Year 7 students at Matthew Flinders Anglican College are excited to settle into their new space as the innovative Year 7 Precinct opens this week - the first project completed as part of the College’s $30 million Master Plan.
The two-storey, state-of-the-art Year 7 Precinct is an agile and technology-rich space for students to learn and develop the skills of collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, communication, citizenship and character.
At Flinders, Year 7 marks the beginning of Secondary School and also of the Middle School journey from Years 7 to 9.
The new Precinct gives the Year 7 students a dedicated space to grow as a cohort and develop a sense of belonging, confidence and connectedness as they transition into the Secondary School.
The Precinct features three science laboratories and three general purpose classrooms that can be opened into one large collaborative space. There is also ‘The Hive’, a break-out space for students to brainstorm, present, discuss and relax, and ‘The Bungaree Room’ for staff to meet in their professional learning teams.
The expansive verandahs provide views of the College’s manicured sports oval and rainforest, and are designed for use as peaceful learning spaces and also for students to gather at break times.
One of the favourite design aspects in the Precinct is the giant courtyard artwork of the Periodic Table of Elements, set into the tiles on the ground floor – a playful invitation to learn!
Principal Stuart Meade said Flinders had a 15-year plan for the future.
“Our vision is to ensure the College continues to strive for excellence,” Mr Meade said.
“We want to provide high quality, functional, expertly designed facilities that are richly integrated with the latest technology to support effective teaching and learning,” he said.
“The new Year 7 Precinct is the first project to be completed as part of our College’s Masterplan and we are very proud to open its doors to our Year 7s as their very own space.
“It is wonderful to see students’ excitement as they settle in and explore the limitless opportunities for learning that this facility enables.”
Head of Middle School Anita Gibson said the Year 7 Precinct was designed to contribute to, and support, the development of the Flinders Learner Traits - Collaboration, Creativity, Critical Thinking, Communication, Citizenship and Character.
“The Flinders Learner Traits are at the heart of everything we do at Matthew Flinders Anglican College," Anita said.
"At Flinders, we educate for excellence in learning and life and these 21st Century skills will help our students, in their years beyond the College, with future study and indeed their careers,” she said.
“We also want to create spaces that support our students to feel happy, inspired, focused, challenged, cared for and supported as they strive to reach their potential - and we believe this new Year 7 Precinct achieves these goals.”
The College hosted an official opening ceremony on Monday, 10 August with Year 7 students, staff and College Board members.
Principal Stuart Meade thanked all involved in the project, including architects Hayball; builders led by Justin Costanzo, Peter Peter Shilkin and site foreman Al Connors; Flinders Project Manager, Rocco Perugini, and the College Leadership Team.
The official ribbon to open the Precinct was cut by the Chair of the College Board of Directors, Evan Gilbert, alongside the Head of Middle School, Anita Gibson.
The College looks forward to sharing some of the exciting learning that will occur in the new facility.
Image above: Students enjoy their first lesson in the new Year 7 Precinct.
Image above: Cutting the ribbon to officially open the new Flinders Year 7 Precinct. Left to right: Head of Middle School, Mrs Anita Gibson and Chair of the College Board, Mr Evan Gilbert.
Image above: Year 7 students enjoy a breakfast at the official opening of their new Year 7 Precinct.
Image above: How's the view? Students enjoy the winter sunshine while working together on the verandah of their new Year 7 Precinct.
Image above: The first of many Science experiments in one of the three Science laboratories, located upstairs, in the new Year 7 Precinct.
