Truganina P–9 College
Ms CONNOLLY (Tarneit) (09:51): It was great to be out last week in my electorate visiting Truganina P–9 College, one of our fantastic local schools. This school was lucky enough to share in the $11.2 million of our government’s high-ability learners program, which is ensuring that students who are academically excelling in areas such as literacy and maths can continue to receive help from enrichment and extension programs at their local school. They are also engaging in the challenge and enrichment series, linking up students with tech schools and other expert education organisations. In fact they have been running these programs for the last three years since we started this program. When I visited the school, I got to meet some awesome students enrolled in these programs. They are an outstanding 20 students that are taking part this year. Over the past three years that these programs have been running, over 160 students at Trug P–9 College overall have received help from these programs. When I spoke to these students, I could tell that they are bright, they are engaged and they are amazingly enthusiastic in the classroom, and it is so good to see. Children who excel academically at school should not have to go and get a private school education to thrive, and this program makes that possible. I also want to give thanks and a huge shout-out to principal Nicole O’Brien, who took on the role of principal this year. Nicole, you gave me such a warm welcome to the school, and I really look forward to going back and working with you in the future.