Opening and Blessing at St Paul’s Gracemere
16 November, 2021
St Paul’s Catholic Primary School, Gracemere, where Catholic Education – Diocese of Rockhampton (CEDR) opened its first preschool back 1988, celebrated a new chapter this month, with the Official Blessing and Opening of the school’s new Early Learning Precinct and associated works.
Bishop Michael McCarthy conducted the blessing and along with Diocesan Director – Catholic Education, Leesa Jeffcoat, officially opened the new facilities.
Teacher, Sue Georgeson, who is currently a Year 1 teacher at the school and was also St Paul’s first Preschool teacher over 30 years ago, spoke at the event, reflecting on the school’s growth and development in serving the educational needs of families in the Gracemere community. “I have been fortunate to witness many different changes to our school since I started teaching here in 1988 as the first preschool teacher in our diocese,” Mrs Georgeson said. “Our first buildings have all been used for many different purposes. Our Minilit room was once a tuckshop, our office area was once our fist library and the current Year 4 rooms were once our front office and staff room. And now in 2021, we have even more reason to be proud of our school. Our purpose built, Early Years Learning spaces are the most wonderful addition to St Paul’s. From a teacher’s perspective, this is a dream environment in which to teach. A learning environment thoroughly resolved and designed to maximise learning,” Mrs Georgeson said.
The redevelopment project completed by BT Builders and designed by Tony Madden Architects includes two new Prep classrooms and two Year 1 classrooms a covered lunch area, student amenities and a set down/pick up carpark.
Miss Jeffcoat said Catholic Education was delighted to provide the state-of-the-art teaching and learning facilities to cater for current and future growth in the area. “The project has transformed the Early Years precinct providing contemporary teaching facilities and functional outdoor areas to enhance learning opportunities that support the school’s educational model.” Miss Jeffcoat continuesd, ” The precinct has been carefully designed to allow for expansion when future demand is realised.”
Miss Jeffcoat said the significant redevelopment reflected the ongoing commitment of Catholic Education and the St Paul’s community to ensuring the school was well-equipped and well-resourced to continue to deliver quality faith-based learning to students now and well into the future.
