Officer’s newest primary school and kindergarten opened their doors today, giving families in the fast-growing community access to first-rate local education and early years services.
Minister for Education James Merlino and Minister for Early Childhood Education Jenny Mikakos today officially opened the Bridgewood Primary School and Integrated Child and Family Centre for the 2018 school year.
The Bridgewood Primary School and Integrated Child and Family Centre will be embedded at the heart of the local community, with shared facilities at the adjacent park and a community hub for other services.
The Andrews Labor Government has also partnered with the philanthropic Colman Foundation to launch the Our Place initiative at the school. This will create a local integrated early childhood, school and adult education services.
The partnership will see the Colman Foundation fund dedicated local engagement officers to work with the school, the Department of Education and Training, Cardinia Shire Council, and early childhood and adult education providers to help families and children of all ages engage in education.
The $13.5 million Bridgewood Primary School is one of 11 new schools opening across the state this week as Victorians head back to school and one of 21 that have opened over the last two years.
The Bridgewood Primary School and Bridgewood Integrated Child and Family Centre are part of the Officer Education Precinct alongside the existing Officer Secondary College and Officer Special School.
The school will accommodate 475 students and a peak enrolment of up to 900 students, while the Bridgewood Integrated Child and Family Centre’s kinder will be able to accommodate 132 children in its four-year-old kinder program and 44 children in its three-year-old kinder program.
The $3.755 million Bridgewood Integrated Child and Family Centre, co-funded with Cardinia Shire Council, will include kinder alongside Maternal and Child Health services and parenting support programs like community playgroups and new parents groups.
There are already more than 100 children enrolled at the early childhood centre, including 66 in 4-year-old kinder.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Education James Merlino
“We are getting on with the job of building and upgrading schools across the state so every Victorian child can attend a great local school that prepares them to thrive in the 21st century.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Early Childhood Education Jenny Mikakos
“This new Bridgewood Integrated Child and Family Centre will ensure that families living in Cardinia can access great local kinder, MCH and childcare services – all conveniently located at the same site as their new primary school.”
Quotes Attributable to the Member for Eastern Victoria Daniel Mulino
“Our partnership with the Colman Foundation will foster a powerful local education focus at the heart of its community that will not only boost student results but help local families engage with education.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020