New school looks first class

– Melissa Grant
PAKENHAM’S new primary school is ready to open its doors for the 2008 school year.
Pakenham Springs Primary School principal Colin Sloper says he can’t wait until students fill the empty classrooms and corridors on 29 January.
“It’s a real buzz; there’s a real anticipation in the community,” he said.
It is a unique school with a kindergarten, an occasional childcare centre and a maternal health care facility also on the site.
Mr Sloper believes this is what will set the school, in the Heritage Springs estate, apart from the others in the district, providing a “one-shop” for parents with young children.
“It’s an opportunity to provide a good-quality community resource,” he said.
So far 245 students from Prep to Grade 6 have enrolled – 11 classes – but Mr Sloper expects the school’s long-term enrolment to be about 450.
“It will grow to be a large school over time,” he said. “The area (Pakenham South) is going to explode.”
Mr Sloper, who has been preparing for the school’s opening since early last year, said students would enjoy great facilities, including a full-size gym.
He said much planning had gone into the school’s design with water-friendly and energy-saving features.
“The school will be a green school with energy conservation and sustainability features built into the design,” he said.
“It’s a real example of a sustainable school.”
Mr Sloper said student appreciation, participation and conservation of the environment would be a major part of the curriculum and that there would also be an emphasis on information and communication technologies.
Mr Sloper says he is no stranger to the challenges of running a new school. In fact, all the schools where Mr Sloper has been principal or teacher have been new, including Somerville Rise Primary School where he was principal for the past 13 years.
Despite such experience, Mr Sloper says he is excited about the challenges.
He said that the school was expected to become an integral part of the community, providing access and resources to local organisations.
“As principal of Pakenham Springs I feel extremely privileged and honoured to be a part of the establishment of such a unique and important part of the south Pakenham community,” he said.