STUDENTS and staff at Swan Hill Specialist School are eagerly awaiting the completion of their much anticipated brand new multi-purpose undercover court.
The multi-purpose court will enable students to participate in a variety of sports, including basketball, netball, futsal, badminton, tennis and volleyball, featuring a synthetic rebound ace surface and roof to protect students from the sun.
Swan Hill Specialist School principal Jodi Walters said the works should be finished around mid-July.
“What we love about it is that it is in the dead centre of our school, so it will be accessible to all of our kids,” Ms Walters said.
“We are incredibly blessed to have the neighbours that we have, because we have made a mess parking-wise on the street – we’re thankful that they can see the what and the why behind it.”
The new court area is stage one of a four-stage master plan developed by the school to modernise and synchronise facilities in the hope of creating connectivity throughout the school for both staff and students.
Stage two of the project is set to start in September, and will be a refresh and upgrade of the main classroom building and community hub, complementing the new court.
“We’re very excited about the refurbishment of the main building, but also that little bit worried about how we get it organised and ready to go,” Ms Walters said.
“But the staff are amazing, so I know that it will happen well and happen smoothly, because our kids are always at the centre of everything we do.”
Incorporated into the designs are the school’s colours as well as some Indigenous elements, including a yarning circle. Yarning circles have been used by indigenous people for centuries as to learn from a collective group, build respectful relationships, and pass on cultural knowledge.
The refurbishment of the main building will include adding additional space to the five purpose-designed classrooms. A new café will also be built at the front of the court area, which Ms Walters described as “the centrepiece” of the build, creating a space for visitors.
“We’re really chuffed to have learning spaces that are purpose-built for our kids,” she said.
Stages three and four, while not yet funded, are already under planning, and Ms Walters is confident the funding will come through. These stages will include upgrading the remaining portable middle and senior school classrooms with a permanent purpose-built building, and building new VPC, specialist and allied health consulting rooms, including an auditorium space.
“Once it is all done, it will be outstanding,” she said.
“We’re very grateful that we are ranked up there with needing these facilities and being able to get them.”
