Students and teachers at St Alipius Catholic Primary School, Ballarat East are benefitting from recently completed building works and refurbishments that were officially opened and blessed today (Friday 3 May).

The building project at the school has included:

• extension to the multi-purpose hall, compromising a new acoustically designed specialist general learning area utilised for the music and Japanese language programs.
• alterations and additions to the multi-purpose hall including installation of large glass doors and glazing enabling more natural light into the hall and enhancing connection between the hall and the school yard from indoors to outdoors.
• covered areas to facilitate greater connection between buildings and to enhance outdoor learning opportunities.
• refurbishment and extension of the administration building to provide for dedicated staff amenities and administration spaces.

St Alipius School Principal, Emily Clarke, said the enhancements to the campus were delivering benefits across the school community and provided specific improvements to learning opportunities for students.

‘It’s vital we are able to offer a contemporary learning environment for our students and teachers, and we are thrilled with the new and refurbished facilities,’ she said.

‘In particular, to now have an acoustically designed, specialist learning area for our music and Japanese language programs is invaluable.

‘This facility is also being utilised by the wider community and for private music tuition.

‘The greater connectivity between our buildings and the new outdoor learning spaces also provide additional options for learning activities to help keep the students fully engaged,’ Ms Clark said.

The works, delivered with combined support of school community ($656,934) and Australian Government ($1.05m) funding, were today blessed by St Alipius Parish Priest, Fr Justin Driscoll, and opened by The Hon Catherine King MP, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Member for Ballarat.

Mayor of Ballarat, Cr Des Hudson and Tom Sexton, Executive Director, Catholic Education Ballarat, were also in attendance.