A SENSE of community will be at the heart of a new Catholic college currently under construction in a Riverland town.
Representatives of St Francis of Assisi College – currently being built on Renmark’s Twentyfirst Street – last month held a tour of the school site for prospective parents.
Catholic Education Diocese of Port Pirie director Nichii Mardon said construction on the school was progressing rapidly.
“The project team meet weekly, so part of today was to bring stakeholders together,” Ms Mardon said.
“A lot of these people have been looking at plans and making decisions from the farm, so to come up and see the building is really exciting.
“It’s been in the makings for 18 months or so, but for the community to see things happening on the ground, it makes you think it’s real.”
Ms Mardon said the design would reflect both the school’s and the surrounding community’s core values.
“It will be a beautiful building, but every element of it is intentional and related to making sure we deliver a crackerjack curriculum,” she said.
“Community is so important for the country person, and everything is facing inwards and creating a community feeling.
“It’s informed by the education we need, but we’re in the most beautiful location, so it’s really making the most of indoor and outdoor spaces.
“You’ll end up with year 7s neighbouring year 12s and they’re all part and parcel of a community that looks after each other.”
Ms Mardon said feedback from parents of potential students was integral to developing the school site and its curriculum.
“Because we engaged with families from the early stages, we know what they want,” she said.
“We’ve got a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity really… hopefully it’s responsive to what people have been saying.”