The Snowy Mountains Grammar School have officially opened their new $14.8 million state-of-the-art Curiosity Centre learning facility in Jindabyne.
THE new Curiosity Centre has been designed to inspire curiosity, creativity and innovation, and after touring the new premises, it certainly will be a huge asset to both the school and the students for future decades.
The 4000 square metres of cutting-edge educational space has been meticulously designed with a forward-thinking approach, providing an exceptional environment where students can explore, question, and develop critical and creative thinking skills.
Guests were greeted on arrival with a smoking ceremony conducted by David Dixon from Bega, and a Welcome to Country by Aunty Glenda Dixon.
Michael Jones (OAM), chairman of Snowy Mountains Grammar School welcomed all officials and guests in what will be their 30th year, describing the new premises as an “important building to us”.
“I suggest that this new building is a physical symbol of Snowy Mountains Grammar School coming of age,” said Mr Jones.
“The planning over six year ago commenced due to strong demand for increase in student enrolments where under the leadership of Dr Bell and our very capable staff, the school provides an enriched education.”
The school describes the building as an Exceptional Space for Discovery and Innovation featuring world-class facilities to support learning in Design and Technology, Mathematics, Science, and Visual Arts.
Highlights include:
- 14+ inspiring classroom spaces with specialist zones for podcasting, robotics, and kiln work.
- A large learning precinct that promotes collaborative and independent study.
- Flexible indoor and outdoor learning areas, seamlessly integrating education with nature.
- Three modern science laboratories and a state-of-the-art design and technology workshop.
- A digital technology room, an art studio and gallery, and conference rooms.
- An amphitheatre, undercover area, uniform shop, and dedicated student and staff amenities.
Attending the official opening, Member for Monaro Steve Whan said the new wing was impressive and offers great facilities for students.
The NSW Government had contributed $4.5 million through its Building Grants Assistance Scheme (BGAS). The scheme is designed to help non-government schools build, extend or upgrade facilities to provide more student places in growing communities and areas of greatest need.
“Jindabyne is really going to be the envy of many parts of NSW in the schools and education on offer in this community. It’s really fabulous to see the work that’s done here at Snowy Mountains Grammar, it’s a school which has a really great profile in the region,” said Mr Whan.
“For the NSW Government, being able to partner and be a part of this and assist the school in getting this sort of facility up is a great investment in the sort of skills which we need to see for the longer term.”
“I’m particularly impressed with the educational focus of this facility; we know we have a strong need for more young people pursuing STEM subjects and this facilities’ focus will make these subjects more attractive. I hope it sees students pursuing further training in areas like science, engineering or technology when they leave school.
School Principal Dr Andrew Bell said the school had been developing their strong culture for some time, but this new facility is unprecedented in the school’s 30-year history.
“It’s architecturally designed with learning at its core and purpose. And I would say immediately it fit us like a glove,” said Dr Bell.
“Within days of its initial use, we saw teachers and students immediately taking to the building and applying their culture and their practices. You would have thought they’ve been doing that for months, if not years, not just days. To me this is a great sign.”
“To me there is no better gift, no greater gift than an education, and nothing more fulfilling than to give to someone else that education and that opportunity to learn in a really high quality, deeply caring, very effective place where you belong.”
Dr Bell said they do have a little problem emerging he had noticed. “And that is the cries of, is it time to go home, can we go soon, I’m really getting tired it’s near my bedtime, do you think we can finish. And yes, you guessed it, that’s our teachers.”
“Our students don’t want to leave, quite seriously. Our seniors have embraced this space so well, it has become a second home for them, they are spending an enormous amounts of time dedicated to their future and ensuring their success in the world they are about to venture out in.”
During the tour of the venue, senior high school students were entrusted with showing guests the new facilities. They all seemed highly impressed with their new learning centre and were all very knowledgeable in every aspect of the premises.
While other students studied or were involved in class, the attendees perused and admired what are vastly different classrooms and facilities to what the guests were accustomed to in their school days.
How often would you see a flight simulator in school, yet there was Jack Lyster at the controls showing different airports, including Jindabyne, and the capacity to select large jumbo jets to fly.
How schools have changed, and what a time to be a student at Snowy Mountains Grammar School.
All parties should be congratulated on a job well done, and a very impressive new premises for the school.
