General News
29 July, 2021
Ongoing works transforming Mortlake College P-12
THE Mortlake College P-12 grounds remained a hive of activity despite lockdown and holidays as capital works rejuvenate a number of areas of the school.
THE Mortlake College P-12 grounds remained a hive of activity despite lockdown and holidays as capital works rejuvenate a number of areas of the school.
The works include an open area garden adjacent to the assembly area, safety improvements to the pick-up and drop-off area, the recent redevelopment of the front garden outside the office and the upcoming completion of decking area outside the P-2 building.
School principal Sean Fitzpatrick said capital works upgrades in recent years, such as the modernisation of the P-2 and A wing area, had kick-started a drive to capitalise on the improvements.
“We’ve had asphalting completed, garden beds reformed, painting of the corridors and we’re purchasing new furniture,” he said.
“We’re starting to create some spaces outside that our students can make use of and feel connected to, and it’s important they have high quality grounds as well as classroom spaces.
“The upgrades start physically and then align to culture, behaviours and attitudes. It’s a symbolic approach, a great investment and it’s exciting to see progress.
“My motto is look good, feel good. That’s what my grandfather told me and he wasn’t just talking physical but organisation, preparation and keeping things in order.”
Mr Fitzpatrick said the slew of upgrades were a credit to a process of collaboration with the student council and business manager Dot Jenkins.
“It’s a credit to the school council, and Ms Jenkins, in ensuring we have funds to actually spend on such upgrades,” he said.
“You have to be quite frugal and strategic in a way to ensure we’re not missing out on other programs and essential things we need.”
Mr Fitzpatrick said the ongoing works on a vibrant new garden at the assembly area was a point of emphasis as “our place of togetherness”.
“We want to enhance that area because that’s where our school community comes together every Monday,” he said.
“Our student leaders have had a huge part in the design and development of the garden so that’s been their voice and agency to contribute to the design.
“It’ll have a couple of outdoor amphitheatres where the students can sit around and we’ll even have a mount in part of it.
“We’re hoping the garden will be completed by the end of this term. It won’t quite be a Mount Shadwell, but it’s something a bit more playful for the students.”
The school has also undertaken enhancements with safety in mind, including the installation of outdoor lockers to ease congestion in the hallways and the addition of bollards, signage and line marking at the pick-up and drop-off carpark.
“We don’t compromise safety, and since having the drop-off and pick-up realigned we knew it was something we had to do,” Mr Fitzpatrick said.
Additional upgrades remain in the pipeline as the school unfolds long-term plans for the revitalisation of the school.
“We’ve also generously been supported by Origin Energy to erect a shelter for our senior secondary students,” Mr Fitzpatrick said.
“Everyone is getting a little bit somewhere across the school.
“Once you start improvement in one area, you look at others and think ‘We could do something there too.’
“We’ll engage with students, parents and school council around how we can do that work.”
