Million-dollar building boost for Saint Ignatius

SAINT Ignatius Secondary College has received a million-dollar boost towards the Drysdale school’s $17.6-million redevelopment.

The school’s old administration buildings will be demolished, making way for the state-of-the-art MacKillop Senior Centre, consisting of 16 learning areas combined with a lecture theatre.

College principal Michael Exton said Saint Ignatius College was “very grateful for this contribution from the state government towards the funding of the construction of a wonderful new VCE and VCAL centre for the college’s senior students”.

“This impressive new three-storey building will be a significant feature of the front presentation of the college and will include 16 classrooms, a 400-seat lecture theatre, dedicated maker-space, staff offices as well as a number of open spaces for collaboration and group work activities,” he said.

“There are currently 1360 students at the college and this number will grow over the coming years and this new facility will be a very welcome addition to support our educational programs.”

Gayle Tierney MP, on behalf of Member for Bellarine Lisa Neville, announced the state government’s $1 million funding commitment this week.

“I congratulate the entire school community, led by principal Michael Exton, on their untiring work and commitment in continually upgrading this great school,” Ms Tierney said.

“Local Member Lisa Neville has worked with St Ignatius over many years to ensure the school can provide first-class facilities for all its students, as she has done with schools right across the peninsula.”

The major facility upgrades are in addition to school’s multi-purpose hall that was opened in late 2019, thanks to a $2 million contribution from the state government and the school gym upgrade in 2018, which also received a $2 million state government grant.

The indoor double-court, multi-purpose complex includes a space for the school population of more than 1300 students to gather as a whole school, along with separate precincts and unique facilities.

Among other recent upgrades and additions is the Year 9 Learning Centre, adjacent to the multi-purpose building and gymnasium, which includes multiple classrooms, staffrooms, presentation rooms and outdoor areas.

Funding support for recent building improvements at Saint Ignatius has been through various rounds of the state’s non-government schools capital program.

The program provides grants to assist building upgrades at Victoria’s independent schools, with more than one third of the state’s students attending Catholic or independent schools.