General News
3 May, 2024
The historic and the modern unite
SKIPTON Primary School held an official opening last Wednesday to mark the completion of construction works to the building, combining the historical with the modern.
Construction works began in 2022 for the $4.2 million upgrade, which was funded by the Victorian Government and the Department of Education.
Skipton Primary School acting principal Chanelle Pelchen said the journey began when previous principal Nick Keating applied for a grant to rebuild a toilet block.
“After some time waiting for an outcome, it was a beautiful day on a school camp when Mr Keating was all harnessed up to climb some crates at Cave Hill Creek when he got a phone call from the school,” she said.
“Upon answering, he found Nat Clark (school administrator), with a few tears, yelling in excitement that the government had allocated $4.2 million to Skipton Primary School to improve the buildings and grounds.
The original red brick building was opened in 1888, with changes made throughout the years to expand and update the school.
Additional classrooms were added in 1957 and 1969 before the Mackinnon Hall was added in 2010, which was the last major upgrade until the 2022 works.
Ms Pelchen said the upgrades had made significant changes to the floorplan of the school, unleashing “a world of incredible opportunities” for the students.
“We have a beautiful, welcoming office with space for storage and a communications room, making small spaces available for music lessons, specialists and small group work,” she said.
“We have the largest staff space I have ever seen, allowing our teachers to literally put their feet up when they are on break.
“We have a special room, just for AUSLAN and tutoring. We have a wonderful library space that the students love learning in.
“We have three beautiful new classrooms, one for each grade, with access to the deck supporting us in being able to take our learning outside too.”
The upgrade included works in the Mackinnon Hall, providing facilities for art, science and cooking classes.
The works are complimented with landscaping works, providing additional areas for play, rest and exploration during breaks.
Ms Pelchen said, alongside all the upgrade works and modernization, students have been looking into the school’s history.
Some of this history was shared at the opening, where student leaders spoke to a crowd of residents and past students.
“As the date for our school opening finally became locked in, the stories of Skipton Primary School started coming along, too,” Ms Pelchen said.
“It has been incredible to listen to the generations of families share their experiences, the stories of how the school came to be, the impact of surrounding towns like Vite Vite and Carrumballac, as well as the legacy left behind by students, staff and community members.
“I have heard from staff members who have family links to the school, looking through the old photo albums, finding their loved ones and asking questions. We have current students looking at photos of people within the community they know, researching all of the history of the school and even just being proud of the school they belong to.
“There have been past students having the opportunity to return as part of the redevelopment of the school, past students sharing their school, photos and even a recording of the Skipton Primary School song, with an edit making a comeback possible.”
Amongst the new rooms and landscaping, the school has retained its original bricks and the original bell from its inception.
Member for Rippon Martha Haylett said the construction had only just begun the last time she visited the school.
“I know how patient everyone has been – the students, especially, but the teachers, the staff and the parents; you’ve been incredible through this process,” she said.
“Just getting a tour into the building, it looks absolutely beautiful and it’s so lovely how it incorporates the old and the new.
“I cover a lot of schools, and you can feel when you go into a school and it has a really good feel.
“That is because of the community of Skipton; you have such a fantastic parent group, the school council is really advocating constantly for this school, and I just want to thank everyone who is here from those groups because without you this wouldn’t have happened.”
Ms Pelchen extended her gratitude to all the people and organisations who supported the works.
Ms Haylett said the school will remain an asset for years to come.
“We’ve heard the beautiful history of the school, but now we’re going to have an even better school for years to come,” she said.