In a win for people power, Keysborough Gardens Primary School formally opened on 31 January.
Principal Phil Anthony said 160 students were settling into the unique two-storey school in the new Keysborough estates.
“It’s been built to meet the needs of a growing Keysborough South area.
“We’ve had an excellent start. The children have settled in quickly, the teachers have established their flexible learning spaces very creatively.”
The ‘vertical’ building was a point of difference. It was set up for a focus on collaborative learning – allowing students to learn from other classes’ teachers and schoolmates, Mr Anthony said.
There would also be enquiry-based learning to extend the school’s high-capability students.
The full curriculum includes physical education, music, visual art and Chinese Mandarin.
It was a proud day for parents such as Nina Kelly who had lobbied for a state school in the estates since 2015.
With a 1000-strong petition, the “group of mums” got the backing of local media, MPs and Greater Dandenong Council. And eventually their will won through.
“It’s come too late for my eldest child but it’s perfect timing for my youngest,” Ms Kelly said.
Tellingly, most of the students are from Year 1 to Year 6. They have transferred from afar schools to the more conveniently-sited Keysborough Gardens.
The question arises – why did residents have to wait? Why wasn’t a school ready to go when residents moved into their sparkling new estates?
It wasn’t until 2017 that the Government identified and purchased a site for the school.
“The Government needs to be forward thinking in their planning so residents have access to public education facilities from the moment they move in,” Ms Kelly said.
