Page 312 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 9 February 2021
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Opposition members interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: It’s the start of the year for the Assembly as well, so we’re all excited about it.
MS BERRY: Thank you, Madam Speaker. It is a really great question because it is always an exciting but sometimes nervous time for students and teachers, and families as well. Mrs Jones and I were just talking this morning about our own children settling—
Opposition members interjecting—
MS BERRY: Well, I did ask her how her kids were going, returning to school, because it can be an interesting time for everybody. It is mostly an exciting time and a time that most families will remember and enjoy for many years. I was happy to be there at Evelyn Scott School, our 89th public school, at Denman Prospect in Dr Paterson’s electorate. It was so wonderful to be down there and share that experience with young people and their families.
It was exciting to walk through a brand-new school that built that culture from the start. I know that the school principal, Jackie Vaughan, was really keen to make sure that the students and the school community were part of building that culture from the very start. I cannot wait to see how that school grows, how it develops and how its culture develops. I know that the Denman Prospect community were so excited to have that school ready to go from the start of this year.
DR PATERSON: Thank you, Minister. I was wondering if you could please give the Assembly some more information on the Evelyn Scott School and how it will serve the community of Denman Prospect.
MS BERRY: The 89th public school, Evelyn Scott, enjoyed the experiences of 187 students who enrolled in that school and started their first school day on Monday or Tuesday of last week. There were many excited parents and children attending on the day. The approach to learning at the Evelyn Scott School is based on the foundation principles of the future of education strategy, and that is around equity and inclusion. You will see that in everything that that school does with regard to teaching and learning, and in how its facilities are open and available for the Denman Prospect community as well.
That school is a zero emissions school, purpose-built for future-focused learning—something that the school principal is absolutely dedicated to do for those young people at that school. There will be 600 places available for students at that school, with a purpose-built gymnasium being available for use from May this year. The high school is under construction and it will open in the first week of term 1 in 2023. I know, just from that visit to the Evelyn Scott School last week, how proud those families in Denman Prospect are of their new school being brought to life by very talented teachers.
MS ORR: Minister, now that Evelyn Scott School has opened, what are the next school infrastructure projects to cater for our growing city?
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