie describes as "the fugliest girl I have ever met in my life". Ja'mie is taken to classes and shown around the school by Ashley, and tries to fit in with Ashley and her friends during lunch. After uncomfortable silences caused by the lack of similarities while trying to get to know each other, Ja'mie asks Ashley who the "hot" and "popular" girls of Year 11 are, and promptly asks to be introduced to them. This introduction sees Ja'mie fitting in well with this group of girls and abandons Ashley, however later Ja'mie has an emotional breakdown while remembering the school and friends she left behind while having to deal with the dramatic changes thanks to the exchange program.

Mr G: The Head of Drama, Mrs Meredith Cotton, has had to go to New Zealand due to her mother suddenly falling very ill, and therefore Mr G has been promoted to Acting Head of Drama, renaming his title as "Director of Performing Arts". Thrilled with the temporary promotion, he makes a few changes such as clearing-out Ms Cotton's desk and moving himself in, and walking around the school to pass on the news to students of his new role. He also gets support staff to do work for him, complains about noise from the gym, and requests teachers "under the umbrella of Performing Arts" to fill-in classes and duties he is too busy for; fellow teaching staff complain to the Principal about his now selfish and bossy demeanour. He also unveils plans for a new performing arts centre with a 10,000-seat theatre complex that will require the demolition of demountable classrooms used by the special education students. Mr G then cancels the school production Anything Goes with plans to write his own "better show".

Jonah Takalua: Jonah and his friends participate in an ethnic acceptance program created by the school's student welfare officer, Mr Doug Peterson, called "Polynesian Pathways", and enrolls Jonah into 'a contract' to get Jonah to improve his behaviour and academic levels. With his best friend, Leon, Jonah is also enrolled at Gumnut Cottage for remedial reading lessons five periods a week with Ms Jan Palmer, who seems to understand Jonah better than her fellow teachers and begins to form a connection with him. Jonah is reading at an eight-year-old level, however gets angry at having to read children's books and continues his disruptive behaviour as seen in other classes.
3"Episode 3"19 September 2007 (2007-09-19)1.28[3]

Ja'mie King: Ja'mie decides that it would be a good idea if she dates a younger guy. She therefore targets a Year 7 student, Sebastian – to the shock of her Year 11 friends. However Ja'mie is shocked to discover messages from Sebastian to another girl Year 7 student on his mobile phone but exaggerates the meaning of the texts because they only talk about "saving each other a seat in English". The relationship ends with an emotional confrontation at the school gate.

Mr G: After learning of the death of a Year 11 student, Annabelle Dickson, due to an overdose of ecstasy, Mr G uses the event as his inspiration for the school's new production.

Jonah Takalua: On the day of the junior school dance, Jonah wears pants stained with semen to the school. He is counselled by the school nurse, and ordered to change clothes before the event into clothes which are rather embarrassing for him. During the dance, he becomes involved in a fight with Kieran, a talented Year 7 breakdancer, and is subsequently removed from the event and sent home.
4"Episode 4"26 September 2007 (2007-09-26)1.24[4]

Ja'mie King: Ja'mie's friends discover that she has been badmouthing them to her old friends behind their backs, with posters containing phrases such as "Bogan Alert! Public School Skank Society". They have a falling out, resulting in Ja'mie getting shunned in the school yard as the bad word spreads. Ja'mie has an emotional breakdown, leading to a fiery confrontation between her and the girls. Ja'mie convinces the girls to see the situation from her perspective, which leads them to forget their tiff and all become friends once again.

Mr G: The rigorous auditions for "Annabelle Dickson" The Musical" have begun, with Mr G "casting the net wide. He conducts psychological evaluations on the interested students before traditional auditions and later excludes all of the special-ed students. After call-backs, Mr G splits the students into two groups to deliver the news of who is through.

Jonah Takalua: Jonah attends another remedial English class at Gumnut Cottage, where his drawing skills are encouraged by Ms Palmer. As he does not want to do a class presentation on The Outsiders, he shows Ms Palmer a drawing of his father touching his genitals, leading to a serious meeting between himself, his father, Mr Peterson and Ms Palmer. Jonah is finally pressured into revealing that he made up the allegation to get out of doing his English assignment.
5"Episode 5"3 October 2007 (2007-10-03)1.16[5]

Ja'mie King: Ja'mie asks Head of Senior School Mr Cameron for a Year 11 formal who refuses because it will be disruptive. Ja'mie and her friends decide to go on a protest by starving themselves but it is not successful. Ja'mie then thinks she can fake her way into getting the formal approved if she pretends to be cutting her wrists. Her persuasion causes Mr Cameron to reconsider and allows them to explain why there should be a formal during the school assembly. Ja'mie finally gets her formal.

