IT’S all systems go for the next stage of the St Mary’s Primary School masterplan, with a new learning space in the wings.
Four current classrooms will be refurbished and incorporated into an eight-classroom, contemporary learning space complete with internal learning streets, wellbeing spaces and offices.
St Mary’s principal Kate Quin told The Guardian she is “very much looking forward to” the project and that it will continue the school’s “great reputation amongst the community”.
“We are only three weeks away from starting the building process,” Ms Quin said.
“Nathan Condely has been appointed after a rigorous process, and we are confident the new hub will enhance our school surrounds and facilities.
“Essentially, the walls separating the classrooms can be opened up, and the space can be made into one big classroom.”
The hub will house two junior year levels and will be a “fantastic addition to our current school facilities”, Ms Quin said.
It will be built in the area surrounding the outdoor space outside the gym and, at completion, will connect to already built infrastructure.
This was all made possible in November 2020 when Member for Mallee Anne Webster announced that St Mary’s would receive $1.2 million through the school capital grants program.
It’s exciting times all round at St Mary’s with the out-of-school hours program helping parents like never before over the past 12 months.
The service provides care for school-aged children in the Swan Hill area between 7am-8.30am and 3.25pm-6pm.
“We have been very lucky to be the third party provider in this program,” Ms Quin said.
“Swan Hill North Primary School successfully applied for and were granted out-of-school hours establishment funding.”
Students from Swan Hill North and St Mary’s can access the service.
From its humble beginnings of only a couple of students per day, the program now cares for around 30 to 50 students daily before and after school and employs 10 educators.
“We are also very pleased with the Shamrock Park Kindergarten that opened on our school grounds last year,” Ms Quin said.
“This autonomous preschool is running a three and four-year-old age group this year and is a “wonderful addition to the sense of community that you feel when you enter the school grounds,” Ms Quin said.
