THE new Coastal Lakes College at Lakelands has a huge ‘wow’ factor and the students who will be able to make use of the facilities in years to come are fortunate.
This year, the school takes in around 220 year 7 students with years 8-12 to come in the following years.
The school is fortunate in that many of the features that would not normally occur until Stage 2 have already been installed in Stage 1.
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READ NOWIts is a “fantastic facility,’’ according to principal Kya Graves, former principal of Warnbro High School.
There’s a fine performing arts centre with retractable seating in an area that includes arts studios, a dance room, film and television studios and a gallery/foyer where students can display their work.
A commercial kitchen that, by the time the school includes years 10 to 12, could run industry certificate courses and a canteen presided over by a chef who will cook meals from scratch are also on hand.
There is a vast gymnasium with four basketball courts with retractable hoops and an electronic scoreboard as well as a fitness studio.
An inclusive hub for education support students features therapy rooms and a hydrotherapy pool with a ceiling hoist that travels from the change rooms to the pool.
A two storey indigenous art work takes pride of place on the outside walls of the lift to the extensive library and Ms Graves says it is the most phenomenal art work she has ever seen in a school.
Ms Graves hopes electronic devices will not be brought to school.
She said there were plenty of interactive activities to enjoy during recess and lunchtime, including outdoor ping pong tables.
Both the school name and the neat black and white uniforms were chosen through consultation with a steering committee of prospective parents, community members and teachers.
Stage 2 is expected to start in 2023.
The school will be officially opened by WA Education Minister Sue Ellery on February 15,