Opening of final stage of Warnbro's community high school

14/5/99
Warnbro's state-of-the art community high school is now complete with the official opening today of the $6 million final stage of the secondary education project.
Education Minister Colin Barnett visited Warnbro Community High School to unveil the new buildings, which include a middle school block, new administration area, modern performing arts and media centre, a canteen and covered assembly area, food technology room and computing facilities.
Mr Barnett said he was delighted to be able to tour the $19.6 million Warnbro Community High School and talk to students and staff about the advanced teaching and learning methods in place, many of which inspired the design for the school.
"Warnbro Community High School has been one of the pioneers of middle schooling in Western Australia and the ideas developed and implemented by the school community have been watched with interest by educators not only in this State, but from around the world," the Minister said.
"This approach to education, and the school's special focus on technology and environmental science, have seen Warnbro become a member of some very exciting international educational programs.
"It is rewarding for both the school and for me as Education Minister to see that these ideas now have an excellent new home in which they can be brought out and nurtured."
Warnbro Community High School started as a cluster of transportables at Rockingham Senior High School in 1995 while stage one was constructed.
This $13.5 million stage, completed in January 1996, involved the construction of general classrooms, science laboratories and groundbreaking technology and enterprise facilities, a school and community library and sports hall.
The second stage of building included the construction of a middle school with 10 learning areas, a performing arts centre with a sprung wooden floor dance section and staff facilities in a sub-school.
"A student services centre, staff and student toilets, canteen and covered area, tennis courts, landscaping and artwork have also been added," Mr Barnett said.
"As well, the additions to existing facilities include a new food technology room, planning room in the materials studio, climbing wall in the sports hall and carpark extensions."
Mr Barnett said one of the special design features of the new middle school buildings was a 'class lab'.
"There are five class labs in the new stage consisting of pairs of classrooms linked through central resource areas and each with their own wet area," he said.
"The class lab design enables students to stay in their own home room for much of the day yet have access to a wide range of resources and activities.
"The idea is to provide a more stable and secure environment for students in the important middle years of schooling - years eight to 10."
All buildings at Warnbro Community High School incorporate substantial technology making it possible for students to communicate and receive information across all areas of the curriculum.
Such facilities have allowed the school to be involved with two exciting international projects - a Forward Educational Practices Conference, with keynote speaker David Bellamy in 1996, and the 21st Century Global Schoolhouse.
"Under this program, the students effectively build a school house in cyberspace where they conduct research with school children in five other countries - Japan, South Africa, Israel, Brazil and the US - into environmental science and technology," Mr Barnett said.
"They are the only school in Australia to take part and they will be hosting a summit with 150 delegates at the school in September as part of it.
"All this has been made possible because of the school's special technology focus."
The second stage was designed by Spowers Architects and built by Universal Constructions Pty Ltd.
Mr Barnett thanked staff and other members of the school community for their input into the construction of the school.
"As with the first stage of the project, consultation with the school and wider community has been a major element of planning," he said.
"There has been a significant effort put in to continue the forward-thinking and innovative ideas that have brought Warnbro international recognition.
"This really is a community-oriented school in every sense and it is fantastic to see such enthusiasm and interest in secondary education in the area."
The first group of year eight students to attend Warnbro Community High School in 1995 will graduate from year 12 this year.
Media contact: Justine Whittome, (08) 9222 9699