Shannon Cormack named principal of new Biyala Primary School

Armstrong Creek’s new primary school is ready and waiting for students. See it’s “stylish” new uniform chosen and hear from its founding principal here.

Biyala Primary School’s new campus and leadership team is ready and waiting for students.

Biyala Primary School has unveiled its completed campus, new uniform design and founding principal ahead of its 2026 opening.

Shannon Cormack will lead the Armstrong Creek school which has capacity for up to 650 students from prep to year six.

Ms Cormack said she was thrilled to see the campus finally ready and waiting for students.

“It’s been my whole world since April,” she said.

“Our school is now complete, handover has officially occurred, and we are finally in the space setting up classrooms, organising resources, and bringing our vision to life.

“It is difficult to put into words the magnitude of the work that has taken place to reach this point.”

“Walking through the buildings each day and seeing Biyala Primary School come together has been a career highlight, and we are well and truly on the home stretch toward opening our doors to the community.”

She said the school was expecting to start the year with about 100 students across all year levels, all of whom lived in the catchment zone.

Shannon Cormack has been named the founding principal of Biyala Primary School

Ms Cormack was previously the principal of Whittington Primary School from 2022 until April 2025, and spent three years teaching at Torquay College from 2015.

Prior to that she spent 13 years as a leading teacher at Melbourne’s Thomas Chirnside Primary School.

With 24 years experience in government schools, she said it was an incredible “once in a lifetime” honour to be building a school from the ground up.

“We’ve designed stylish uniforms, we can’t wait to see all the students wearing them. They really look nothing like any other primary school.”

New uniform for Armstrong Creek’s new Biyala Primary School, opening 2026.

Works on the 170 Coastside Dr campus were finished in mid-November, complete with a football oval, two tennis courts, multiple outdoor courtyards and several campus buildings.

The school has been named Biyala, a Wadawurrung word meaning “place of red gum” to reflect its local heritage.

“The whole campus is surrounded by rows of gums,” she said.

“It feels so safe and welcoming when you walk in.”

Ms Cormack said the whole community was thrilled to see the “state-of-the-art” campus complete.

“Everything is coming together so beautifully, and the excitement across our families, our staff, and the wider community is unmistakeable.”

During construction the facility was known as Warralily Park Primary School.

Facilities include an administration and library building, specialist spaces for art, science and food technology, three learning areas, hard courts, a sports field and a school community hub building.

Ms Cormack will be joined on the leadership team by assistant principal James Murphy, business manager Emma Hally, and learning specialist Darcy Wilson.

Darcy Wilson will be joining the team at brand new Biyala Primary School, opening 2026.

Construction of the Biyala school shared in the 2024–25 State Budget’s $947.7 million allocated for new schools construction.

A council-run kindergarten with up to 118 kinder places is also located within the primary school.

The school is now open for enrolments for students in prep to grade 6.

Originally published as Shannon Cormack named principal of new Biyala Primary School