Million dollar federal funding boost for St Pius X Parish School

The money will allow the school, which is contributing an additional $220,000, to completely redevelop its year 3 and 4 area.

Principal Joe Ewing said it was more than a decade since the school's last capital works project, so he was excited at the announcement.

"The middle years area is in the original part of the school, which hasn't been updated since it was built in the 1960s," he said.

The main aim of the project is to transform the existing cluster of enclosed classrooms and central corridor into a flexible, open-plan learning space.

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"We want to break away from that enclosed, cellular space," Mr Ewing said.

"Having a flexible and potentially collaborative teaching space will better reflect our pedagogy (teaching style and philosophy)."

The last major renovation at the school was a $1.6 million project in 2011-12 under Labor's Building the Education Revolution project, which modernised the Prep-2 and years 5-6 areas.

Mr Ewing said the next step would be finalising plans with the architect and taking the project to tender.

"We would love to be in a brand new building by the end of next year," he said, but he noted the availability of builders and tradespeople was an ongoing issue across the region.

Federal member for Wannon Dan Tehan said he was proud to help deliver the funding.

"St Pius X School has a wonderful school community, and these new facilities will further enhance the learning environment," he said.

""I congratulate St Pius X School on their successful grant application and look forward to seeing the positive impact these new facilities will have on the school community."

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