LAKELANDS Primary School was officially opened by Education Minister Peter Collier and Education Department director general Sharyn O’Neill on Tuesday.
The school began classes late last year and currently has 500 students from kindergarten to year six.
Mr Collier described Lakelands as a growth area for the region and said quality education facilities were vital.
“The Lakelands community deserve this school,” he said.
“The bricks and mortar do not make a great school. What makes a great school is the people within it.”
Mr Collier presented a book about the history of Perth and Western Australia to the school and gave the parents and citizens group a cheque for $2000.
“I never underestimate the work of parents in the school community,” he said.
Principal Jim Bell praised the efforts of the staff in getting the school up and running.
“The level of professionalism I’ve seen from our staff is something I’ve rarely seen in my time in the industry,” he said. “This school has room to grow, with two acres of grassed area out the front and room for more transportable classrooms.”
The school is fully airconditioned and has an undercover assembly area, a canteen, a library, hard courts, an oval, cricket practice nets and a science room.
“In the past, airconditioning was something the school would have to fundraise for in the first few years but we have it already,” Mr Bell said.
The opening of Lakelands means less pressure on nearby Meadow Springs Primary School, as students from the area move to the new facility.
That school was previously far over capacity as numbers of children and families in the area soared during the past few years.
Meadow Springs principal Ashley King said it was a good day for education in Mandurah and the move was brilliant for his school.
“I was on the original planning board for this school and it’s great to see how they’ve dealt with some of the issues here,” he said. “This land is actually on a hill and they’ve dealt with it very well.
“I will continue to work closely with Mr Bell and Lakelands Primary.”
Mr Collier also officially opened Golden Bay Primary School earlier on Tuesday morning. See photos here,
