FCJ College will be better able to facilitate 21st century learning after securing $2 million from the Victorian Government.
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Principal Joanne Rock said the school received confirmation from Education Minister James Merlino last week.
“I've put in grant applications to upgrade some of out ageing facilities for the past five years and they've been knocked back,” Ms Rock said.
“With only a limited pool of money for non-government schools the competition for grants can be very high.
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“So I worked really hard on this application to upgrade our masterplan and really hone in on the 21st century learning that our students don’t currently have access to because of outdated learning spaces.”
Ms Rock said the application had been submitted in February and with all the disruption caused by COVID-19 she had almost forgotten.
“So you can imagine my delight when I got an email from the Minister for Education,” she said
“When I opened it, it was quite hilarious, I was speechless. My husband actually asked if I was okay.
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“I was absolutely thrilled and dancing with delight as it is full amount I applied for.”
The $2 million dollars will go towards a number of upgrades including refurbishing the schools food and wood technology rooms.
“We will also be upgrading some general-purpose classrooms to better facilitate 21st century learning,” Ms Rock said.
“And we will also be upgrading our student amenities in the Mitchell Wing, both upstairs and downstairs.
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“Our student amenities will get a long overdue upgrade.
“The process is now that the architect will work with staff on finalising the design.
“It will be about a six-to-nine months until it is finished.
“We aim to get it started by April, or May next year to have it finished by the end of 2021.”
It has been a strange year for students, but Ms Rock said they had transitioned well back into face-to-face learning.
“I find young people to be pretty flexible,” she said.
“One thing we did notice when they first came back was how thrilled and delighted they were to be back together in a classroom environment.
“They have managed the restrictions really well.
“They are all wearing masks.
“They all understand the hygiene protocols we've put in place.
“And more than ever they just seem to he grateful to be back on site.”
When they did arrive back at school many would have been shocked by the progress the school's new hall had made.
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“We are super excited,” Ms Rock said.
“I can't believe how well that build has progressed.
“The builders have kept on time and we're looking at a handover before Christmas, which is thrilling and has exceeded expectations.
“You look at a two-dimensional image of a space and think it looks great.
“But seeing it come to life has been jaw dropping.
“The builders and architects have exceeded expectations.
“They have continued working through the pandemic.
“There has been next to no delay in their progress and they have been able to move it along.
“We are getting lots of comments from the community and I cant wait to throw open the doors at the start of next year and welcome our community into this incredible gift.
“It was a gift given to us by the FCJ sisters themselves.
“There was no way we were ever going to qualify for funding to get a project of that magnitude up and running. So it is an amazing gift.”
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