St Francis de Sales College, Mount Barker has officially opened its brand new, state-of-the-art primary school facilities.
The $13.7million project includes the new co-located Alive Catholic Early Learning Centre for children aged 6 months to 5 years.
The opening comes two years after the College’s $10.5million Community Sports Centre was completed and opened in November 2018.
Principal Gavin McGlaughlin said the new buildings have been designed to deliver the most outstanding learning opportunities for students across all modes of learning and provide a seamless connection between indoor and outdoor learning environments.
“We have created facilities that not only connect young people to the variety of ways of learning, but also connect to our beautiful natural environment and local community.”
The development has created four new learning communities for Reception to Year 6 students, all surrounded by nature play and nature-based learning spaces that utilise the site’s outstanding location in the beautiful Adelaide Hills environment.
“It was a delight to see the excitement on the faces of our students and teachers as they entered the new buildings for the first time. It reminds us why we set out to deliver spaces that enable all students to successfully engage in their learning and development,” said Gavin.
The new buildings were blessed by Archbishop Patrick O’Regan, Archbishop of Adelaide and Fr Richard Morris, Parish Priest of Mt Barker and Strathalbyn Catholic Parish, joined by staff and students.
Dr Neil McGoran, Director of Catholic Education South Australia unveiled a commemorative plaque along with Senator Andrew McLachlan CSC, Senator for South Australia, in recognition of funding support received from Catholic Education South Australia and the Australian Government’s Capital Grants Program.
Principal McGlaughlin expressed his gratitude to all those who contributed to fulfilling the vision of delivering these quality learning environments. In particular, the Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment, the South Australian Commission for Catholic Schools, Catholic Education South Australia, Catholic Early Years Services, Brown Falconer Architects and the secondary consultants, Rider Levett Bucknall Quantity Surveying, BADGE Constructions and past and present staff, students and friends of the College.
“This is a very significant time for our community, and we are thrilled to see our new learning environments provide such amazing opportunities to develop our students’ creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving skills, today and for many years to come.”
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