Primary School students at Matthew Flinders Anglican College on the Sunshine Coast are excited to explore and learn in their newly opened $1.3 million Wonderarium.
The Wonderarium learning centre has been designed as a place of wonder, awe and curiosity.
Principal Stuart Meade said it was exciting to officially open the Wonderarium. The new facility is part of the five-year Flinders Masterplan to construct a suite of agile contemporary learning spaces for the College’s 1,380 students from Prep to Year 12.
Other newly opened Masterplan facilities include the Flagship Centre for Primary students in Years 5 and 6, and the Year 7 Precinct for students commencing Secondary School.
The Wonderarium is wholly funded by the College’s philanthropic organisation, the Flinders Foundation.
Flinders Head of Primary, Mrs Trudi Edwards said the new Wonderarium would welcome students from Prep to Year 6 to explore their creativity in a tech-rich environment of literature and adventure.
“The space has been designed to challenge our young learners to explore new ways of seeing, perceiving, understanding and engaging with their world,” Trudi said.
“Not only will students have access to the latest technology and a curious environment but they will also encounter literature, artefacts, works of art and provocations that will challenge and excite them,” she said.
“New Wonder Lessons, known as Wonderations, have been specially curated for this space by our Head of Information, Literature and Resource Services.
“We’ll also have our Head of Emerging Technology and Innovation working out of our Wonderarium so students will be bringing drones and robots to life here too!
“The students will soon learn that the Wonderarium is a place to engage the heart as much as the head.”
Students will be encouraged to engage in deep thinking using the Flinders Learner Traits (commonly known as the 6 Cs) of creativity, communication, citizenship, critical thinking, character and collaboration.
Outside, there are landscaped sensory gardens with playful stepping stones to suit active learners, and decked open-air learning areas and seating pods for reading, reflection and collaborative learning.
An exterior wall of the Wonderarium ignites students’ creativity with a new artwork by renowned Queensland mural artist Claire Matthews.
Flinders Foundation Chair Mr John Gannon said the Wonderarium project was an exciting addition to the quality facilities on offer at the College.
“Flinders has a reputation for providing the highest quality education to its students, and the Flinders Foundation is committed to supporting and enabling this mission,” John said.
“The Foundation is delighted to wholly fund the Wonderarium as an innovative and aspirational facility that will help to boost student engagement and outcomes - now and into the future.”
For media information, please contact Director of Community Engagement, Ms Alison Walburn at awalburn@mfac.edu.au or 07) 5477 3200.
For more information, visit the Wonderarium page on the Flinders website at https://www.mfac.edu.au/wonderarium/
