Parents, students get first look at multi-storey Santa Sophia Catholic College, Box Hill

Plans for a multi-storey preschool to Year 12 catholic college in Sydney’s north west have given parents and students a first fly-through glimpse of what the school will look like.

Artist impressions of the Santa Sophia Catholic School which will be built in Box Hill, NSW.

• Santa Sophia Catholic College Rouse Hill: 2000 students
• Box Hill retail, commercial precinct to become home to Santa Sophia Catholic

Students and parents of the Santa Sophia Catholic College, which is earmarked to be built in the centre of The Gables at Box Hill, have been given a first glimpse of what the school will look like when more than 1900 pupils begin classes in term 1, 2021.

The revolutionary designs of a the new preschool to Year 12 Catholic school were revealed as part of the exhibition of the development proposal, revealing how the multistorey school would look in the centre of the retail, commercial and residential precinct in The Gables CBD.

SEE THE SCHOOL FOR YOURSELF

Santa Sophia principal, Mark De Vries, said the school would provide great facilities, learning spaces and technology, “to prepare our students for work and life”.

“The ‘Santa Sophia way’ is all about equipping our students with industry knowledge and experience,” he said.

“Santa Sophia is already using innovative learning styles at its interim locations at St John Paul II College, Schofields and Our Lady of the Angels Primary, Rouse Hill.

Principle Mark De Vries. (AAP IMAGE/ Tim Pascoe)

“(The school) prepares students to thrive in a rapidly changing world, fostering collaboration and creativity.”

The multimillion-dollar development application for Santa Sophia College was submitted by the Parramatta Catholic Education Diocese for the Box Hill Town Centre to The Hills Shire Council on December 21 last year — and was on exhibition through the NSW Planning Major Projects division until June 26.

Planning documents for the school revealed a proposal for the construction of a six-storey educational facility across more than 15,000 sqm, featuring a knowledge centre and cafe, art and applied science hub, multipurpose hall, music, dance, and drama hub and a science and fitness research hub. Students will also have access to surrounding parks and sporting fields.

Artist impressions of the Santa Sophia Catholic School, which will be built in Box Hill, NSW.

Mr De Vries said the school aimed to provide a strong focus on building networks between young people and their community.

A Catholic Education spokeswoman said community consultation sessions were held throughout the planning process to allow the wider community to see the plans for the proposal and have their say on the future of the school. The response came following claims there was a lack of community awareness about the proposed location of the school.

The College’s Open Days, held in March 2019, attracted more than 340 people interested in both primary and secondary school. Enrolment for Year 7 students in 2020 is reaching close to capacity.