New kids on the block: An inside look at Coastal Lakes College

The new government high school in Lakelands is patiently waiting for their year 7 cohort to start on February 4.

And no one is more excited than school principal Kya Graves.

The former Warnbro Community High School principal has been planning furiously for her her students’ arrival for more than 12 months.

“I just want the students to be here now, I’m so excited for them,” she said.

“They’re really important, they’re the foundation students and they will help us form our culture and our sense of identity.”

The school, located on Badgerup Avenue, will service Mandurah’s fast-growing northern suburbs including Madora Bay, Lakelands and Singleton.

Starting with year 7’s in their foundation year, the school will introduce another year group every year.

“This year’s year 7 students will always be the oldest students in the school,” Ms Graves said.

“It’s a little more structured to do it this way and has less impact on local high schools who may lose numbers and have to adjust to that.”

Ms Graves said she’s had plenty of time to think about the school’s vision for it’s inaugural year.

“It’s all about culture and pride,” she said.

“We have aspirations of success for all, regardless of what that success looks like.

“Alongside that is a sense of community and belonging here – we want to focus on a connection from student to school to family to community.

“We want our students to be strong, resilient members of their community and be proud of who they are and who they represent in their community.”

A quick glance around the school proves that it is most definitely decked out with all the latest and greatest classroom facilities and equipment, including an outstanding inclusive education hub.

“We’re very unique in that we’re one of only half a dozen schools now that is an inclusive education school so we have education support students as part our school but they’re not in an ed-support centre tucked away, they are actually part of the school,” she said.

“They may spend some time in their specialist facilities where it’s appropriate for their learning and their therapy but they will also be in mainstream classes with the other students.

“It’s important that we all learn to get along and recognise that everyone is a bit different in a variety of ways and society is made up of lots of individuals and it’s how we get along that’s really important.”

The hub features a state-of-the-art hydrotherapy pool with a ceiling hoist from the change rooms to the pool as well as rooms for physiotherapy, occupational therapy, life skill lessons and regular classroom lessons.

The school also boasts an impressive performing arts centre kitted out with a dance studio, a film and television studio and a foyer to display students’ artwork and photography.

The gymnasium has four basketball courts, an electronic scoreboard and a fitness room.

Across campus there’s an abundance of woodwork and metalwork equipment and a commercial kitchen that is hoped will run industry certificates out of within a couple of years.

Throughout the school grounds, it is hard to miss the incredible artwork, completed by two local Indigenous artists, that give the school a modern and welcoming feel.

And there is still more to be done with the College’s official completion date set for 2023.

“All we are getting in stage two are general classroom blocks and there won’t be any disruptions for us when stage two is being built because it’s behind a fence,” Ms Graves said.

“Specialist rooms tend to come in stage two – like drama rooms, commercial kitchens, art rooms, but I’ve got them all in stage one so it’s phenomenal the opportunities we’ll be able to have earlier.”

Coastal Lakes College recently revealed their new uniform, which Ms Graves said was well received by the school community.

The black, white and blue uniforms include pants, shorts, skorts and dress options for girls and a comfy sports uniform.

Ms Graves said it was important to portray a sense of “school pride and identity” in a more formal uniform.

“It makes a statement in the community about who we are, what we stand for and what our standards are,” she said.

“We really are between the coast and a string of lakes along the freeway so the main school colours are blue.

“As you walk around the school, it all makes sense and the school has a sense of calmness from the water.”

Coastal Lakes College will be officially opened by Education Minister Sue Ellery on February 15. 

For more information about the school, follow Coastal Lakes College on Facebook.