Young foundation students of one of south-east Queensland’s newest schools have been treated to a sneak peek of the campus they will call “my school” in 2025.
Notre Dame College, in the Sunshine Coast suburb of Bells Creek, 80km north of Brisbane, will open its doors in January and future students this week joined principal Dan McShea for a tour of the co-educational school’s completed Prep rooms, operated by Brisbane Catholic Education.
They also unveiled the new uniforms that would be worn by students in classes from Prep to Year 3 and Year 7 next year.
Notre Dame College, which will open with five new airconditioned buildings, already has 200 enrolments for 2025 and will grow each year to its capacity of more than 1800 students from Prep to Year 12 across the 7.9-hectare campus.
“We have been very pleased with the demand for enrolment which will ensure that we open in 2025 with excellent numbers across our Year levels,” Mr McShea said.
“It’s exciting today to come here with some of the first students to walk through this new campus. Until now, we’ve been showing our families a 3D model of the school. They can now see the College will be ready to go.”
Mr McShea has appointed 12 staff who will begin work for the College between now and January.
“They’re excellent teachers and administrators and will ensure that, while we’re a new school, we will have staff with plenty of experience creating and fostering a modern learning environment.”
Bec Ryan, mum of Prep student-to-be Charlotte, said it was surreal to be in the classrooms.
“We’ve driven past the site a lot in recent months and we can see the construction but it’s something else to be in here today. It’s exciting.
“We’ve had such a good vibe about the school. The staff have been very friendly and helpful.”
Ms Ryan said these first Preps would get the chance to go right through and to be the first class that graduates from Year 12 after starting here as Preps.
“That’s a wonderful opportunity that not many people get.”
Brisbane Catholic Education Executive Director Dr Sally Towns said Notre Dame College would be supported by one of the largest networks of non-government schools in the nation.
“Each of our 146 schools has its own identity but the same commitment to providing the best learning experience in a faith-based environment,” Dr Towns said.
“Catholic education has been provided in South East Queensland for almost 180 years, and the interest in new schools such as Notre Dame College shows that parents still want an educational experience founded on values and faith.”
Notre Dame College is part of the Caloundra Catholic Parish, joining a wider faith community in a fast-growing part of Queensland.
Caloundra parish priest Fr Josh Whitehead said a new school like Notre Dame College provided a new opportunity to connect with families and to accompany them in their journey of faith.
