New building opened at Toowoomba school

Published Wednesday, 12 November, 2014 at 11:06 AM

Minister for Education, Training and Employment
The Honourable John-Paul Langbroek

The Centenary Heights State High School community in Toowoomba today celebrated the official opening of its brand new state-of-the-art Year 7 building.

Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek said the $5.45 million, two-storey building would help support the new Year 7 students who would begin their high school journey in 2015.

“Queensland secondary schools are finalising their preparations to welcome a double intake of students in Years 7 and 8 next year,” Mr Langbroek said.

“With the official opening of this project, Centenary Heights is one step closer to ensuring its incoming students will have the sort of facilities that will best support their education experience.”

Member for Toowoomba South John McVeigh said Centenary Heights State High School was expecting to welcome 220 Year 7 students and a further 175 Year 8 students through the school gate on the first day of school in 2015. 

He said six new teachers had also been recruited to support students in the early years of high school, delivering on the Newman LNP Government’s strong plan to revitalise frontline services.

“Centenary Heights is ready and excited to welcome these teachers, students and their families to the school community, for what will be an historic moment in Queensland’s education history,” Mr McVeigh said.

“The school has undertaken a range of activities to prepare new teachers and support students’ transition into high school life, including hosting teacher swap days, parent and student information events and student taster days.

“Principal Maryanne Walsh and her team have done an excellent job getting ready for the move and I’m really looking forward to seeing the great outcomes these students will achieve in the years to come.”

Centenary Heights State High School principal Maryanne Walsh said the new $5.45 million building and refurbishments to an existing classroom and science laboratory – worth around $256,000 – would help to better meet the long-term needs of the school and its community.

“Our new building has been specifically designed to create an inspiring and engaging learning environment for our young adolescent students,” Mrs Walsh said.

“It’s around these classrooms that they will make new friends, learn new subjects and explore new skills to help shape a lifelong learning.”

In addition to welcoming Year 7 to high school for the first time, state secondary schools will also finalise the implementation of Junior Secondary next year.

Junior Secondary, a phase of education tailored to the specific needs of students in Years 7 to 9, aims to provide students with a strong and consistent transition between primary and secondary school.

Mr Langbroek said the Queensland Government had invested up to $640 million in the Flying Start education reforms – which take in the move of Year 7 to high school.

“This includes a capital investment of up to $328 million to ensure state secondary schools have the appropriate facilities to accommodate Year 7 students in 2015,” he said.

“Our education focus is entirely on the needs of the children and we will continue to work hard to improve their opportunities and outcomes.”

For more information about the Flying Start reforms – which take in the move of Year 7 to high school – visit www.flyingstart.qld.gov.au

For more information about Centenary Heights State High School visit https://centheigshs.eq.edu.au/Pages/default.aspx

[ENDS] 12 November 2014

Media contact: Danita Goodwin 0439 886 652