New classroom buildings and amenities estimated to cost about $11.6M are in the works for St Cecilia’s Catholic Primary School at Wyong and St John Fisher Catholic Primary School at Tumbi Umbi.
Plans at Cecilia’s will see the demolition of four classroom buildings including one demountable and construction of a new two-storey building facing Panonia Rd.
The new building will have six Level 1 classrooms, interactive outdoor learning areas, stairs, lift, access ramps, ground-floor amenities, new landscaping and new outdoor seating.
It is estimated the cost of these works will be almost $6.5M.
Work will start at St John Fisher Catholic Primary School with removal of two single-level demountable classrooms which will be replaced with new landscaped outdoor open spaces.
A single-level classroom building known as Block H will be demolished as it is too old and can’t be relocated on or off site.
There will be a new two-storey classroom building and amenities block next to the existing outdoor tiered seating area which will be upgraded with a new outdoor learning area, new landscaping, new seating, stairs and access ramps.
These improvements are expected to cost about $5.1M
The upgrades aim to address future demand for student enrolments in the rapidly growing area with a future focussed on enhanced student learning by replacing inefficient or aged facilities with modern and best-practice teaching spaces.
There won’t be an increase in teachers or student numbers because of these updated classroom developments.
Both co-educational schools cater for Kindergarten through to Year 6 with 308 students at St Cecilia’s and 380 at St John Fisher.
St Cecilia’s opened in 1916 when the Sisters of St Joseph came to Wyong to establish a convent and school.
The convent was originally one of the stately homes of Wyong, built in about 1907 for Samuel Whittle.
The Sisters established St Cecilia’s as both a day and boarding school providing secondary education up to Intermediate Certificate level; it was named in honour of Cecilia Woodbury who raised most of the money to build the parish church.
After many years the boarding component of the convent closed and St Cecilia’s became a day school only but by the early 1980s more classroom blocks were built to cater to the considerable increase in school enrolments.
By 1988 St John Fisher Catholic Primary opened to meet the needs of the growing population in the Tumbi Umbi, Berkeley Vale, Chittaway Bay and Glenning Valley areas.
The school started with 27 students in a composite class of Kindergarten-Year 1 children and has since grown to reach its potential of 380 students in 14 class groups from Kindergarten to Year 6.
Development applications can be viewed on Central Coast Council’s website – St Cecilia’s (678/2023) and St John Fisher (671/2023).
Sue Murray
First I would like to say I have been trying to get aircon in Berkeley vale campus very in hot in summer cold as in winter this is a public school that need government help way before private schools .
What do I need to do to get help the system is all wrong