The new junior campus for Banmira Specialist School has opened. Pictured are Patrick O’Shea, 9, Phoebe Murray, 7, state Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes and Alexander Quick, 10.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Banmira Specialist School has officially opened.
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Formally called Verney Rd School, the new junior school campus sits on the site of the former Wanganui Park Secondary College, and was built through a $24.8 million investment from the Victorian Government.
The new name means ‘valley’ in both Yorta Yorta and Bangerang languages, honouring the traditional owners of the land.
The project, originally expected to be completed in 2026, was fast-tracked to this year, with the new campus opening up for students at the start of term one, 2025.
The new campus boasts state-of-the-art services, with plenty of opportunity for students to learn and play, including a new sensory room for students.
The new sensory room is already a big hit with students.
Photo by
Georgia Tacey
Students attended an assembly for the official opening.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
There is also a new parents’ hub on site, and space for NDIS therapists to come on board within the new campus.
State Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes visited the school on Friday, March 14 to cut the ribbon, and said it was an emotional day for all those involved.
“I would like to take the opportunity to thank the school community, the school council, principal and leaders and people that have been advocating for this project,” she said.
“I’m really proud that as a Labor government, we could contribute $24 million to make this a reality and deliver a school that these kids and teachers deserve.”
Jaclyn Symes said she was excited to open up the new campus for the school. Pictured are (back) Jaclyn Symes, Eliza Adams, 16, principal Angela Buxton, Victoria Peters, 17, Fraser McKinnon, 17, (front) Joey Davison, 5, Phoebe Murray, 7, and Louis Dann, 6.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Principal Angela Buxton said the students were loving their new campus, with the transition to the two campuses going smoothly.
“They’re so grateful for their new school,” she said.
“The kids have transitioned in really well, better than we ever hoped.”
Ms Buxton said the new junior campus had many benefits.
“There’s a lot more facilities and a lot more staff for us to be able to provide our children with the education they absolutely deserve,” she said.
“This space allows us to do that and for them to grow and absolutely thrive.”
At the junior campus, 130 students and 60 teachers and support staff have moved over, with students from years 7 to 12 remaining on the Verney Rd site.
The opening of the junior campus was stage one of the investment in Banmira Specialist School, with stage two set to move the senior school students across to the new Parkside Dve campus.
When asked for any news on stage two funding, Ms Symes said the day was about celebrating the current investment and opening the new campus, but Ms Buxton was hopeful of receiving news soon.
“We’re hopeful for stage two. We’re still running off the Verney Rd site, and we’ve done our absolute best with that at the moment, but we’re hopeful for the future,” Ms Buxton said.
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