All looking good for new Lucas school

RECENTLY appointed founding Principal of the new primary school at Lucas, Sue Sawyer, has taken a tour of the developing site.

Feeling privileged to be able to lead the school from the ground up and open its doors next year, Ms Sawyer wandered through the yard and the facility’s different buildings, or “learning communities” worth $17.1 million.

“I’ve got a strong belief on explicit teaching, and that we’re teaching at students’ point of need, but also that students have opportunities to create, collaborate and connect with each other within the design of the build,” she said.

“My aim is that we’ll provide the highest quality teaching and learning so that all of the students at Lucas can achieve their best. I’m excited to meet all our new students and families and create that vibrant, learning environment.”

Member for Wendouree, Juliana Addison was delighted to have Ms Saywer on board, and to see so much progress on site.

“Sue’s a very experienced principal from the Ballarat region, and someone who has great experience in curriculum development. She has a proven track record of great instruction and team building and we know she’s going to be a great asset,” Ms Addison said.

“We are seeing new classrooms, new learning spaces, the admin building, and the most wonderful health and performing arts space that is going to provide so many opportunities, for not only teachers and students, but the community to really embrace this school.

“There’s going to be new netball courts and a new oval, and we’re looking forward to so many students from across the western corridor of Ballarat enrolling at this wonderful school and taking advantage of the world class facilities on offer,” she said.

Site Manager, Simon Rowe said the development is on track to be delivered and opened for the first term of 2020.

“The construction’s going well. We’re on target for hand over, slightly ahead of program. We’ve had a lot of inclement weather of late, but we’re pushing through.”

It’s expected that the facility will be named either Mullawallah Primary School, in recognition of a Wadawurrung man believed to be the last of the Ballaarat tribe, or Lucas Primary School. The state government recently consulted with the community about their preferred name.

Enrolments haven’t formally begun, but Ms Sawyer estimates 475 children and 30 to 40 staff will be with her next year.