A 127-year-old Brisbane state school has received a major upgrade that is providing better services for its youngest students, thanks to a Palaszczuk Government investment of almost $9 million.
Education Minister Grace Grace officially opened a new early years' precinct for Eagle Junction State School today, featuring a learning centre, artificial turf area and playground.
"These state-of-the-art facilities are giving Eagle Junction's Prep and Year 1 students the best possible start to their state school education," Ms Grace said.
"Ten new classrooms – including five specially designed for Preppies – make up the centrepiece of this development.
"There is also a new staff planning and resource preparation area, two practical outdoor learning areas, student and staff amenities and an accessible covered walkway to connect the early years' precinct with the rest of the school.
"An artificial turf area and playground complete with climbing equipment, slides and a sandpit have also been built so students can enjoy safe active play.
"This development supported 20 good jobs over the life of the project, with 11 apprentices working on site throughout construction learning trades that will set them up for life."
Eagle Junction State School Principal Adam Mathewson welcomed the new early years precinct which supports the school's educational approach known as 'visible' learning.
"We want students to know how to learn, not just what to learn. At EJ, we encourage students to actively participate in their learning and the new early learning precinct offers modern, new and flexible facilities to do just that," Mr Mathewson said.
"We are purposeful in encouraging collaboration where students not only teach themselves, but learn alongside their peers and have the opportunity to compare their work with visible examples which help them identify ways in which to learn and grow.
"Our students can articulate their learning journey, how they are going with their learning, and what steps they need to take next, to achieve their learning goals."
Minister Grace said the Palaszczuk Government was continuing to invest in providing quality education facilities in growing communities and supporting jobs as part of Queensland's COVID-19 economic recovery plan.
"We are committed to expanding existing schools in Queensland's fastest growing areas by building state-of-the-art facilities, like those here at Eagle Junction.
"The Palaszczuk Government is making sure Queensland students have access to a world-class state school education, regardless of where they live in our state.
"Our record education infrastructure investment of almost $2 billion in the recent budget is supporting nearly 4,200 good, secure jobs for Queenslanders."
