School expansion welcomed
Construction of a $10 million Futures Centre at St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School is well underway and has great significance to former student, Jye Neilson, who is returning to the school as part of the building project team.
Jye formerly attended the St Paul’s Traralgon Campus and then travelled by bus to the Warragul Campus for a period of time before moving on to start his apprenticeship.
“Being part of the construction project at my former school is pretty cool, and something a bit different. It’s always good to give back and do your part,” Jye said.
“The local community is expanding and our population is growing and we are looking for more schools. I have family and friends looking for schools at the moment and I think St Paul’s going to VCE in Traralgon will make a big difference in the community.”
“Students will enjoy not having to travel for VCE. When I was here many students weren’t keen on the idea of travelling to Warragul on the bus every day when they had sporting commitments.”
The construction is a part of the Traralgon Campus’ expansion from a Kindergarten–Year 10 school to incorporate VCE with the first students studying Year 11 in 2026 and Year 12 in 2027. Designed to be a striking multi-level building with outstanding performing arts facilities, a modern secondary library adjoining a large spacious open cafeteria, a community hub and a range of student learning and gathering spaces, both large and small, the benefits to students will be immediate.
“I think the students will be quite happy as the facilities are going to be exceptional. I think this will be one of the best architectural school buildings in Traralgon, maybe even Gippsland.”
The Futures Centre is the first stage of an ongoing $30-million capital investment into the Traralgon Campus as the school caters to increased demand for student numbers and facilitates a purpose-built learning environment to expand curriculum and co-curricular offerings.
Expected to open in January 2024, Principal Cameron Herbert believes the Futures Centre will provide students with outstanding state-of-the-art learning and gathering spaces. “This signature building will be a physical statement of St Paul’s commitment to providing a complete Kindergarten to Year 12 education in the Latrobe Valley,” he said. “The exciting architecture of the Futures Centre will add flair and gravitas to our educational environment. This will shine through in our students and in the unique learning community that is quintessentially St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School.”