Principal Cynthia Maiden said the school community was ‘absolutely thrilled’ to receive the news.
“Predominantly, the funding will be used to refurbish and extend the school’s multi-purpose room, which has doubled as a third classroom since 2021,” she said.
“These works will once again provide the school with a whole-school gathering space.
“The availability of this space will also allow the school to respond more flexibly to the academic and wellbeing needs of the students.”
Miss Maiden said the St Joseph’s students were already subject to significant disadvantage due to their relative isolation. “Provision of this extra space is a simple, long-term solution that would go some way to ensuring the students have every opportunity to flourish,” she said.
Miss Maiden said in addition to the extension, works would also be carried out to provide new toilets for students, with the current student toilets to be refurbished for staff use.
“The school is very excited to be able to commence these refurbishment and extension works,” she said.
Horsham’s Ss Michael and John’s Primary School received $3.6 million to build a new general learning area, breakout spaces, and specialist science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics, STEAM, and drama rooms.
Principal Louise Chesterfield said the school community was incredibly grateful for the funding.
“We have grown in numbers, so we are really keen to add additional learning spaces that align with our current pedagogy and philosophy, which is open-plan learning,” she said.
“We are keen to replace our portable, which is now an arts centre, but not as user-friendly as it could be, and redevelop our courtyard for student use.”
The school has a current enrolment of 293 students, with 35 staff, across 12 classes.
“This will allow us to move to 15 learning spaces, and allows for flexibility when we have an influx of families or students across the years,” Mrs Chesterfield said.
“We want the opportunity to welcome students into our school, and this will allow us to do that.”
Mrs Chesterfield said the plans were already drawn up ready for council approval, and hoped the tender would go out by the end of the year.
Stawell’s St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School received $2.4 million, for a new general learning area, associated spaces and landscaping, and an upgrade of existing amenities.
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