Schools Special!

Dear Subscriber First Name,

There’s nothing more important than making sure our kids get the very best start in life.

That’s why I’m working every single day to ensure our local schools are getting the investment they need into the future.

$42m has already been secured for schools across the Northcote Electorate over the last 2 years. And I’m not slowing down.

Keep reading for a snapshot of the work we’re doing to deliver the best possible learning opportunities and school facilities for our kids!

 

Building Our Schools

Bricks and mortar don’t make a school - but they are important in creating the right environment to give students the best opportunities and a sense of pride.

Every school in our community is deserving - and there’s no better feeling than being able to work with school communities to deliver better school facilities.

Check out the highlights of what’s in the works or completed at our local schools or find out more by going to the Delivering Better Schools section of my webpage.

THORNBURY HIGH SCHOOL

Just before term one ended I joined Thornbury High School to officially open their new Performing Arts Centre and Gymnasium.

Stage One of the School's redevelopment is complete thanks to $5 Million investment from the Andrews Government.

I’ve been working hard to convince the Minister for Education and the Treasurer to fund the next of the school’s masterplan, the STEAM Centre.

But I haven’t done it alone, special thanks to the THS Redevelopment Group and to the students for their help in making the case - check out our video!

And congratulations to the Principal Keenan and the whole school community on being recognised as a winner of THE AGE Schools That Excel Award.

NORTHCOTE HIGH SCHOOL

The brand new Performing Arts Centre at the school has delivered new opportunities for students - but the job is not done yet!

Northcote High is a large school on a modest footprint - I’m working hard to position it to get funding for its Masterplan, a plan that would generate more space for students and more modern facilities.

It was great to check in for one of our regular conversations with the Principal Sue Harrap and members of the School Council on their facilities.

FAIRFIELD PRIMARY SCHOOL

We’ve been thrilled to see works on the brand new Wingrove Street campus cracking along. The $7 million project will deliver brand new classrooms for Grades 5 and 6 and open up more space for the junior students at the existing campus.

This project when combined with the works at Alphington Primary School will deliver a capacity increase of 400 students in postcode 3078 - the equivalent of a whole new school!

Check out the progress of the Fairfield PS build - here.

ALPHINGTON PRIMARY SCHOOL

Alphington Primary’s $14.1 million upgrade has hit another milestone this month!

The school, students and architects joined me to announce that Plan Group have been awarded the contract to bring the beautiful designs to life.

Plan Group can now commence construction including the brand new classrooms, new music room, outdoor play areas and full-size gym!

Thanks to students Dan and Eden, two of the school’s leaders for helping to make the announcement!

View the plans and progress of build - here.

BELL PRIMARY SCHOOL

It’s been a great year for Bell Primary! Students moved into the brand learning spaces and library - thanks to the $2 million investment from the Andrews Labor Government.

The school also got some new turf on their oval with a $200k grant. As sport returns, I know their brand new playing field will get plenty of use!

Special thanks to the parents of the Building Bell Primary Group and Principal David Twite. My team have been working closely with the school community to position them for the next stage of the Masterplan. Find out more - here.

NORTHCOTE PRIMARY SCHOOL

This term students returned to the beautiful new facilities that have just been completed at Northcote Primary!

The $3.16 million refurbishment included refreshed art room, library, reception and flexible learning spaces – as well as a stunning new entry and walkway!

I snuck by the school while they were on holidays to get a view from the outside - I can’t wait to see the transformation, including the heritage artworks, up close!

WALES STREET PRIMARY SCHOOL

It was a joyful occasion to catch up recently with Principal Jen Deeble to discuss the completed designs for Wales Street Primary’s upgrades.

SimBuilt have been appointed to lead construction on the $4.1 million project which will mean new specialist STEM facilities, collaboration spaces for students and more functional spaces for staff.

And as part of the build the school recently got its new relocatable that will minimise disruptions to classes while the build happens.

Check out the amazing designs and progress on this fantastic project - here.

CROXTON SPECIAL SCHOOL

Croxton School is just getting better and better! The amazing Principal Bev Fegan has been working hand in hand with me as we’ve delivered new classrooms, therapy areas and a sensory play areas for students and staff.

Minister Merlino joined be earlier in the year to officially open the new building with a $5 Million investment. We also surprised the school with an additional $10,000 for a Permaculture Food Forest!

It’s been wonderful to see the new outdoor sensory play area come to life as well, with an additional $198,000 grant from the Andrews Government.

Looking forward to seeing even more good things happening at Croxton!

WESTGARTH PRIMARY

The school community came to me with a long term roof maintenance issue that was at a standstill with the Department of Education. On their behalf I met with the Minister for Education as well as the Department of Education and the School Building Authority to get things moving.

It wasn’t a simple fix, but we got it done and have unlocked vital emergency funding for the school. We’ve also worked together on a Minor Capital Works grant application to help get a more substantial refurb underway - fingers crossed!

The next step with Westgarth Primary is a strategy to help secure the school the upgrades that it deserves. I’ve already written to the Minister about a capital upgrade and I’ll keep working with the school community to make it happen.

THORNBURY PRIMARY

Principal Leon Bell contacted me earlier in the year about the roof of the original building at Thornbury Primary. It’s a beautiful building but it was in need of some extra attention.

With some perseverance we secured the funds needed to get the roof properly repaired with an $80,000 grant!

It was a lovely surprise to receive a selfie of Principal Bell in front of the works being carried out - check it out here!

PRESTON SOUTH PRIMARY SCHOOL

Things are moving fast with Preston South Primary School’s incredible $14.6 million transformation!

Kerstin Thompson Architects (KTA) have been appointed to design the school, including making room for 200 new students and brand new facilities that are so important for creating opportunity for our young people.

Keep up to date on the progress at PSPS - here.

 

Delivering more support to Students

Like never before our school communities have been tested. The pandemic has disrupted they way we’ve had to learn and our support networks.

As students settle back into the classroom for face-to-face learning, schools will focus on supporting students’ mental health and wellbeing and identifying students who will need help catching up.

Mental Health Practitioners
We’re putting a mental health practitioner on site in every single high school. They’ll be working with our schools on one-on-one support as well as whole-of-school approaches to mental wellbeing.

Tutors for Students
To make sure that students don’t fall behind the Andrews Labor Government is delivering a $250 million package to deploy more than 4,100 tutors across Victorian Government Schools in 2021.

School Breakfast Program
Our School Breakfast and Lunch Clubs are still on the menu – we’ve delivered more than 13.4 million free and healthy meals to students since the program began – including over 33,300 to those here in Northcote.

School Readiness Funding
In an Australian first, very early learning centre with a funded kindergarten program will have access to school readiness funding. This lets kinders access speech and occupational therapists, language and literacy professionals and child psychologists, to give our kids the best start.

 

Thank You

It’s been a tough year for students, schools and their communities.

I want to give a special acknowledgement to all the teachers, staff, parents and carers out there for making the year run as smooth as possible.

Your versatility and resilience has been incredible. We could not have got to where we have without you working hand in hand with us.

To our students - you’ve all achieved a remarkable thing. Each one of you should be proud and if you’re a Year 12 - congratulations and I wish you all the best with your exam results!

 

My office and I are here for you!

Should you wish to contact me on any of the information above or with any other matter, please email me at kat.theophanous@parliament.vic.gov.au or call the office on 03 9481 5777.