Nine new classrooms replace seven transportables at Kingsway Christian College
Friday, 16 July 2010
Kingsway Christian College was delighted to receive a $3 million
grant through the Primary Schools for the 21st Century (P21) element
of the Building the Education Revolution (BER) program. Kingsway
Christian College in the northern suburbs of Perth provides
education for students in Kindergarten to Year 12 with an enrolment
of over a thousand students.
The College celebrated its new classroom block, funded under the
BER, with an official opening on 11 June 2010 attended by former
Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
Nine new classrooms will replace seven transportables currently
serving as primary classrooms. New specialist music and art rooms
will ensure students have valuable experiences in the arts from a
young age. The primary arts program will benefit with the inclusion
of a specialist arts room with large kiln. The new purpose built
music room has sound proofing and plenty of storage space for
musical instruments.
A new library resource centre located within the new block will
considerably boost the number of books available to primary students
and help to further improve literacy. The secondary students will
also benefit as the secondary library will expand and take over the
space of the small existing junior library.
The specialist computer room with 24 computers will enable students
to enjoy a better ratio of computers. Smart wiring will enable
students to learn via state of the art audio visual equipment and
new large touch screen whiteboards will introduce students to
interactive online learning.
Kingsway Christian College Principal, Mrs Jeanette Giroud was
pleased with the new facilities available at the school.
“We are delighted to have received the BER grant and believe that
the upgrade of our primary school infrastructure will enhance the
College’s ability to provide the quality Christian education on
which we pride ourselves,” said Mrs Giroud.
The new brick and tile building designed by Edgar Idle Wade
Architects is in keeping with the architectural style of the College
and includes larger classrooms and large windows to let in plenty of
natural light.
Outside the classroom, playground areas have been rejuvenated.
Upgrades to the school grounds have taken place including a very
large planter box for students to grow vegetables and encourage
students to become more environmentally conscious.
“Upon application, access can be made available to community groups
for some of the facilities in the same way that our gymnasium is
used by the Senators State Basketball Team for their training
sessions. Current considerations for community use include
after-school classes for beginners in computing and after-school art
classes,” Mrs Giroud added.
The school was impressed with the speed of the design and planning
approval for their projects. A local builder and architect were
employed and local tradespeople were used throughout the project
with up to 24 on site at the project’s peak.
Kingsway Christian School also received $200 000 through the
National School Pride program of the BER for minor refurbishments
including new carpet, painting and a ramp to ease access for
students with a disability.