By Tanya Faulkner and Tyler Wright
Boronia K-12 Primary School is preparing to celebrating 100 years of being in the community on Tuesday 5 December.
Assistant Principal Cassandra Wright said the school was opened on 5 February 1923 with Mr Percy Jones as head teacher.
“There were 41 students. Enrolments grew to 120 by 1933 and new rooms added to the original one roomed building,” Ms Wright said.
“In 1950 approval was given to use the Church Hall on Rangeview Road due to the Dorset Road site not being sufficient to cater for the rising number of families in the area.
“The new school on Rangeview Road opened in 1951, with the original school on Dorset Road continuing to operate for junior students in prep and year one.
“By 1953 there were over 500 hundred enrolments and additions were made with grants and labour from the community.”
Ms Wright said additions continued to be required, as in 1972 enrolment reached 627 students.
“This included a canteen, enlarging staffrooms, principal offices and classrooms,” she said.
“In the 1970s, planning commenced for an adventure playground, school crossings and a fitness trail that would be of benefit to the school and local community.”
Outside hours school care was also inaugurated in 1988, followed by the computerisation of the library in the 1990s and an information technology lab in the late 90s.
The new lab brought 31 computers, an instruction computer and projection screen with it.
“In 2002 a fire destroyed many buildings, including seven vehicles,” Ms Wright said.
“It took three years for fundraising to replace the equipment lost in the fire.
“This dedication to fundraising has continued throughout the years. However, in 2003 a grant was received from the Bracks Government to rebuild the art room lost and refurbish classroom,. staffroom, administration, student bathrooms and Outside Hours School Care buildings.
“This was completed in 2005 including a basketball stadium still used by College and the community.”
In 2012, at the start of term four, the independently run kindergarten Allendale Kindergarten moved into the new purpose-built Early Learning Centre housed in the grounds of Boronia Primary School.
Allandale Kindergarten was initiated in the mid 1960’s as an outreach program by the Boronia Church of Christ, who saw an urgent need for a facility to cater for the needs of young families moving into the area, Ms Wright said.
“The new state of the art building was part of the Federal Building the Economic Revolution program and was valued at over $2,000,000,” Ms Wright said.
“Boronia Heights College was established as a co-educational state secondary college in the NE corner of the City of Knox to provide a much-needed educational facility for the growing population in The Basin and Boronia areas.
Boronia Technical College was established 50 years ago in 1973.
In the 1990s, no longer a technical school, the campus was renamed Boronia Heights Secondary College, which coincided with the introduction of uniforms and surnames for teachers and more academic curriculum started to be offered.
Boronia Heights College was established in 2000, with a new vision and values, a new logo and uniform and a focus on outcomes – both academic and vocational.
Boronia Heights College was closed at the end of 2014 and the site was demolished in 2015.
“Boronia K-12 College, established in 2012 merged with Boronia Primary School, Allendale Kindergarten and Boronia Heights College on Boronia Primary School’s campus. It ran concurrently as the Rangeview Campus, until the Mountview Campus (Boronia Heights College) closed in 2014,” Ms Wright said.
Ms Wright said principal in the 1980s, Mr Harlo Bird, was instrumental in organising ‘Boronia Bright Lights’ – a chance to showcase all different performing arts areas.
Mr Bird received an Order of Australia in 1994 for services to the youth of Australia.
“In 1984 the Safety House Scheme was implemented, ensuring students in the community we able to access a safe place at any time when out and about in the community,” Mr Wright said.
“In 1992 the Rotary Citizenship award was introduced for a Year 6 student to receive and continues today to recognise students’ contribution to the wider community through leadership and other endeavours.
“Productions ran during the 90s to encourage performing arts and bringing amateur theatre to the community. While these paused during Covid, we are looking forward to resurrecting them. presently community theatre groups use our Performing Arts Centre for productions.”
In more recent times, students have been part of many groups and activities connected to the community through the work current principal, Matthew Scammell, has done as part of the Boronia Revitalisation board.
“With Eastern Legal Centre year 4 students worked with older participants on an Art project at Boronia Progress Hall in 2022,” Ms Wright said.
“Some secondary students worked with older generations at Boronia Library through the use of board games.
“The ELC and Foundation, along with Children’s University participants connected with the Boronia Library to celebrate book week in 2023. From 2021 we have been the pilot school for the Children’s University Program run via Swinburne University which encourages students learning outside of the classroom, exploring community hubs and volunteering their time and expertise in a variety of areas.”
The school became an authorised International Baccalaureate school in 2021.
Students will dress up in clothes from en era they are interested in, from the 1920s to present day, at the upcoming centenary celebrations.
“We will have memorabilia from a time capsule as well as photos and any other memorabilia we can find,” Ms Wright said.
“We have expressed invitations to past students and staff as well as the school community.”
A special assembly will commence at 2.30pm on the day.
Boronia K-12 Primary School is located at 35-37 Albert Avenue in Boronia.
