THE opening of a new Catholic primary school at Pottsville has been postponed by 12 months, allowing additional time to build the fledgling facility.
Initially flagged to open for the 2014 school year, construction of the new facility is now not expected to begin until at least August or September, with the school earmarked to open in 2015.
St Ambrose Catholic Primary School, which was approved by the NSW Joint Regional Planning Panel last October, will service the southern end of the Tweed Coast with a maximum capacity of 420 students or two classes per year from Kinder to Year 6.
It will be built at the end of Elizabeth Street on land adjacent to the Catholic Church, with a new one-way road – Charles Street – to be built on the road reserve between Anne St and the church to ensure acceptable traffic flow.
St Anthony’s Parish business manager Paul Crouch, who is managing the project, said the diocese had decided to delay the opening by a year to accommodate an anticipated 50-week building period.
“We want to make this the best possible school and what we anticipated initially was going to be rushing it,’’ Mr Crouch said.
“If we had gone down the original path with a 50-week build, it would have allowed no possible room for any extensions and then to get the school to a position where it is not totally completed, and you are asking students and parents to start the year, it is not fair on anybody.
“You only get one chance to make a very good impression when you open a school.’’
Mr Crouch said $5 million in funding for stage one of the facility had been secured, with contributions from the local parish, the Catholic school office and the Federal Government.
Recruitment for a principal would begin by the end of this year, with the successful candidate to be appointed towards the second half of 2014.
The principal will be closely involved in consulting with the local community, including in the design and selection of school colours, mottos and uniforms.
“It’s very exciting,’’ Mr Crouch said.
“We are definitely going to very much involve the locals in it, to make them feel part of it and set up a really positive culture down there even before the school starts.’’
Mr Crouch said the parish would hold regular community meetings to get conceptual plans and drawings underway and to answer any questions or concerns that may arise.
Tenders for the construction are expected to be let in June, with the first sod expected to be turned around by August-September.
Touted as a learning centre of the future, the school boasts a state of the art design including open-plan classrooms with bi-fold doors opening up to a central courtyard.
A bell tower will be the centrepiece of the school, while a lengthy drop-off and parking zone will ensure safety and reduce the impact of increased traffic on existing streets.
Parents who have already expressed interest in enrolling their children will be contacted as soon as the new principal is appointed.
Anyone else interested in sending their children to St Ambrose can lodge their interest at St Anthony’s Parish office on 02 6674 1284.
