Old learning corners have made way for new educational blocks at St Catherine Labouré Catholic Primary School, Gymea.
There to see the project come into fruition was the Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, Anthony Fisher, who was at the parish on June 4 to open and bless six new classrooms and additional play space.
The school's make-over was designed by JDH Architects, a firm that was given the task of re-inventing a multi-purpose space to create an innovative learning area for Kindergarten pupils.
The design includes reconfiguring the existing learning arrangement, maximising external play space and building six new classrooms.
There are several breakout spaces include an undercroft area, green screen wall and collaborative presentation spaces.
The project enables clear sight lines between all classrooms to provide open and connected learning spaces.
School principal Jodie McKay says children learn best by actively experiencing their learning rather than being passive learners.
She says the the new classrooms will enable children to move around their learning spaces, engaging in a range of personalised learning activities.
"At St Catherine Laboure Gymea, we believe that learning is best supported with a student-centred approach that sees the teacher as a facilitator of learning," Ms McKay said.
"Our new contemporary and flexible learning spaces give teachers and students greater opportunity to work in collaboration with each other and to experience and express their learning in a more personalised and authentic way.
"We will also now have more playground areas which have been enhanced with sports courts and synthetic grass surfaces."
Also there to welcome the new additions were exective director of Sydney Catholic Schools, Tony Farley, and Sutherland mayor Carmelo Pesce.
