6/9/02
Education in Perth's fast-growing southeastern suburbs has received a major boost with the start of the new $5.3million Campbell Primary School in Canning Vale, Education Minister Alan Carpenter said today.
Mr Carpenter opened the school at an official function last night.
Campbell Primary School is part of the State Government's $140million capital works program for Government schools this financial year and would be complemented by the opening of the new $17million Canning Vale Senior High School in 2004.
"Campbell Primary School is successfully servicing the needs of the many families who have settled in the expanding Canning Vale area over recent years," Mr Carpenter said.
The school opened its doors at the start of the 2002 school year with an enrolment of 350 children from Kindergarten to Year Seven.
The Minister said the foundations for a vibrant school community had already begun seven months into the new school's life.
"It's all about people who are working together to achieve the common goal of creating a learning environment that allows all students to achieve to their potential," he said.
"It is through the dedication of parents, staff and the school community that the future success of this school has been assured."
Mr Carpenter thanked the school community and the P&C committee for their enthusiasm and for being pro-active.
"The community has worked on the school name, logo, arts projects and the uniforms," he said.
"They have been involved in the modern school design, which has extensive artworks throughout, and the enhanced use of colour."
Built on a former paddock, the design of the Campbell Primary School building resembles a community village reflecting the importance of community within a school.
Member for Southern River Paul Andrews MLA said that Campbell Primary School clearly reflected the benefits of the direct involvement of the community in the establishment of the school.
Mr Andrews said the rooms had been designed close to each other to allow every student to have easy and close access to all facilities.
"The teaching block consists of 12 classrooms, three early childhood classrooms, an art/craft room and a music room,"
he said.
"The state-of-the-art school has been built to accommodate a strong technology focus to enable integration of technology into the teaching and learning programs."
Mr Carpenter said the school was equipped for the provision of the latest in computer technology, including modern computer workstations, fibre optic cabling throughout the classrooms and notebook computers.
Campbell Primary School is one of six new schools to open at the start of this year.
The other schools are Geographe, Secret Harbour and Rockingham Lakes primary schools, Kinross College, and Geographe Education Support Centre.
"Funding for these new schools, major additions to two other schools and maintenance to another 250 schools was provided by the State Government's educational facilities upgrade program which totalled more than $20million," Mr Carpenter said.
Minister's office: 9213 6800
