By REBECCA BILLS
Schools help complete special school buildings
MOUNT Evelyn schools have rallied together to support Mount Evelyn Special Development School (SDS) to complete much-needed new buildings.
After receiving $2.75 million from the Australian Government under the Building the Education Revolution (BER) Fund, other schools in the area chipped in to ensure a new early year’s centre, proper car parking, a new bus garage and refurbishment of the atrium at the school.
Mount Evelyn SDS principal Helen Johnston said the official opening of the project had been a long time coming.
“We’ve now got our own designated area for our early education program and space for parents, so we can run specific parent programs,” she said.
“It means we can provide more early education programs in a facility that has been built for them.
“With this new building and our pool being the only permanent buildings that we have in our school, it’s so lovely that the other schools turned around and helped us out when we needed the support.”
Birmingham Primary School principal Trish Enzinger said every person was entitled to a really good education with great facilities and the SDS was no different.
“We (Birmingham Primary School) have great facilities, so for us and the other schools in the areas to come together and give the SDS some extra funds to make this happen is really terrific,” she said.
“I’ve been to a country earlier this year where children like this are hidden away.
“These children need all the help they can get to access education and life skills that they need for their futures.”
Evelyn MP Christine Fyffe, who attended the opening, said through having the new early year’s centre, younger children can be introduced to learning in a very comfortable environment.
“The earlier they can start their education the better,” she said.
“Education is an asset for every person, no matter what level they are at and children who are younger are more receptive to the learning process.”
Mrs Fyffe said she had been visiting the school for a number of years and that it was very rewarding watching the students grow through education.
“I’m very proud of the school community and how well the schools in the region work together,” she said.
“Mount Evelyn is quite unique in this way.
“I am amazed at what they have been able to achieve with the money they have had.”
Project architect Jody Wallis said the finished product was exactly how it was planned.
“It was an individual situation that required an individual response,” he said.
“We’ve installed manual lifting hoists to save the staff from having to lift the students up and a sensory room where the students are exposed to a range of sensory experiences.
“We had good builders and a terrific client and we are very happy with the end result.”
