Biggera Waters State School’s Kylie Bell reveals remarkable journey from pupil to principal
A Gold Coast principal is going back to school on Monday in more ways than one – welcoming students to the school where she herself was a pupil. READ HER REMARKABLE STORY
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A GOLD COAST principal is going back to school today on Monday in more ways than one.
New Biggera Waters State School principal Kylie Bell knows exactly how her pupils will feel when they walk through the gates – becuase she was once one of them.
Ms Bell, who until her new appointment was Deputy Principal at Pacific Pines State High School, attended Biggera Waters from Year 1 to Year 7. She says she has fond memories of her time as a student at the school.
“From my time at Biggera Waters as a student I most remember my fabulous teachers, I can still name them all, sports days, which were always so much fun, and our school fetes,” she said.
“When I was a student the school buried a time capsule. They tried to find it a few years ago and couldn’t locate it. I have spoken to some of my old classmates and we think we know where it is. This will be on my to do list this year!”
Ms Bell said she realised she wanted to be a teacher when she took control of a class as a Year 11 student.
“One of my teachers became suddenly ill and had to leave the room,” she said. “I looked around and saw that the class were getting a bit out of hand. I went to the front of the class and led them through a book reading, a review.
“At that moment I knew that was what I wanted to do - help others.”
Ms Bell said she was excited by the year ahead, which had already got off to a busy start.
“In 2022 I’m most looking forward to building relationships with the staff, students and families,” she said.
“I am already so proud of the staff. With the crazy start to this year they have been so supportive, resilient and flexible in meeting the challenges we are all facing.”
Education Minister Grace Grace was among those sending good wishes to Ms Bell for her new role.
“To have an ex-pupil return as Principal is very special,” Ms Grace said. “What a lovely start to the school year for Biggera Waters State School.”
SNEAK PEEK INSIDE NEW CATHOLIC SCHOOL
THE first student to enrol at the Gold Coast’s newest Catholic school has been given a sneak peek of the facilities ahead of its official opening.
Five-year-old Peyton Eslick will be one 43 students from prep to Year 3 who will begin learning at Star of the Sea School in Merrimac on Monday.
Parents Aimee and Craig Eslick said they were excited for Peyton’s first day of school.
“We always said that we wished that a small Catholic school would open in our area,” Ms Eslick said.
“So when we saw that Star of the Sea was opening, we knew straight away that it was exactly what we were looking for in a school for Peyton – a small Catholic school community that is close to home for our family to be a part of.”
The school’s Ghilgai Rd campus formerly housed an independent college, and before that was home to another religious school.
Principal Tony Barron said the campus had been substantially renovated ahead of Star of the Sea School’s opening, and was master-planned to ultimately accommodate 550 students.
“We’re a new school, built on the grounds where previously there was two other schools,” Mr Barron said.
“Our families have only imagined, and haven’t yet seen, the open, enticing and collaborative spaces we have in store for their children.
“(Petyon was) the first student to see his future-focused classroom with flexible learning spaces, and internal walls removed to open up the rooms.
“(There’s a) ‘sound house’ in his classroom, and a Lego corner. We also have plans for a two-storey high climbing wall, and an ecological boardwalk in later stages of our masterplan.”
Star of the Sea School, Merrimac is the 15th Brisbane Catholic Education school to open on the Gold Coast.
Fees are $2400 for the first child, with discounts for each additional child, plus $700 in levies paid per family.
FIRST LOOK INSIDE GOLD COAST’S NEWEST STATE SCHOOL
THE finishing touches are being put to the Gold Coast’s newest public school as it prepares to welcome its first students on Monday.
Almost 130 children from prep to Year 12 are expected through the doors at Coomera State Special School, which has been built at a cost of $50 million.
Foundation Principal Kate Hucker said it would be a special moment after months of preparation.
“It’s an incredible facility and we cannot wait to see the kids run off the buses and out of family cars on Monday,” Ms Hucker sad.
“To actually open a brand new school from scratch, to have this vision and bring that to reality, is just an absolute privilege and an incredible opportunity.
“On Monday we will have a small celebration. When we can have more people on site we will have an amazing celebration and celebrate what this schools is.”
Stage one of the school includes multistorey junior and senior learning buildings, a resource centre, a multipurpose hall, hospitality and central amenities, sports oval, an administration block and carpark and drop-off areas.
Education Minister Grace Grace said the school would expand further in coming years.
“This is stage one,” Minister Grace told the Bulletin. “$50 million (has been) spent already, it’s purpose-built, and we’re going to welcome around 129-130 students to this school on Monday.
“The school has got a capacity now of about 168 and we will build this to about 260 plus.
“(It’s a) purpose built facility, with beautiful state of the art areas for children with special needs. It means teaching and the learning in an environment that is second to none.
“I am really very proud as Minister of Education to see money spent like this.”
Minister Grace said hundreds of millions of dollars had been invested to ensure the state school system was able to meet the needs of the rapidly growing population on the northern Gold Coast.
“At Foxwell High School, stage two is now completed,” Ms Grace said. “That school is enormous and that is all being built to cater for the growth in this area.”
Coomera State Special School the fourth new school to open in the area since 2018 following Gainsborough State School (2021), Foxwell State Secondary College (2020) and Picnic Creek State School (2018).
Minister for Youth and Member for Gaven Meaghan Scanlon said the opening of Coomera State Special School was a proud time for the northern Gold Coast community.
“Congratulations to the whole Coomera community on the opening of Stage One of the brand new Coomera State Special School, which they’ve supported right from the start,” she said.
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