By KATRINA BRANDON
ST PAUL’S Anglican Grammar School celebrated the official opening of the Traralgon campus’ Early Learning Centre (ELC) extension.
The extension includes the addition of a third ELC room, a $1.13 million project brought on by a $600,000 capital grant under the state government’s (VSBA DET) Building Blocks Program.
The expanded facility accommodates an additional 22 places for kinder, addressing the growing demand for early learning options. The school now offers flexible pre-kindergarten programs available two or three days a week and pre-prep programs three or four days a week, aligning with the state government’s gradual scaling up of early learning hours available to children before commencing school.
St Paul’s Director of the ELC, Fiona McDonald, told attendees at the launch the school is looking forward to using the new facility’s indoor and outdoor spaces.
“The new space is welcoming, open, and bright, allowing for natural flow between the indoor and outdoor environment. It is amazing when the little people are between the two areas in this space,” she said.
Member for Eastern Victoria, Harriet Shing attended the ceremony alongside St Paul’s board chair Paul Jennings and The Right Reverend Dr Richard Treloar (Anglican Bishop of Gippsland), who performed the dedication ceremony.
“I am happy to be part of the next step to ensure that the futures and opportunities for students and families right across Gippsland are realised to the best extent possible,” Ms Shing said.
“We are so delighted to be able to assist with funding and support. The $600,000 that we have contributed through a range of grants builds on the really strong relationships we do have with St Paul’s. As a school, the community here is second to none.
“Benefits here will be felt by and experienced by people who can fit into small chairs. It will be a delight to see the impact of this building and all that it represents now and into the future. I can’t wait to see what else we can do from here. It is a really strong partnership.”
The ceremony was opened by the ELC students, who performed a ‘Welcome to Country. ‘ It was followed by readings and performances by secondary school captains, Glen Treble, Amelia Wells, and Mitchell Rong.
