STUDENTS of a Waikerie school will benefit from up-to-date, modern facilities and flexible learning options with the injection of over $400,000 for a new classroom and outdoor redesign.
The Waikerie Lutheran Primary School (WLPS) was granted $464,200 through the Coalition Government’s capital grants program, which provides funding for non-government schools to improve capital infrastructure.
WLPS principal Adam Borgas said the funding would go towards new classrooms and an outdoor learning area so the school’s facilities matched the education offered by WLPS.
“As we’re losing the year 7 students from 2022, we have been brainstorming what to do with the extra learning spaces we will have,” he said.
“The way classrooms work now is through flexibility; students are free to learn in the seating and spacing that suits them best, and they’ve really thrived on this. Gone are the days of each student occupying a 2m-squared space in a classroom.
“So the grant will be used for extensive refurbishments of our learning spaces to facilitate 21st century learning, and the delivery of a world-class international baccalaureate learning program, in a caring and Christ-centred learning environment.”
The refurbishment will create a double classroom learning studio for year 5 and 6 students, plus an attached covered outdoor learning area.
Member for Barker Tony Pasin said students and teachers would thrive on modern and up-to-date facilities.
“WLPS has a wonderful school community, and these new facilities will further enhance the learning environment,” he said.
“I congratulate WLPS on its successful grant application and look forward to seeing the positive impact the new facilities will have on students and our community.”
Mr Borgas said project brainstorming for a new learning area began four years ago, following the announcement of year 7 students moving into high school.
“These design plans, and this funding, is the result of work over the last 12 to 18 months,” he said. “We’re hoping construction will begin in March 2021 and finish August that year, which chimes in with the year 7 changeover.
“The school and the wider community appreciated the investment in the school and the local area that has been provided by the Commonwealth Government.”