Doors open at new school
After more than a year of construction, eager young pupils will get their first glimpse inside the new state-of-the-art Broome North Primary School on February 1.
The $21 million learning facility will open its doors next month to about 120 students, and enrolment numbers are set to grow to about 400 by 2016.
Boasting specialist classrooms, sustainable practices and the latest technology, the new school will cater for the growing Broome North community and relieve other schools nearing capacity.
Hailing from Derby District High School, foundation principal Noel Morgan has grand plans for the facility he promises will have students eager to learn.
"It is a wonderful thing for Broome to be able to get a brand new school like this and I'm highly confident parents and students are going to absolutely love what they see," he said.
"We want to create the sort of environment here at Broome North that makes students want to get out of bed each and every morning and come to school."
With a complement of 11 experienced teachers, the school features three early childhood classrooms, two Year 1 classrooms, 14 specialist teaching classrooms, music and art rooms, a library and a dedicated special education centre.
Each classroom is fitted with new teaching equipment, including Wi-Fi and Bluetooth- enabled interactive whiteboards.
The school has been built around ecological and sustainable practices, in keeping with plans to be a "clean and green" learning facility.
The Yawuru people have strongly influenced the design of the school, with up to 200 pieces of artwork and sculptures featured on site.
Each building in the school has also been given a Yawuru name.
"We have had strong support from the Yawuru people from day one and not only will the artwork beautifully decorate the school, it will be used pragmatically for teaching."
The school will be officially opened by Education Minister Peter Collier in Term 1 and the doors will be thrown open again for a public open day.
