Whitehorse Primary a blooming success
With a thriving kitchen garden, a dedicated maths centre and an abundance of technology, Whitehorse Primary School had plenty to show off to Education Minister Martin Dixon when he joined Member for Mitcham Dee Ryall today for the school opening.
Mr Dixon unveiled a plaque to officially open Whitehorse Primary School, which has been up and running since the start of this year.
“Whitehorse Primary School has quickly established itself as an exceptional Victorian Government school in Melbourne’s east,” Mr Dixon said.
“The buildings are fantastic and the staff and students are thriving in the new school, but more importantly it has opened up new opportunities for the students to learn and grow.”
The entirely new school boasts a co-located kindergarten; a music and gymnasium complex with a full-sized indoor basketball court; three ‘pods’ of four classrooms; an arts and craft area; a library and a purpose-built kitchen; and garden for the school’s Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden program.
“I was amazed to see the school’s kitchen garden program, with students as young as Grade 3 preparing garden beds, tending to a large variety of vegetables and thinking about how to cook with the fruits of their harvest,” Mr Dixon said.
“The classroom ‘pods’ were designed to give students a chance to learn in the way that suits them best, with flexible spaces giving teachers the room to work in big groups, work one-on-one, or in small groups when necessary.”
Ms Ryall, who has been a strong supporter of the school, said she was delighted by the strong community involvement, with all levels of government and the wider school community working together.
“I want to particularly congratulate the school community for co-locating the Seedlings@Whitehorse Kindergarten on site, providing a crucial service to local families and ensuring a smooth transition between kindergarten and school for local children,” Ms Ryall said.
“The school is working with the City of Whitehorse to bring Maternal and Child Health services on site as well, providing local families with access to another vital service.
“This is a great example of the Victorian Coalition Government’s commitment to improving education in Victoria.”
Whitehorse Primary School is also home to a Questacon Maths Centre – which encourages students to participate in maths and provides a hands-on approach to problem solving.
Springview and Nunawading Primary Schools merged to form Whitehorse Primary School, which was built on the former Springview site.
The Victorian Government provided $4.8 million for Whitehorse Primary School, and the Commonwealth provided $3.2 million through the Building the Education Revolution program.
The Coalition Government announced $200 million in school capital projects in the 2012-13 State Budget.
This built on the $208 million for school capital projects delivered in the 2011-12 State Budget, along with $100 million for the school maintenance fund.
