By Lachlan Ellis<\/p>\n
A local school has welcomed a local State MP to its grounds for a tour and a storytelling session, with millions in State Government funding provided to the school in this year\u2019s Budget.<\/p>\n
Eureka MP Michaela Settle visited St Bernard\u2019s Parish Primary School in Bacchus Marsh last Wednesday, and was thanked by both staff and students for helping support the school\u2019s growth. <\/p>\n
The State Government has committed $3 million to St Bernard\u2019s for expansion of the school to allow for more students, with the school matching that total.<\/p>\n
St Bernard\u2019s Parish Primary School Principal Sister Mary Sarah said the school had exciting plans for the money, and hopes to have a builder chosen soon.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had the Mary MacKillop Learning Hub dedicated last year, which broke decades of no real expansion of the school. Next to that we have a beautiful building from 1969, much-loved and much-used\u2026with the funding we\u2019ll be increasing capacity, we could go up to 600 or 700 [students], we\u2019re spoiled for land,\u201d Sr Mary said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re at capacity at the moment, we could easily increase from 150 to 200 with the additional room. We\u2019ve put in for a supplementary grant as well, and the hope is that this year we could go to tender and be ready to get moving. A new building will help accommodate for the middle years, LOTE, and specialist learning, as well as for the arts, humanities, and music as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sr Mary said the school had given how to use the funding \u201ca lot of thought, and had a lot of community discussions already on what would best serve the children. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re at 370 students now, and projected number for 2030 is 560. The way we\u2019re going I wouldn\u2019t be surprised if we exceeded that number, Bacchus Marsh is in a real growth corridor,\u201d Sr Mary said.<\/p>\n