Catholic Education SA to build $19.5m high school in Riverland
Families in the Riverland will have another new option for their children’s schooling, with a Catholic college in Renmark to be built to take hundreds of students.
Education
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A new $19.5 million high school in Renmark will be built for Catholic Education SA.
The school will cater for up to 360 students across Years 7 to 12.
“I know that this decision will be welcomed by many local families in the Riverland,” said Nichii Mardon, director of Catholic Education in the Diocese of Port Pirie.
“This expansion follows a thorough consultation process with the regional community that confirmed the strong desire for the development of this new college.”
The new school will complement the four Catholic primary schools in the Riverland — Our Lady of the River in Berri, St Albert’s in Loxton and the two St Joseph’s in Barmera and Renmark.
Year 7, now offered at the primary schools, will move to the new high school with a targeted first intake in 2022.
The high school will gradually expand to Year 12 by 2026.
It is understood negotiations on the site at Renmark are well advanced.
“We expect to be able to announce the site for the college soon,” Ms Mardon said.
Port Pirie Bishop Gregory O’Kelly welcomed the decision, saying the education of youth was the renewal of the world.
Renmark Paringa mayor Neil Martinson said families in the district had long called for a Catholic secondary school.
The Riverland has public high schools at Renmark, Loxton and Glossop.
Rivergum Christian College at Glossop is progressing toward a full high school offering with the first Year 11 intake next year.
The Renmark school was approved this week by the South Australian Commission for Catholic Schools.
Commission chairman Denis Ralph said it was “part of our commitment to expanding Catholic education pathways for children and young people in regional SA”.
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The Riverland college will be Catholic Education SA’s fourth regional expansion.
A new campus of Xavier College will open at Two Wells in 2021. St Joseph’s School at Murray Bridge is expanding to become a Reception to Year 9 school from 2022.
Catholic Education SA also will expand its St Mary MacKillop School in Wallaroo.
Under a $2.24 million initiative, also approved this week, the school will offer Year 8 from 2022 and Year 9 from 2023.
Construction of a Year 7 to 9 secondary facility on the current school site will begin in early 2021.
It will include specialist areas for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics and Arts and incorporate outdoor spaces.
“The expansion will build on the high-quality education and pastoral care that is already provided at St Mary MacKillop,” principal Michelle Miller said.
