Excited students start off Santa Sophia Catholic College
SANTA Sophia Catholic College, Box Hill, opens its doors for its first intake of 28 students at a temporary accommodation in Schofields this week.
Rouse Hill
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SANTA Sophia Catholic College, Box Hill, opens its doors for its first intake of 28 students at a temporary accommodation in Schofields this week, with founder principal Mark De Vries confident the new learning environment will enhance their learning experience.
Santa Sophia Catholic College is being constructed at 40-46 Terry Rd, Box Hill, and is expected to be ready by 2020.
Until then, the school will function at St John Paul II Catholic College’s Schofield campus, adding Year 8 next year.
Mr De Vries, who was assistant principal at St Mark’s Catholic College before his present posting, said it’s exciting times for the students and the new school.
“We are starting with a batch of 28 and three teachers and hopefully enrolments will increase to Years 7 and 8,” Mr De Vries told the Times.
“We have taken the NSW curriculum for Year 7 and reimagined it to teach future work skills for our students.
“The design of our learning spaces are very different to what you find in traditional schools.
“We have done all our planning and now the challenge is in the implementation.
“We are trying to establish ourselves and our identity in the Northwest region, as a viable option for families to consider for their children’s education.”
“We have to forge our own identity.”
Jessica Bollard is excited for other reasons.
The 12-year-old Rouse Hill girl was the first student to enrol at the North West’s newest school and according to her mother Kerrie Bollard, is delighted at this honour.
Santa Sophia Catholic College is being constructed at 40-46 Terry Rd, Box Hill, and is expected to be ready by 2020.
Until then, the school will function at St John Paul II Catholic College’s Schofield campus, adding Year 8 next year.
“Jessica and I were shocked and excited she was the first kid to be enrolled at the school,” said Ms Bollard, who also plans to send her four-year-old Luke to Santa Sophia.
“We looked around at other schools and decided on Santa Sophia because it is one school that I can send both my children too.
“The students will be able to enjoy the brand new open learning environment at the school.”
Mr De Vries comes with more than three decades of teaching, including a 15-year stint as assistant principal at Marian Catholic College, Kenthurst and three years in the same role at St Mark’s Catholic College, Stanhope Gardens.
When completed, Santa Sophia Catholic College — being run by the Parramatta diocese —
will serve 2000 students from preschool to Year 12 and beyond.