The next stage of development at Phoenix P-12 Community College is finished and its new residents couldn’t be more excited.
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A grade 5/6 “village” has been built on the site of the secondary college and three grades of students have moved across the road from the primary campus.
Assistant principal David Garner said the new building was the first step in developing a middle years focus which concentrates on students from years five to eight.
“We are trying to build a village culture with the kids being responsible for this space,” Mr Garner said.
Moving the senior primary students has also freed up three classrooms in the primary campus as the college continues to grow.
This year there are more than 1300 students enrolled from prep to year 12, with the biggest ever intake of prep and year seven students. Growth through Phoenix’s catchment areas of Bonshaw, Winter Valley, Delacombe, Smythes Creek and more means numbers will only get higher.
“What that middle years culture will look like at the moment we are not really sure but it will take the best of primary school year 5/6 and year 7/8,” he said.
“That’s when kids start to drop off with their engagement in education so this is about building that culture as a village with its own identity.”
The concentration on grade 5/6 education in a separate building for now has given new opportunities for the 75 senior primary pupils to work more closely together.
“We have regular meetings with the grade 5/6 kids so we keep that togetherness, it’s not just three separate classes. We come together as a whole cohort to celebrate achievements,” he said.
The new learning centre has also enabled specialist teachers from the secondary school to teach subjects such as science to the youngsters.
The grade 5/6 space is the latest in a multi-million dollar redevelopment for Phoenix which includes a new technology wing, which is almost complete, and construction of a new gym and performing arts space.