Community conversation meeting on cards for east Banksia Grove primary school

PARENTS of children who will attend the future primary school in east Banksia Grove can help choose a school name, logo and colours next week.

Foundation principal Stephen Bevan, who started in the role this term, said parents of children in the intake area could attend the “community conversation cafe” from 6.15pm on August 28.

“That’s an opportunity for parents to start building the school culture,” he said.

“We want a school that is community-based.”

Mr Bevan said they would discuss the school name, logo, independent public school status, uniform options and the overall direction of the school.

This will be his first role as a foundation principal.

“It’s really exciting; it’s a learning curve,” Mr Bevan, who started teaching in 1990 and has held deputy principal or principal positions since 1999, including most recently at Madeley Primary School, said.

Mr Bevan said construction of the Grandis Boulevard school’s first stage, which will include kindergarten and pre-primary classrooms, was expected to start within a couple of weeks.

The school will open to those classes next year, then the second stage will offer classes up to Year 6 in 2020.

Facilities will include an oval and hard courts shared with the City of Wanneroo.

Mr Bevan said the school would be able to accommodate up to 450 students, starting with about 80 in Kindergarten and Pre-primary in 2019 and growing to about 350 in 2022.

In coming months he will appoint administrative staff as well as early learning teachers and education assistants for the first four classes.

“There will be a strong focus on moving students forward (and) on positive education,” he said.

Mr Bevan said choosing which specialised subjects to offer, such as visual arts, drama, physical education and languages, would be done in consultation with parents next year.

To register for the community conversation cafe, call 0436 626 571 or email Stephen.bevan@education.wa.edu.au.