By Callum Ludwig
Gladysdale Primary School excitedly welcomed back students for 2024 on Tuesday 30 January for the first day of the school year.
It comes amidst an exciting year at the school with the expected completion of their long-awaited new building.
Gladysdale Primary School Principal Tara Jenner said it had been a really easy first morning and the students were all so excited to see each other.
“This week they’ll be getting back into the swing of doing some work, but we’ll also be looking at what they’ve done over the holidays, investigating all the different things that people have done and making sure that everyone’s feeling happy and safe at school,” she said.
“Our preps will be spending this week getting to know the routine of school life such as making sure they know where to line up when the bell goes and what door to come in,”
Of course, also getting back into the school routine with a leisurely wander around the school grounds was Gladysdale Primary School’s much-loved therapy dog Rosie, who plays an important role as a comforting and playful presence around the school. Rosie even joined in testing out the new soccer goals in the yard.
“A positive start to the school year is extremely important, the first day can dictate the whole year,” Ms Jenner said.
The new over $2.6 million building will include a new office and entryway, new student engagement spaces, a kid-friendly kitchen, upgraded bathroom facilities and improved disability access.
Funded in the 2020-21 State budget, the project was originally slated for completion in October 2023, then expected to be completed by the end of the summer holidays and now looks set for completion in late March, with builders also attending the first day of school for the year.
Delays have been caused by a supplier of structural steel withdrawing from the process and then unfavourable weather conditions.