Mr G: Mr G and his cast are rehearsing for "Annabelle Dickson: The Musical". But the principal, Ms Murray thinks that he's been excluding some of the special-ed students from the musical. Mr G doesn't like the idea and is intrigued when Rodney explains a story about a school that had a mother find human faeces in one of the special-ed rooms therefore making the health department kicking the special-ed students out. Mr G tries this but fails as the school cleaner steam cleans the room in the morning.

Jonah Takalua: Jonah is up to his insulting antics once more. After misbehaving again, Mr Peterson issues him and his gang a group of Year 7 boys who are struggling socially. If they succeed in helping the Year 7 boys adjust, they get to perform their breakdancing demo on assembly. However, Jonah and his friends end up bullying them. Mr Peterson finds out, and gives them a second chance at the school swimming carnival. However, Jonah decides to have some "fun" and sends a picture of his backside to all the teacher's mobile phones.
6"Episode 6"10 October 2007 (2007-10-10)1.19[6]

Ja'mie King: Ja'mie and the girls begin plans for the Year 11 formal. Due to their extravagant plans, however, tickets cost $450 and no one in the school will buy them. When one of the girls decides to bring a disabled hot guy to the formal, Ja'mie decides to get even better 'cred' by inviting Tamsin Walker, a lesbian. Ja'mie asks Tamsin to the formal, insisting that she too is lesbian.

Mr G: "Annabelle Dickson: The Musical" is falling apart just 10 days before opening night; Annabelle Dickson's parents refuse to have the musical focus on their daughter, resulting in Mr G re-working it into "Mr G: The Musical" to tell his life story with a later reference to an Annabelle-like character; the school can't afford his arena seating; his lead actor quits and is replaced by Toby, a child with Down syndrome; and then Mr G's dog, Celine, is hit and killed by a car.

Jonah Takalua: Jonah gets in a fight with his breakdancing nemesis Kieran and is subsequently banned from the "amphitheatre" in the playground where the Polynesian kids traditionally hang out. In retaliation, they vandalise the Year 7 lockers, and Jonah is subsequently suspended for 3 days.
7"Episode 7"17 October 2007 (2007-10-17)1.31[7]

Ja'mie King: Ja'mie and her friends need $5000 to pay the formal DJ upfront, otherwise he will not perform at the formal. Ja'mie suggests a themed dress-up day and fashion parade to raise the money. She presents to the school at assembly, saying that the money will go to AIDS charities in Africa when the funds are really going to finance the formal. The charity days seems to be going well, until Ja'mie is pulled into Mr Cameron's office after Ashley told him the truth; the money will need to go to a real AIDS charity, the formal is at risk of being cancelled, and Ja'mie faces going back to her own school early. Ja'mie brings in her mum to pay for the DJ and the venue for the formal, but Mr Cameron refuses; the formal will be held in the staff room with stereo music and standard decorations, upsetting Ja'mie before being told it's either that or no formal at all.

Mr G: Ms Murray tells Mr G that Mrs Cotton is returning to the school as Head of Drama. She further aggravates him by saying that drama is a "small department" and she cannot afford the arena seating for the musical. He sees himself as undervalued by the school and insults Ms Murray before handing in his letter of resignation and storming out of her office. He uses the PA system to force his views on the school, organises his own farewell card and cancels the musical before making his drama students perform a guard of honour as he walks out of the school gate for the last time. Mr G is then later shown driving outside the school repeatedly in his car, asking students from his car window if his resignation is impacting the school. Margaret sees him from her office and comes out to speak with him in his car, where she asks him to reconsider his resignation and offers him the title of 'Creative Coordinator of the Drama Department' which he calls insulting. When Margaret tells him the musical is still going ahead with Meredith directing, Mr G decides to return to Summer Heights to solely focus on directing the show (and not teach).

Jonah Takalua: Jonah and his father return to Summer Heights High after his three-day suspension, discussing behavioural changes that will be made. Jonah is later banned from breakdancing on school premises as it encourages fights with other students, with his father threatening to send him back to his home country of Tonga. At his remedial English class at Gumnut Cottage, Ms Palmer announces an upcoming "story day" where the students will dress smartly and bring in their parents on the last day of term. Jonah and his friends are pressured into a breakdancing battle after school by Kieran via text message. In his final class for the day, Jonah is being disruptive and results in Ms Wheatley losing her temper and shouting insults at him, mocking him for not being able to read, which provokes Jonah to say to her "Don't fuck with me, you'll regret it." before she orders him to grab his belongings and go to the principal's office.
8"Episode 8"24 October 2007 (2007-10-24)1.51[8]

Ja'mie King: Ja'mie and her friends begin excitedly decorating the staff room for the formal after accepting Mr Cameron's compromise, with Ja'mie's mum purchasing an ice sculpture. After not returning Ja'mie's texts, Tasmin finally says that she won't go to formal with Ja'mie as she found out that she's not a real lesbian; Jamie instead brings Sebastian as a replacement. Ja'mie complains about people sucking up to her and the less popular girls trying to hook up with other guys. The formal awards then begin with Ja'mie winning the "hottest exchange student" award, and manages to incorporate "povo school student" remarks into her acceptance speech, before grabbing Sebastian and heads off to dance with her friends to "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)".

