Development at St John’s School, Gladstone
16 September, 2021
Excitement and anticipation were building in the St John’s Catholic Primary School community in Gladstone as the school’s major three-year redevelopment plan entered the final phases of construction. Catholic Education, Diocese of Rockhampton (CEDR) partnered with Hutchinson Builders to deliver the two-stage facility upgrade due for completion mid next year.
St John’s, located in J Hickey Avenue, Clinton Park, will be well positioned to cater for increased enrolment demand as the school moved progressively to four streams, according to Diocesan Director Leesa Jeffcoat. “Census figures and data analysis indicate that demand for a Catholic education from families in Gladstone remains strong and we are excited to be able to increase our capacity to meet the needs of our community with these state-of-the-art facilities,” Miss Jeffcoat said.
Stage 1 of the project was completed mid-way through 2020 and included redevelopment of the Physical Education/Canteen covered lunch area, traffic upgrades for student set down and pickup, new carparking and student amenity upgrades. “Construction of Stage 2 is now well under way and will see the completion of a new administration building, eight new general learning teaching spaces, a redeveloped Early Learning Precinct incorporating Prep, Year 1 and Year 2, and finalising our set down/pickup facility and entry forecourt,” Miss Jeffcoat said.
With a current enrolment of more than 550 students, marking a 25 percent growth since 2017, St John’s will progressively introduce four streams across the school commencing with Prep in 2023. The redevelopment plan has incorporated distinct education precincts for early, middle and upper years, to facilitate contemporary and functional learning approaches, according to Principal James Emerick. “The new facilities ensure St John’s is extremely well-resourced with infrastructure to effectively support high quality teaching and learning for the years to come,” Mr Emerick said. “This significant investment in St John’s is testimony to Catholic Education’s ongoing commitment to the future of our students, staff, families – our whole school community – as well as the Gladstone community more broadly,” Miss Jeffcoat said.
Miss Jeffcoat said as Catholic Education marked 200 years in Australia this year it was pleasing that St John’s was undergoing such a significant upgrade to ensure families were well catered for into the future.
