The Altona College community celebrated the official welcome of one of its newest members – the new Senior Centre building.
Altona MP Jill Hennessy, Williamstown MP Melissa Horne, Hobsons Bay mayor Peter Hemphill, school staff and students help officially open the building on Thursday, August 11.
School principal Julie Krause said the centre, which include classrooms, an open plan learning area, toilets, kitchen and staff work space, had been a “sensational” addition to the school.
“We have just loved it,” she said.
Ms Krause said it was a shock to the staff when Ms Hennessy announced the school would become a P-12 school in 2018.
“Today’s milestone was only a dream 10 years ago,” she said.
‘We couldn’t be prouder.”
The school’s first Year 12 cohort started using the centre last year for exam preparation and sitting the exams themselves.
In the 2019–20 state budget, the school received $4.746 million towards the construction of the new centre, as well as refurbishment and rearrangement of science classrooms, Prep and storage areas and administration spaces.
The state government also allocated a further $3.556 million as part of the second stage of upgrades to the school, including an upgrade of the Learning Community Wing.
Ms Hennessy said the centre was a testament to the hard work of staff, students and parents and showed the potential for the school moving forward
“Change only happens when people are prepared to do the hard work,” she said.
“It is a school that is punching above its weight.”
Matthew Sims
