AN OLD sports shed will be overhauled at McDonald Park Primary School to make way for a creativity hub.
Attracting $10,000 in federal funding, the centre has gone from a dream to reality for the Mount Gambier school, with the facility to help students design, develop and store projects.
A wall will be built to ensure part of the structure remains a dedicated sports storage shed, opening up the remaining space into a classroom setting complete with whiteboards, large tables and other learning equipment.
Aimed at keeping classrooms free of clutter, the new space will be timetabled for different year levels, giving each student from reception to Year 7 a chance to work on their school projects in the one space.
McDonald Park principal Kirsty Trahar said students would be able to reuse the area for science, technology, engineering and mathematics projects, as well as creative arts.
“This is a project staff have wanted for years to come and we were so grateful when we were told it was happening,” Mr Trahar said.
“The new space will be an area where students are able to focus on their problem solving skills, creativity and other futuristic skills which are an important part of their criteria.”
Ms Trahar said alongside redesigning the shed’s internal layout, the exterior would also be altered with a roller-door installed to maximise student safety while entering and leaving the facility.
“There will also be ventilation, soundproofing and storage for creative tools,” she said.
“It will be the kind of space the students will be able to create their own extraordinary pieces such as dioramas or other projects and then come straight back to it the next time they use the space.
“Design projects take up quite a lot of space within the classroom and so by adding an area where students can safely store their projects it clears up space in their classrooms and other areas.”
The North Terrace facility is one of several Limestone Coast schools to receive funding through the Federal Government’s Local Schools Community Fund grant.
Allendale East Area School has received $12,000 for an outdoor kitchen to enchance its learning program, $18,053 has been awarded to Bordertown Primary
School for the provision of additional IT resources to support students and $5000 to Kalangadoo Primary School to purchase new laptops and iPads for upper, middle and junior primary students to allow access to all students to technology for learning.
Member for Barker Tony Pasin said the funding showed the government’s ability to recognise the important role schools play in the community.
“That is why we are funding small projects that will make a big difference at our local schools,” Mr Pasin said.
“This is additional investment on top of the Coalition Government’s record funding of $310b for schools.
“These local school projects will go a long way in helping our students and the local school community in Barker when they are completed.”
