Official opening of Port Hedland Primary School

14/8/98

Strong support from staff, students and the school community has contributed to a very successful start to the new Port Hedland Primary School, officially opened today by Education Minister Colin Barnett.

The new $7 million school - the result of an amalgamation between the town's two former primary schools - took its first students and staff at the beginning of term two this year and now has 430 students from pre-primary to year seven.

The Minister first announced in October, 1996 that the Government would build a new primary school in Port Hedland to replace the Cooke Point and Port Hedland primary schools. The decision was preceded by months of local community negotiations and a visit by the Minister to the town in June 1996 during which time he discussed the issue with staff and parents from both schools.

Since the decision, the two schools and local community have worked with the Education Department on providing first-class education facilities.

Mr Barnett said the school was a credit to the Port Hedland community and professionalism of staff.

"The new Port Hedland Primary School, the third this century, includes 14 classrooms, two pre-primary teaching areas and other specialist features, as well as facilities unique to the school because of its location," he said.

"This includes covered walkways throughout most of the school, as well as a large shade sail designed to keep students and staff under cover during the high temperatures.

"State-of-the-art technology is also a key feature of the school and will boost the educational outcomes of students, assisting them to achieve to their full potential in this age of information technology."

Mr Barnett said the amalgamation had brought together two schools rich in reputation and tradition and he was confident that the enthusiasm displayed so far would see the spirit of both schools continue.

In addition to the new school, the Minister also said the new Port Hedland School of the Air was expected to be completed in late September.

The $1.7 million project is a joint initiative of the Education Department and Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) and will provide modern accommodation for the School of the Air to deliver education to 37 students in the region, and new Pilbara headquarters for the RFDS.

The project will also include accommodation units for visiting families.

Media contact: Justine Whittome, (08) 9222 9699