Sacred Heart Primary School officially opened and blessed its refurbished learning spaces on Monday 9 November, marking a significant milestone in the school’s history. The occasion was a wonderful celebration for the school community, with Bishop Mark Freeman, Bishop of Ballarat, leading the blessing and official opening.
The project has transformed some of Sacred Heart Primary School’s original classroom buildings, which have served generations of students and teachers. With the buildings ageing and significant termite damage identified, the school recognised an opportunity to do more than simply repair the existing facilities. Instead, the project provided the chance to reimagine these spaces to better meet the needs of contemporary learners and future generations.
The vision was to create modern, flexible learning environments that support explicit teaching, collaboration, small-group learning and individual student support. Equally important was ensuring the spaces foster a sense of safety, connection and inclusion for every student, while reflecting the Catholic identity and strong community spirit that underpin Sacred Heart Primary School.
A Significant Investment in the Future
The approved project cost was $3.05 million, with $3 million provided by the Victorian Government through the Capital Funding Program 2023–2024 – Election Commitment Project. Sacred Heart Primary School is extremely grateful for this significant investment in Catholic education in Mildura. The funding represents an important commitment to providing quality learning environments and opportunities for students, both now and into the future.
Bringing the Vision to Life
The successful completion of a project of this scale reflects the collaboration, expertise and commitment of many people. Sacred Heart Primary School acknowledges Jake Mackenzie, Peter Milton and Sarah Ellis from Jointly, who coordinated the project, along with Daniel Manno and Drew Bynes from Energy Architecture, who undertook the architectural design.
The school also extends its appreciation to Brendan Chalmers, DOBCEL’s Capital Works Project Delivery Officer, whose guidance and support throughout the project were invaluable.
A place for community and the future
The official opening and blessing celebrated the theme “Our Place. Our People. Our Future.” This theme reflects Sacred Heart Primary School’s commitment to providing a welcoming Catholic school community and creating opportunities for future generations.
During the celebration, the importance of recognising that beautiful learning spaces alone do not create great learning was highlighted. It is the relationships built, the quality of teaching, the opportunities provided and the sense of belonging nurtured within these spaces that truly make a difference.
These renewed learning spaces will provide places for learning, connection, faith and belonging, supporting the Sacred Heart Primary School community for generations to come.
A wonderful new chapter for Sacred Heart Primary School, Mildura.