Almost 60,000 students across Tasmania have returned to public schools today, including some making history as the first-ever students at brand-new schools.
The $74 million Brighton High School and the $33.7 million Legana Primary School welcomed students for the first time on Thursday.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff said it will be fantastic to see young people become “immersed” in learning and living in their local communities at the new schools.
“I must admit I feel a bit emotional about it,” he said as some of the up to 600 students in Years 7–12 walked through the gates of Brighton High School.
“I was Education Minister back in 2018 when we announced the high school and not everyone agreed with that announcement. This is a hub for a growing community … I’m very, very excited about it.”
Education Minister Jo Palmer noted it was the first time in a decade that a new school had opened, calling it a “great day for education in Tasmania”.
“We know Legana is one of the fastest growing areas in the Launceston region. This is a place where young families in particular are really choosing to live and raise their children,” she said.
“Already today we’ve had children running through the gates, telling me that they are going to school with their next-door neighbour.”
Legana Primary can accommodate up to 350 students, with 128 local kids enrolled this year.
Principal Liz O’Donoghue said 40 more students would be moving up from kindergarten in the coming years.
“I can’t tell you how thrilled I am,” she said. “Today has been incredible to actually see children come into our school with smiles on their faces.”
“Our teachers have had all their classrooms prepared for over a week. They were here at 7.30am. They were just so excited this morning to get here and fill classrooms up with children and smiles.”
