Top marks for schools- Silvan Primary School students Tom and Alora, both 12, and principal Tr

By Mara
HILLS students are taking pride in their school with new funding to refurbish facilities there.
Sassafras and Silvan Primary schools have been granted $300,000 each as part of the State Government’s school improvement program.
The State Government has also committed $41 million for capital works to upgrade the bushfire resistance of facilities for schools in the Dandenong and Yarra Ranges.
The most at-risk schools will have extra funding allocated for bushfire protection.
Silvan Primary School principal Trevor Smithson was “over the moon” at the announcement.
He said they put the application for funding in some time ago.
“It’s going to make a huge difference to the school,” he said.
Mr Smithson said the money will go towards carpet, asphalt and a covered area, musical instruments and at least 20 laptops.
“We’re going to have the new Rolling Stones of the future.And every kid in the school will have a laptop,” Mr Smithson said.
Mr Smithson is keen for the projects to “happen pretty quickly.”.
“We’re still on cloud nine at the moment.”
Sassafras Primary School principal Alex McDonald said the funding was “the icing on the cake”. Mr McDonald said previous funding allowed the school to have solar panels installed, water tanks, a new playground and foyer. This money will be used for the school’s ongoing maintenance.
“We want to do some of the things we haven’t had the money for. There’s lots of maintenance we can do – things like painting and getting one of the whiteboards mounted.”