It's a case of 'out with the old, in with the new'.
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Urquhart Park Primary School will change its name to Newington Primary School from next year to better reflect the community it calls home.
Victorian education minister James Merlino approved the name change last week and the school will start to transition to the new name from the start of term three with the official name change from the start of the 2021 school year.
"This is about us moving the school in to the future and building our connection with our community," said principal Janet Hillgrove.
"Our school is located within Newington, we have a fabulous vibrant community here so we think it's really important for our school to be connected with our community."
In 1982, Urquhart Primary School moved from Urquhart St to its present site in Inkerman St, Newington, and the school name changed to Urquhart Park Primary School to reflect its new location opposite Victoria Park.
The school, and the street it was on, was named after William Swan Urquhart, a surveyor who planned the layout of Ballarat as we know it today.
Ms Hillgrove said the school was mindful of its proud history which would not be lost or forgotten in the name change.
Its existing school uniform will be retained as a nod to the history and because parents and students like it.
"We will stick with our uniform. We really understand that the history of our school is really important to our school. We have a very broad history and our uniform is something that our children really love, and our parents really love so we have decided to retain our uniform," Ms Hillgrove said.
In a letter sent to parents when the school's name change was first proposed in July last year, school council stated that many people had difficulty locating the school as Urquhart Park is not a suburb, that it should be easily identifiable to emergency services, and that many people regularly mispronounced and mis-spelled the school's name.
The community consultation included letters home to parents seeking feedback, a notice in the local paper seeking feedback, and letters to local businesses and organisations.
Ms Hillgrove said the change of name was also in line with its position as the only state primary school in Ballarat authorised as an International Baccalaureate World School.
"Part of that program is our school really needs to be mindful of community and mindful of culture and so it seems extremely fitting that we adopt our local community identity," she said.
IN OTHER NEWS
Ms Hillgrove and assistant principal Monica Dowling visited each of the schools 14 classes late last week to explain the change of name to the 340 pupils and parents were informed via the newsletter.
"There's always a range of feedback and some people feel the historical component is very important. School council is very mindful of that but also had a strong feeling it's time to move in to the future," Ms Hillgrove said.
"There's been a range of reaction but overall the reaction has been positive."
Wendouree MP Juliana Addison was excited to hear the school's change of name had been approved.
"Schools aren't just places for learning, but hubs for the community which is why it is so important local community voices were heard in this process," she said.
"It is exciting for this school to receive its new name delivering what the school and community want."
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