Preston High School: campus open at Preston Girls Secondary College
Five years of campaigning for a new school have borne fruit, with the campus opening for term two. The school’s principal has also revealed future plans as the school grows.
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Five years after Preston Leader backed a campaign for a new high school at Preston, the campus has officially opened.
Preston mother Anh Mai, now the school council president, spearheaded the call for Preston High School to cope with a growing population in May 2014.
The Leader backed the push with our Open Our School campaign and the campus was officially opened at the site of the old Preston Girls College last week.
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Ms Mai said the buildings were beautiful and impressive.
“We’re so pleased the children have a fantastic facility to learn in,” she said.
The 125 students started the year at Melbourne Polytechnic after flooding and storm damage delayed construction work.
Principal Sean Butler said students and teachers were “relishing” the new facilities and the chance to build their own culture.
“The building is a fantastic blend of the heritage and the contemporary and a great place for learning,” he said.
Staff, parents, students and members of the community were joined at the launch by Preston state Labor MP Robin Scott and Cooper federal Labor MP Ged Kearney.
Mr Scott said the school was “truly beautiful” and had given new life to the historic buildings.
“A school forms the heart of any vibrant community — Preston now has a brand new heart,” he said.
The school has a single cohort of Year 7 students and will have another intake in 2020.
Plans have been made to grow the school as new students start at the campus.
There are plans for a new gym with a competition grade basketball court and a canteen.
The next stage of the school build will include an administration office, performing arts spaces and the conversion of the old gym into a library.
Ms Kearney congratulated the community on the campaign and pledged an extra $1 million to the school if Labor won the election.
The money would go towards the performing arts spaces and library.
“This school is a testament to what it means to truly value public education and community,” she said.
Preston Girls College closed in 2013 after 85 years because of low enrolments.
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