Three weeks later on the last day of term, Ja'mie is celebrating with her friends. She decides to have a long-distance relationship with Sebastian via text message, making Tasmin jealous. Ja'mie's friends want to keep in contact over the holidays, with Ja'mie giving a mixed response. Her friend from Hilford, Brianna, arrives by car to pick her up and Ja'mie tells her friends to stay at the gate to avoid being seen with her. She shouts "Public Schools Rock!" from the car's sunroof before discarding her Summer Heights High jumper on the road.

Mr G: Mr G announces the opening night of "Mr G: The Musical" over the PA system and gives Toby extra rehearsals for his role as Mr G. Rodney shows up with his German shepherd, Arnold, to replace Celine in the show. On opening night, Toby is dubbed over by Mr G. Jessica and Celine's death scene then performed with Mr G publicly shaming Rodney as causing Celine's death. Mr G then appears on stage to make an announcement before the finale that he will stay at the school after all and continuing teaching. He then tells Tony to leave the stage, taking his place for the finale number "The Smell of Life". During the song, a pre-planned banner appears behind announcing his comeback to teaching.

Three weeks later on the last day of term, Mr G declared the musical a "hit" despite poor ticket sales leading to only one show being performed. He took the offer of the 'Creative Coordinator of the Drama Department' title and has moved his office and drama room to one of the former special education portable classrooms, which he calls his 'Gregson Performing Arts Centre', after most of the special education students were removed from the school because Mr G again put faeces on the floor of the classroom. Toby remains at the school on an integration program. Mr G is then shown preparing a time capsule, containing mostly items about himself, which will buried near the classroom and dug up in 100 years time. The capsule is then shown being buried, with staff and students looking on. Celine is then revealed to be still alive after being hit by the car, but is now forced to use a wheelchair for her back legs. He kept it a secret until now because he didn't want the disabled dog in the musical. At the school gate, Mr G can't control Celine on the footpath near the road and wishes goodbye to students over a portable amplifier.

Jonah Takalua: Jonah and his father are shown having a meeting with Margaret, Doug and his teacher Ms Wheatley, which Jonah threatened in English class. Jonah is told by the staff that he is being expelled and is no longer welcome at Summer Heights High, despite Jonah's father's pleas. Jonah will now be sent back to Tonga as per his father's wishes and depressingly walks to his locker to empty it out. He then decides to attend his remedial English class instead, with Jan un-aware of his expulsion. Doug eventually finds Jonah and speaks briefly to Jan about the situation before asking Jonah to come with him. Jonah doesn't respond, which forces Doug to grab him and forcibly drag him out of the classroom, causing his friends to passionately stick up for him to no avail.

Three weeks later on the last day of term, it is Gumnut Cottage's story day and Jonah's friend Leon is shown finishing reading his story. Leon and his friends then notice Jonah all dressed up outside the classroom and one of them tells Jan. Jan tells him to let Jonah in the classroom on the sly. Jonah is then invited to read his story in front of the class, which he receives applause for at the end, making Jan proud. At the school gate, Doug has a quick word with Jonah and wishes him luck in Tonga. Jonah's friends suggest bullying Kieran but Jonah declines. Ms Wheatley says a quick goodbye before they walk out onto the street, where Jonah and Leon start break dancing on the road. Scenes are then shown of Jonah's last vandalism attack at the school, which he defaced Kieran and his friend's backpacks, Ms Wheatley's office door, staff member's cars, and the roof of one of the school buildings with his 'dick-tation' graffiti tag.

References

  1. The Tribal Mind Blog - Sydney Morning Herald Retrieved on September 8, 2007.
  2. "Seven - Daily Ratings Report". ebroadcast.com.au. 2007-09-13. Retrieved 2007-09-13.
  3. "Seven - Daily Ratings Report". ebroadcast.com.au. 2007-09-20. Retrieved 2007-09-20.
  4. "Seven - Daily Ratings Report". ebroadcast.com.au. 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-09-27.
  5. "Seven - Daily Ratings Report". 2007-10-03. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
  6. "Seven - Daily Ratings Report". ebroadcast.com.au. 2007-10-11. Retrieved 2007-10-11.
  7. "Seven - Daily Ratings Report". ebroadcast.com.au. 2007-10-18. Retrieved 2007-10-18.
  8. "Seven - Daily Ratings Report". ebroadcast.com.au. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2007-10-25.
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