Almost 300 pupils arrived at the new Thornhill Park Primary on Monday, January 30, for their first day of school for 2023.
Principal Darryl Spiteri said there’s a “really great atmosphere” at the Baxterpark Drive school.
“There’s been a real sense of community connection from the offset, it’s been a really good start,” he said.
The new facility is made up of 16 classroom spaces divided into three “learning neighborhoods”, with a dedicated art room, STEM room, food-tech room, performing arts space and a competition-size gym.
Mr Spiteri has worked in education for more than 20 years, primarily in the western suburbs, most recently he was the principal of the nearby Rockbank Primary School.
Mr Spiteri said it’s a “real honour” to be a principal in a new school.
“It’s something that is a rare opportunity and doesn’t come around very often … It’s amazing to start from the ground up … now that it’s up and running, seeing everything happening, it’s like all of your work comes to life,” he said.
“The intention of our school is to create a space where students feel safe, where they feel safe to learn, where they’re able to be curious and to learn new things, where they’re challenged to find out things that they really want to know.
“I also think it’s important that we create a real sense of community culture, bringing in our families and some of our community groups and ensuring that Thornhill Park Primary becomes a hub for the new suburb.”
