Pacific Pines High School’s new junior learning precinct officially opened

A new $25 million building has been officially opened at one of the Gold Coast’s biggest schools. Take a peek at the facilities inside.

YEAR 7 and 8 students at Pacific Pines State High School are the lucky users of some remarkable new facilities – and they don’t have to share them with seniors.

Environment Minister and Gaven MP Meaghan Scanlon and Principal Mark Peggrem on Thursday officially opened a $25 million junior learning precinct at the school. The new facility, housed in a three-level block, contains multiple science labs, robotics rooms, kitchens, collaborative learning spaces and its own tuckshop.

School principal Mark Peggrem and Gaven MP Meaghan Scanlon with pupils at the opening of the new $25 million junior learning precinct at Pacific Pines State High School. Photo: Tertius Pickard.

Junior school captain Riley Frener said the facilities were “amazing”.

“I’ve got most of my classes up here and it’s really nice. The older buildings are still good but it’s just so much nicer to be in the brand new, fancy buildings,” he said.

“It’s really good to have our own precinct because there’s no seniors in here and generally it seems it’s a lot cleaner, which could be because there’s no seniors.

“It’s really good that we’ve got our own little area.”

Junior school captain Riley Frener. Photo: Tertius Pickard.

Gaven MP Meaghan Scanlon, student Frankie Hinds and School principal Mark Peggrem at the opening of the new $25 million junior learning precinct at Pacific Pines State High School. Photo: Tertius Pickard.

Mr Peggrem said the new building was “future proofed” to handle rising student numbers, with 200 more children expected at the school next year alone.

He said parents often worried about the transition to high school, so it was important to create a space where younger students would feel comfortable.

“We’re very mindful that mums and dads are worried about moving to the high school and worried about their children potentially interacting with 17 or 18-year-olds,” he said.

“So what we’re able to do here is create a facility where 12 or 13-year-olds are with each other 24/7.

“... This is their tuck shop, this is their play area. These are their science labs, these are their kitchens, these are their collaborative learning spaces.”

Equipment in one of the state of the art new classrooms at Pacific Pines State High School. Photo: Tertius Pickard.

School principal Mark Peggrem, student Frankie Hinds and Gaven MP Meaghan Scanlon at the opening of the new $25 million junior learning precinct at Pacific Pines State High School. Photo: Tertius Pickard.

Mr Peggrem said the new facility had been “very much welcomed” by the community, the school’s staff, and most of all students, who were consulted extensively at the design stage.

Minister Scanlon said she was delighted to the “state of the art” facility open and being used by students so soon after turning the first sod.

“It’s wonderful to say this new junior learning precinct is now officially open,” Ms Scanlon said.

The new block was built at a cost of $25 million. Photo: Tertius Pickard.

“There’s obviously been a lot of challenges in construction, whether it be labour shortages or supply chain constraints. So the fact that (builder) Hutchinsons been able to deliver this is amazing.

“It’s a state of the art facility for the next generation, but it’s also delivered a whole lot of jobs and apprenticeship opportunities on the way as well.”

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Originally published as Pacific Pines High School’s new junior learning precinct officially opened