Cutting the ribbon to officially open the new Minimbah Preschool Transition Room last week, students Arley Pratter, left, Levi Vidal, JNC Group’s Brandon Thrift, Minimbah Principal Jenny Brown, Trainee Preschool Educator Dennis Pitt, Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall, Minimbah Preschool Director Rebecca Murray, Preschool Educator Felicity Gilder and student McKenna Quinlan.
Tuesday, 15 December 2020
CHILDREN attending Armidale’s Minimbah Preschool from next year will be better prepared to embark on their journey to ‘Big School’, after Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall and Principal Jenny Brown last week officially opened the school’s new $570,000 transition room.
Mr Marshall said the addition of the room meant 25 new preschool positions would now open up for families in Armidale.
“With its focus on Aboriginal learning and culture, Minimbah Preschool and Primary School plays an important part in Armidale’s educational landscape,” Mr Marshall said.
“This new, spacious classroom will cater for children four and five years of age, who are preparing to start kindergarten.
“Having separate rooms will allow the preschool educators to specifically focus on the individual developmental needs of the children in their care.
“With greater enrolments in the preschool also comes the opportunity for growth in the primary school’s student numbers.
“I’m pleased to see contractor JNC Group was involved in this build. The local construction company is Aboriginal owned and employs local Aboriginal people.
“What better way to start the 2021 school year than with this brand-new room, new friends in the playground and improved educational outcomes for the entire school community.”
Minimbah Preschool Director Rebecca Murray said the additional room would benefit all age groups.
“This build has meant Minimbah now has separate rooms for 3-year-old children, 4-year-old children and children who are getting ready to go to kindergarten the following year,” Ms Murray said.
“We are very excited about the flexibility this room give us in terms of delivering educational programs centred on Aboriginal ways of learning and culture.
“At its heart this project has been about creating a smooth transition from the Preschool to Primary school while helping us to provide the best start for the education of the children of our community.
“We are extremely grateful to the NSW Government for the opportunity to provide this for our families and community.”