The six principals who will lead new Melbourne schools opening in 2025
As new schools get set to open across Melbourne’s fastest growing suburbs next year, the six principals set to lead them have been named. See the full list and photos.
Education
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Six principals will lead new schools opening across Melbourne’s fastest growing suburbs next year.
Education Minister Ben Carroll announced on Wednesday the principal appointments for the six new schools as part of the Labor government’s $573.1m school construction program in the Victorian Budget 2023-24.
The new principals for the schools, which have interim names, include Kristy Miller (Clyde North Primary School), Leanne Winfield (Clyde North Secondary School), Zania Cope (Pakenham North West Primary School), Nicole O’Brien (Riverdale North Primary School), Nicole Walker (Thompsons West Primary School) and Rebecca Spink, (Wollert Central Primary School).
The interim school names will soon be updated with First Nations names, with the naming process already underway in close consultation with Traditional Owner groups.
The principals will now begin to prepare for the 2025 school year, recruiting teachers and staff and designing a curriculum for their new school communities.
In the past nine years, the Labor Government has invested more than $14.9 billion in Victoria’s education infrastructure, with the school building boom creating more than 21,200 jobs in construction and other industries.
Mr Carroll said: “We’re continuing to invest in schools for Melbourne’s growth areas so that families can access world-class schools close to home.”
“Students and teachers deserve modern facilities that will allow them to reach their full potential, and that’s exactly what we will continue to deliver across Victoria,” he said.
“I congratulate the new principals and wish them every success in creating a strong school community in their brand new schools,” he added.
Ms Miller will move to Clyde North Primary School from Devon Meadows Primary School, with this week being her last at the school.
The principal described her time at the school as everyday being filled with “joy”, in a newsletter sent to families last week.
“I extend my heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you for your support, dedication, and passion for our school,” she said.
“As I bid farewell to Devon Meadows Primary School, I carry with me cherished memories and the knowledge that our school community will continue to thrive and succeed under the guidance of our dedicated staff, talented students, and supportive parents.”
Ms O’Brien is currently a principal at Truganina P-9 College and was part of the foundation staff that opened the school in 2015. According to the staff profiles on the school’s website, She has global experience in education and has worked interstate and overseas during her teaching career.
Ms Winfield will move from Euroa Secondary College where she is currently school principal. She has worked in at least four high schools during her teaching career and has previously held leadership positions with a strong focus on wellbeing, pathways and literacy.
The Herald Sun previously revealed that seven new Catholic schools are set to open over the next three years in Victoria’s booming growth corridors.
In 2025, pupils will begin learning at Carlo Acutis Primary School, Wollert West, while Kolbe Catholic College, Mickleham Campus and three other schools in Mount Atkinson, Mount Duneed and Thornhill Park, will open in 2026.
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