The journey begins

By Lachlan Ellis

Almost 700 new Foundation students began their education journey in Moorabool last week, spending their first day at primary schools across the Shire.

A total of 698 new Foundation students have enrolled at 17 Moorabool primary schools, compared to 533 last year.

While Bacchus Marsh Primary School has had the most new Foundation enrolments in Moorabool for the past two years, this year it was jumped by Bacchus Marsh Grammar, which has welcomed a whopping 242 new Foundation students (131 at the Maddingley campus and 111 at the Woodlea campus) to Bacchus Marsh Primary’s 90.

Some schools have experienced a significant jump in Foundation students – St Brigid’s Ballan had the biggest increase proportionally with 26 new Foundation students compared to seven last year (3.71 times previous year), followed by St Patrick’s Primary School Gordon with 25 this year compared to 9 last year (2.77 times previous year).

Bungaree Primary School, which had no new Foundation students last year, has welcomed seven this year.

Principal of St Brigid’s Primary School, Jayne Bosworth, said it was exciting to see such a jump in Foundation enrolment.

“There is a buzz in the air this year at St Brigid’s as we welcome 26 Foundation students and several new families. This is significant growth in Foundation and is the largest Foundation cohort to enter the St Brigid’s gates in several years. We are also thrilled to welcome new students and families in other year levels,” Ms Bosworth told the Moorabool News.

“To accommodate the near quadrupling of Foundation students in just one year and in an effort to reduce class sizes from Foundation to Year 6, we have moved from five to six classrooms.”

Ms Bosworth attributes the growth this year to St Brigid’s being “a great place to be”, “providing a high standard of Catholic education for all children”, and school tours and Foundation transition sessions held last year.

Unfortunately, Mt Egerton Primary School, St Brendan’s Dunnstown, and St Mary’s Clarkes Hill have had no Foundation enrolments this year, but are hopeful for a surge of new students in 2024.