With the final touches being put on the modern facilities and learning spaces of the new Greater Shepparton Secondary College, Executive Principal Barbara O’Brien said the school is only missing one thing.
“It is our people who will bring the excitement, activity and sense of community and belonging to our new college,” Ms O’Brien said.
“We want that sense of community to be shared and appreciated by every student, every family and every member of staff from the moment we set foot on the grounds of this wonderful new school.”
Ms O’Brien, who has lived and worked in Greater Shepparton all her life, said the city is widely known for its cultural diversity and community spirit.
“Both have been on show recently as we’ve worked to support each-other through the challenges of COVID-19 lockdowns.”
Ms O’Brien said our sense of community is also very ancient: “Our Koorie families share a care and connection to our land, sky and rivers spanning many, many generations. “
Since its inception two years ago, Ms O’Brien said GSSC had worked hard on developing its own sense of community pride and belonging with common school values and a shared sense of working as one across its three campuses.
“Now, coming together on the one campus, we can really strengthen our sense of community,” she said.
Ms O’Brien said the school’s architecture would be a major asset, with its design custom-made to provide students and staff with the daily feel of being in a much smaller, more inclusive setting.
“While our new college was being built, GSSC created nine Houses across our different campuses,” Ms O’Brien said. “Now, these Houses of no more than 300 students across all year levels fit seamlessly in place at our new campus.
“So ‘home’ for our teachers and students is a House with several hundred students, while our wider Neighbourhoods and the Enterprise and Innovation Centre provide the kind of amazing facilities and learning pathways only a big school can deliver.”
Ms O’Brien said staff are now firmly focussed on guiding their students through Term 4. But she said the anticipation was certainly building for next year.
“I know we are extremely proud to be part of the journey of GSSC at this pivotal time in the history of Shepparton secondary education.”
