By Eleanor Wilson
Officer’s Orchard Park Primary School welcomed a special guest on Friday 16 June, when Premier Daniel Andrews dropped by to tour the school.
Mr Andrews and Pakenham MP Emma Vulin were guided through facilities by Orchard Park principal Nathan Jagoe and student leaders, touring flexible learning centres, the school’s gymnasium and an outdoor space currently being transformed into an inclusive playground.
The 330 pupil school, surrounded by Officer’s Timbertop housing estate, was opened in 2021 following a $24 million government grant.
The premier was invited to visit the school by Pakenham MP Emma Vulin, who said education is “a major focus of the [Andrews] Government”.
Premier Andrews said it was a “profound investment in making sure we build the education state in every part of the state”.
“This is fantastic – I can’t think of a better way to invest $24 million – in a growing community, brand new facilities, great teachers and staff and a student group that are really engaged and positive and happy,” he said.
Mr Jagoe said the premier’s visit evoked “a sense of pride in what we’ve been able to achieve in our first two and a half years of being open”.
“We’re a very student-focused environment but also very connected to our community and the diversity of our community as well, we’re really proud of that,” he said.
“We want our kids to really identify and feel proud about being here and feel like they have some real voice in who we are and what we do.”
The school was recently granted $190,450 through round eight of the State Government’s Inclusive Schools Fund to build an inclusive playground.
The playground will not only cater to diverse physical and sensory needs, but will give students “some real challenge and rigour in their physical play outside”, Mr Jagoe said.
“We’re really thrilled and it’ll only further complement our school as we grow as a school to provide lots of variety of things that our kids can be doing outside.”
The project is in its design phase and its projected to be completed in late 2023.
Mr Andrews said the State Government “wants every child to have every chance”.
“We’ve had a really big inclusive schools agenda, upgrading all of our special schools, all 82 of those, every single one of them, as well as really big investments and additional support for students with special needs and making sure every child gets the opportunity and the support to reach the full and unique potential that belongs to them.”
