On the pine: Isaac McLean is a picture of concentration in one of the three amphitheatres that are now in operation at St Patrick’s Primary School in Tongala.
Jackie Stockdale stood proudly in front of her expanded St Patrick's Primary School student body at an assembly last week to kick start the 2023 school year.
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The principal was starting her sixth year at the 64-year-old Catholic school, welcoming back 10 Year 6 students for the final year of their primary school education and 16 new Preps.
And while both those numbers are impressive enough, it is the school’s 93-strong student population that is of the highest significance.
When Ms Stockdale arrived at the school in 2018, the school had 56 students. That figure is teetering on the edge of triple figures, which is her 2023 goal.
Any parents who have the chance to look through the school may be influenced to assist that goal being met as the complete refurbishment of the school’s interior approaches completion.
New, modern facilities, making the most of the space afforded to teachers, have given the school a major spark for 2023.
Work on the classrooms was finalised at the start of term four last year, architects and builders involved in the project also responsible for the unique work being completed on the ‘Halo Learning Facility’ at Kyabram’s St Augustine’s College.
“The design was to create more learning spaces,” Ms Stockdale said.
“Peter Byrne from B3 Architects and Burke Builders are responsible for the build.
“Part of the design process was working with kids and asking them what they wanted.
“As a result, they absolutely love it.”
Three amphitheatres and an upstairs section offer teachers collaborative learning spaces and a separate space for explicit teaching.
“Most adults that have seen the classrooms say they didn't look like this when I went to school,” she said.
The original school building remains as the renovation has been from the inside out.
Ms Stockdale said Marg Cox, one of the school’s original students, offered an insight to students on just how the school had changed.
“She remarked that it didn't look like this when she went to school here,” Ms Stockdale said.
She said a positive sign for the school was that half of our Foundation kids were brand new families to the school.
“It shows that new families to the area are making the choice to come to St Patrick's,” she said.
There are now 18 staff, six new in 2023, and for the first time the school has six classes.
“We’ve been able to keep the average class size to 15 students and, ultimately, it’s the feel of a small school that can’t be underestimated,” she said.
This year’s Foundation intake of is 16, compared to 12 last year and 18 in 2021.
The next project is to convert another learning area into two classrooms and develop a deck for the assembly area.
“We will also have external exits for each of the classrooms,” Ms Stockdale said.
She said the school’s amazing advisory council continued to offer amazing support through fundraising and each year identified a new project.
An open day barbecue is being held at the school tonight (Wednesday, February 8), when many parents and friends will see the classrooms for the first time.
The night will begin at 5.30pm with an opportunity to tour the classrooms and meet with teachers. The barbecue will start at 6pm.
Learning in comfort: Colman Hargraves, Lucas Pyke and James Zobec take advantage of the new facilities during their classroom learning at the new-look Tongala Catholic primary school.
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