Modern surrounds: St Augustine’s College primary students Finn, Indiana and Elsie in the lecture theatre of the new junior learning area, which will feature a circular corridor — dubbed “the halo’’ — and a landscaped courtyard as a centrepiece.
A circular corridor that links seven years of St Augustine’s College students is the feature of the $4.3 million redevelopment of the school.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
The “halo’’, as it has been dubbed by college administrators, was opened to parents last week when the first stage of the project — providing a base for the college’s Year 1 and 2 students — became operational.
Parents were given a guided tour of the new facility, work on which started in November last year.
Eventually all seven primary school learning levels will be linked by the halo corridor, which will have a landscaped play area at its heart.
College business manager Trish Norton, who is overseeing the Victorian School Building Authority Project, and principal Jay Sutton are excited about the connection created by the specially designed education space.
Stage one of the project also includes an outdoor classroom and break-out space, while the newly unveiled Year 1/2 area also features a tiered lecture area.
Circle of life: St Augustine's College has a unique “halo’’ corridor as the central component of its primary educational space redevelopment.
Ms Norton said stage one of the build featured five learning spaces, which formed one boundary of the junior learning courtyard space.
The courtyard area is for Foundation to Year 6 students and includes a shaded space with seating for large and smaller groups, along with a passive space for outdoor learning, with a mixture of fixed and movable furniture for flexible seating arrangements.
A central amphitheatre with a waterproof canopy and grassed mounds will provide access to the open grass space of the oval — on the western curve of the halo corridor.
“Students and teachers moved in on a Friday and the builders started immediately on the next section stage,” Ms Norton said.
“Eventually it will be a four- or five-stage process.”
She said the internal rebuild allowed the college to maintain the rich heritage of the 60-year-old buildings.
“We decided to stage a morning tea to give the parents a first-hand experience. There will be an official opening once the project is completed,” Ms Norton said.
The project is a 50-50 funding arrangement between the Victorian Government and the college, which has 700 students from Foundation to Year 12.
Ms Norton said the “halo’’ corridor was the working name that the college had chosen for the round corridor.
“It will join it all together for the community education aspect,” she said.
“It was something that was important when the master plan was developed.”
Once the primary education area is completed it will enhance the Year 7/8 facility, which was redeveloped less than a decade ago.
For Mr Sutton it has been a hectic introduction to the school.
The principal only arrived at the start of the school year, but has been in Catholic education for more than two decades.
"The halo provides for a unique learning experience. It really is exciting times,’’ he said.
The future library and senior school, along with an aptly named Place of Possibilities, are also a part of the college master plan.
30°C