Yarrawonga is one of 13 locations around Victoria to get the green light from the Victorian Government.
The move supports the school’s push to make the precinct a one-stop education precinct for ages 0-99, with plenty of scope to host new and relocated adult learning services at the Pinniger St site should a planned, but unfunded, relocation of the year 9-12 buildings take place.
College principal Damien Keel said the school was “excited” about the development, which will have at least two kindergarten rooms.
“Yarrawonga College P-12 is excited to support the quality provision of state three and four-year-old kindergarten,” he said.
“It fits in well with our 0-99 playgroup through to vocational goals.
“And it will help meet potential local growth that we are seeing in places like Bundalong and Glanmire Park.
“It’s taken a while, but eventually, we’ve got that to happen, which is fantastic.”
Victorian Education Minister Lizzie Blandthorn said having kindergartens located at or near schools eased the transition from kindergarten to school, with benefits to both children and parents.
“Connecting kinders with schools offers so many opportunities for our littlest learners,” she said.
Works are expected to begin in the first quarter of the next financial year, with modular buildings to be installed in the corner of the college where the old metal and woodwork rooms are.
Outgoing P-12 School Council president Carolyn O’Dwyer, who has recently handed over the reins to Kate Forge, said it would make pick-up and drop-off easier for busy parents.
“We’re rapt,” she said.
“It will make for a reduction in the morning madness for families and it fits in perfectly with our 0-99 education philosophy.
“And there’s definitely a need for it; there’ll be increased demand as Yarrawonga grows.”
The new kinder will complement Yarrawonga Preschool and Mulwala Preschool as well as kindergarten services offered by privately owned Yarrawonga-based Goodstart, Country Buddies and Trikki Kidz.
Mrs O’Dwyer said she hoped the acknowledgment by the government of the population growth in the area might lead to additional investment in the P-12 College, such as the abandoned Stage 2 works which include the relocation of the 9-12 school buildings which was once slated to follow the Stage 1 investment in the Gilmore St administration building, which was undertaken early last decade.
“Hopefully it’s a sign of things to come, and they get that call in May (before the State budget) about Stage 2,” she said.
The Coalition, at the last election, budgeted the cost of Stage 2 at $18 million.
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