Worth the wait

ITS taken seven years but Kiama Public Schools $6 million upgrade is finally complete.

Students and staff had reason to smile last Thursday with NSW Education Minister Carmel Tebbutt and Federal Member for Gilmore Joanna Gash officially opening the upgraded facility.

While students have been making use of the schools eight new classrooms for several years now, the official opening had been put on hold until the schools old horse paddock had been turned into a games area in the last stage of the upgrade.

The work also included a library, assembly hall, canteen, outdoor learning area, special programs room and a lift.

NSW Education Minister Carmel Tebbutt travelled to Kiama for the opening, saying since the original school was opened in 1871 it had grown into a high achieving, wonderfully productive school.

The community has every right to feel proud of these new facilities, she said.

This is nothing more than these students and teachers deserve. This school has such a terrific profile and acts as a real focal point for the whole community.

Federal Member for Gilmore Joanna Gash said she was positive the new facilities had been worth the lengthy wait saying she was happy that the federal government could provide $2.6 million towards the refurbishment, with the state government providing the rest.

The whole community should be proud of the way this school has handled itself because it has had it tough for quite a while, she said.

Kiama Public School Principal Jenny Maude welcomed the opening of the upgrade describing it as a tremendously exciting period for both the students and staff.

Today was a great opportunity to not only showcase the tremendous new work but also the things that make our school so fantastic. I am really proud of not only the work but the way the whole school has operated during the construction period, said Mrs Maude.