New Bellmere State School officially named

Published Friday, 16 October, 2015 at 05:56 PM

Minister for Education and Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games
The Honourable Kate Jones

Education Minister Kate Jones today announced the new school to open in the Caboolture West area next year has been officially named Bellmere State School.

Ms Jones said the local residents chose the name for the school because the Bellmere community was proud of the beautiful area and history.

“The new school will open on 25 January 2016 with an expected enrolment of about 250 students who will enjoy a whole suite of modern facilities in the fully operational stage one,” she said.

“The new Prep to Year 6 school will be a key education provider in what will be a rapid growth area in coming years.”

Member for Pumicestone Rick Williams said stage two of the facilities would include senior school buildings and a whole-of-school hall and was scheduled for completion by 2018.

“Bellmere State School is one of 10 schools being built under the $1.5 billion Queensland Schools Public Private Partnership Project,” he said.

“This project involves Plenary Schools Consortium designing, constructing, commissioning, partly financing, maintaining and providing facilities management until 2043, when the 10 schools will revert back to full state ownership.”

Bellmere State School’s stage one facilities include a Prep learning neighbourhood with four classrooms, amenities and a covered area; a junior learning neighbourhood with 16 classrooms, amenities and covered area; a special education centre; two laboratories to be used for design technology and science; specialist music rooms; a canteen and an oval.

Foundation Principal Deb Lorraway said she was excited to see how well the stage one facilities and other preparations for the new primary school were coming together.

“Community interest and involvement in planning this new school has been very strong and we have already selected our uniform, logo and motto of Hand in Hand We Learn,” Ms Lorraway said.

“Students, teachers and parents will work together as a team to ensure we deliver the best possible education and it’s wonderful to see the contemporary facilities we will be using coming to fruition on site.

“Our focus will be on personalised learning for every student, featuring innovative teaching strategies, consideration for the environment and a wide array of extra-curricular activities.

“For example, students studying music will use professional sound recording rooms and soundproof practice rooms and design technology, science and other subjects will be taught using the latest equipment in robotics and digital technology.

“We will work hard to emphasise collaboration and community and to maintain the rural look and feel of our school site even as future residential development expands around the area.”

For more information on the school visit: www.bellmeress.eq.edu.au  

Media contact: Minister Jones’ Office 3719 7530