Wednesday, 19 February 2025

 Michael GALEA (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (09:47): Last week I had the great pleasure of attending Clyde Grammar school in Clyde North along with my colleague Mr Tarlamis for the official sod-turning ceremony for the stage 2 part of the campus. Clyde Grammar school is a terrific independent school in the very fast growing area of Clyde North. It complements the other Catholic and many government schools that have been built, including the three new government schools that have opened just this year. Clyde Grammar currently serves students from prep to grade 5, and it has been increasing its years year by year. Two years ago, when I first visited the school, it was great to meet with the then grade 3s, who are now in grade 5, and I have seen them continue to develop and grow. The first stage of the school was supported with $5 million of funding by the Allan Labor government, but by the time these current grade 5s get to grade 7 the school will be at absolute maximum capacity, which is why it is so important that we are continuing to invest in great schools like Clyde Grammar, with funding of $3.6 million towards stage 2. With these works about to commence, it is going to be wonderful to see not just new classrooms but also a music centre and basketball court – basketball being of course one of the fastest growing sports in the Casey region. It was terrific for us to join with principal Leanne Evans, with the students and with members of the CSV board to celebrate what is going to be a very exciting next chapter for this terrific local school.