By Eleanor Wilson
Staff, students and families were celebrating more than the start of the new school year at Quarters Primary School on Tuesday 31 January, as the school opened its doors for the first time ever.
A free coffee van, cakes and treats and a balloon arch in the school’s signature teal, black and white colours welcomed excited students to the Cranbourne West school, where parents took first day photos and wiped away happy tears.
For many parents, joining the Quarters Primary School community was an easy decision.
“We just live nearby, it’s walking distance, it’s a new school so we thought we’d try something different,” said parent Karishma Vilash.
“My daughter was very excited for the new school and everything and plus her sister is going with her so she is looking forward to it.“
The school’s location was also a plus for Tania Singh-Thind, who was present with her Prep and Grade 1 students.
“I think just the convenience of the location in relation to where our home is was the main thing for us,” she said.
“I work in the eastern suburbs so the stress of getting the kids to and from work on time was tough… I don’t have family here so I can’t rely on them.”
“My kids are half Punjabi and there’s a big Punjabi community here, so the families that live in this area are sending their kids here, so when you have a community of people it makes it a lot easier.”
Kristen Thomson said daughter Scarlett, who is starting Year 4, had been looking forward to making the move from a nearby school.
“We just live not far away and she’s been desperate to walk to school ever since she was in prep, but she hasn’t been able to because [her old school] is on a main road,” she said.
“She’s super excited to start here, she was at [her old school] for four years, but this is a smaller school with less students, so it just gives her the opportunity to be concentrated on.”
School uniforms, sun safe hats and oversized backpacks in tow, 225 students piled in to the school’s brand new gym for the inaugural school assembly.
Quarter Primary School principal Elizabeth Davey said she was proud, honoured and privileged to be the school’s first principal.
After 33 years at Hampton Park Primary School, Ms Davey said the new role gave her the chance to “sit back and reset and consider what I stand for as an educator.”
“The world is changing and we know Covid changed that even more, but to have a chance to step back and look at that and then build a school for the new needs of the community has been really special,” she said.
“A lot of the time over the last seven months has just been watching and observing to see what the community needs are and what that looks like.
“We need to be very mindful of the community news and continue to work towards making those partnerships and making sure we are addressing those needs.”
The school itself is host to a diverse community of students, with a high percentage of Hindi and Punjabi students attending.
“We’re looking forward to the year ahead, it’s getting to know people…it’s building those connections…this day is going to be a big day to reflect on and look back on,” Ms Davey said.
According to the Victorian School Building Authority, the school has the capacity for a total of 715 students
“I’m confident the school community will continue to grow and that’s part of my job, to make sure that it does grow and it doesn’t stay static.”
“But it’s about building those connections and making those friendships… that’s the crux of what makes it special.
