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First look at multimillion-dollar upgrade of girls’ school in Adelaide’s east

A PRESTIGIOUS girls’ school in Adelaide’s east is the latest private school to reveal a multimillion-dollar plan to upgrade its campus. Here’s how it hopes to pay for it.

St Peter’s Girls’ from the air.
St Peter’s Girls’ from the air.

MULTIMILLION-dollar upgrades to St Peter’s Girls’ will begin later this month, as part of a long-term plan to revamp the Stonyfell school.

The school has revealed a $9 million upgrade plan to be completed over the next four years.
It includes major changes to the middle school, a renovation of the library and science labs and a rebuild of its gym.

Principal Julia Shea hoped all the works would be completed by the end of 2020.

The first stage of the renovations — the middle school — will start on November 23.

A planned multimillion-dollar revamp includes an extended middle school.
A planned multimillion-dollar revamp includes an extended middle school.

Ms Shea said the new middle school would feature large open spaces and would allow teachers and students from different classes to better work together.

“At the moment, it is very difficult for our staff in the middle school to teach the way they want to teach,” Ms Shea said.

An artist’s impression of part of the $9m upgrade.
An artist’s impression of part of the $9m upgrade.

The building will have direct access to the school oval and feature a new deck overlooking it.

The middle school works were expected to take six to nine months to complete.

Work on the library, which would open within 18 months, was planned to start in November 2017, as was work to enlarge the science labs.

The upgrade includes major changes to the middle school, a renovation of the library and science labs and a rebuild of the school’s gym.
The upgrade includes major changes to the middle school, a renovation of the library and science labs and a rebuild of the school’s gym.

An upgrade to the school’s gym — the final stage of the plan — included an expansion to allow for two courts and seating.

The master plan described that work as the “hallmark” of the upgrades.

An artist’s impression of a new, indoor learning space.
An artist’s impression of a new, indoor learning space.

Other than decking on the side of the middle school building, there would be no loss of oval space.

“Our surroundings are quite unique … so we are trying to build upon those natural aspects,” she said.

St Peter’s Girls’ has begun a fundraising campaign, which Ms Shea hoped would cover most of the costs over the next four years.

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Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/messenger/east-hills/first-look-at-multimillion-upgrade-of-girls-school-in-adelaides-east/news-story/998af392c2a864339fe8f0a40eeb36d1