Three Catholic high schools to benefit from over $10 million in government funding
Three high schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle; San Clemente High School, Mayfield, St Joseph's High School, Aberdeen and the new St Bede's Catholic College, Chisholm, will share in $10,103,014 of Australian Government Capital Grants.
The funding, confirmed on Friday, has been provided under the Capital Grants Program (CGP) for non-government schools and is allocated through the NSW Catholic Block Grant Authority (BGA). These grants are designed to provide schools with the best possible learning environment for their students.
Bishop Bill Wright is delighted with the announcement of the funding.
"This funding greatly assists us to provide the best possible facilities in our existing and new schools, so that students can learn in conditions that really support and encourage their intellectual development and in communities that nourish their faith and humanity too," said Bishop Wright.
"As the largest provider of education apart from the Government in the region, we're pleased to be able to continue our commitment to quality education for many years to come."
The funding will be used to refurbish and enhance the learning spaces at the two existing diocesan schools and assist in the construction of the first permanent stage of the new Year 7 to 12 high school, St Bede's.
Director of Schools, Ray Collins, is thrilled that the funding will complement the current growth strategies of the Catholic Schools Office.
"Providing facilities in our schools to enrich student learning, reflect modern learning requirements, improve accessibility and support overall school growth is a key focus of the Catholic Schools Office," said Mr Collins.
"We are grateful to the government and the BGA for continuing to recognise and support the importance of school capital infrastructure in our diocese through these grants."
Mayfield's San Clemente High School will receive $3,256,973, which will assist in the construction of a new multi-purpose hall and associated learning spaces, fitness classrooms, hall storage space, toilets, kitchen and a lift to improve accessibility across the school's multi-level campus. The project will also involve the refurbishment of the food technology space, staff work area and pupil facilities.
The Upper Hunter's Year 7 to 12 Catholic high school, St Joseph's at Aberdeen, will receive $3,346,041 for the refurbishment of the vacated library to provide improved school entry and administration areas and specialised learning areas (art, technical and applied students and VET). The project also incorporates the construction of a multi-purpose hall to provide a specialist fitness learning space.
The Maitland region's St Bede's Catholic College, Chisholm, which is scheduled to open in January 2018, will begin construction early next year, with $3,500,000 allocated to support the first stage of building.
