STAFF, students and parents of St Mary’s Primary School were on hand this week to officially open the new junior hub building.
Housing junior-school students, the new junior hub will be used to accommodate students from Year 1 to Year 3.
The project was designed by local architect Jim Gleeson and construction was completed in nine months by homegrown builder Condely Construction, helping to keep the nearly $3 million budget within the community.
Nathan Condely, from Condely Constructions, is a former pupil of St Mary’s and has had three children attend the school.
Mr Condely said it was great to be back on the school campus and to have it finished.
School principal Kate Quin said the school had been “really blessed with the amazing building that we were able to build with assistance from the government as well as our own school’s contributions”.
“It consists of eight contemporary classrooms that all open up into a massive learning street so we are able to have more than 200 children under cover for learning in the same space,” Ms Quin said.
“We named it the junior hub as this area is very conducive to the younger children for the type of learning programs that they undertake at school.”
Federal Minister for Education, Jason Clare, said the Australian Government’s Capital Grants program presented enormous opportunities for students and school communities.
“Under the Capital Grants Program, the Australian Government has contributed $1.2 million towards the new general learning areas, collaborative learning street and student amenities,” Mr Clare said.
“Education is the most powerful cause for good and these new facilities will help the students at St Mary’s School to become anything they want.”
Deputy director of Catholic Education for the Diocese of Ballarat, Matthew Byrne, said he was excited to be at the opening and it was amazing to see the facility supporting St Mary’s work.
“St Mary’s is a really great school in our diocese and this building is a great co-investment between government and the local community,” Mr Byrne said.
“I am really delighted to see Nathan (Condely) here.
“He is a local builder and he is a young fella I taught at school here a long time ago.
“So, I am delighted to see his role in this as well.”
