St Gabriel’s School welcomes first batch of high school students

A special needs school in Castle Hill has celebrated a milestone after accepting its first batch of high school students.

Shari-Anne (12), Giuseppe (12) and Samrath (12) who are year 7 students at St Gabriel's School. They are pictured here at their school in Castle Hill, NSW. Monday 11th March 2019. The school has recently expanded from a K-6 to a K-12 school. (AAP IMAGE/Jordan Shields)

• NSW Government grant $3.6 million in funding to St Gabriel’s School
• NSW Government reveals plan for upgrade to Matthew Pearce Public School

A special needs school in Castle Hill has celebrated a milestone after accepting its first batch of high school students.

St Gabriel’s School, a Catholic school which caters for children living with disabilities, has been approved to expand from a primary school to a K-12 school.

Principal Jon Franzin said it launched its first Year 7 class this year — with seven students — and it would roll out the other year groups one year at a time.

The State Government has supported the expansion of the school and invested $3.6 million for its upgrade.

Year 7 students Giuseppe, 12, and Shari-Anne, 12, enjoying class at the school.

Mr Franzin said the school had been pushing for the move for about a decade.

He said children would no longer have to travel to Wahroonga to attend sister school St Edmund’s College from Year 7.

“Parents have been looking for a long time for a Catholic option in the area,” he said.

“The Year 7 students are doing really, really well and are settling in beautifully.”

Teacher Belinda Lu with Giuseppe, 12, and Shari-Anne, 12.

He said previously about half the students would move to public schools in the area when they reached Year 7 and the other half would shift to St Edmund’s College.

Mr Franzin said construction of the secondary school facilities would start next year and stage one would be finished by 2021.

He said the new facilities will be built adjacent to the current primary school and a brothers residence was being knocked down to make way for the new buildings.

The school currently caters for about 80 students but will cater for 180 when it is redeveloped.

IN OTHER NEWS

Mr Franzin said the Diocese of Parramatta and Edmund Rice Education Australia had been excellent in showing support for the expansion of the school.

The cash splash is part of a major education infrastructure spend across The Hills district, which also includes upgrades to Samuel Gilbert Public, Matthew Pearce Public, as well as new schools at North Kellyville and Bella Vista.

St Gabriel’s School will celebrate its centenary in 2021.