Year 12 head prefect Domonique Barone, principal Helen Maitland and Year 12 head prefect Matt Milner.
Camera IconYear 12 head prefect Domonique Barone, principal Helen Maitland and Year 12 head prefect Matt Milner. Credit: Supplied/Andrew Ritchie

Balcatta SHS hopes to celebrate 50 years with $50m promised by Labor

Kate LeaverStirling Times

BALCATTA Senior High School will celebrate 50 years in the community with the recent Labor election promise to inject $50 million into upgrades.

The newly elected Government promised to upgrade and improve facilities at the 1967-built school but principal Helen Maitland said she was still waiting to hear about the funding promise.

“I’ll be making phone calls, checking in with what is happening and inviting them to let us know what is going on,” she said.

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“I’m really looking forward to the redevelopment and the opportunities that will bring for our students and the community; they will be well positioned for the future.

“It is quite an exciting time ahead for the school.”

Ms Maitland said the school had recently become an independent public school, which allowed for more flexibility.

“We are able to select our own staff and offer a range of programs,” she said.

“We have a gifted and talented arts program and we are a specialist dance school.”

The school recently refurbished a beauty therapy clinic to give students access to on the job training and qualifications in the industry.

Ms Maitland said the students stood by the school’s values and ethos: respect, unite and excel.

“It is a very multicultural school and we have a cross section of 620 students from around the metropolitan area,” she said.

“We offer ATAR and general pathways so students are well positioned when they leave to go to university, into training or straight on to employment.”

Head prefect Domonique Barone said there was a “really positive environment” within the school.

Past and present students celebrated the milestone last weekend with a showcase of the school’s specialist dance and visual arts programs.