Celebration of unification

St Columba’s School and St Mary’s College each have a long and distinguished history within the Dalby community.

Now they are about to embark on a new chapter, with the effective unification of both schools as Our Lady of the Southern Cross College set to be completed by the commencement of the 2008 academic year.

The unification process has already seen a massive injection of resources to both schools, with a major refurbishment in the secondary college and new facilities in the primary school.

Principal Mr John Hegarty says the schools have spent over $2 million so far on building amenities, new rooms and furnishing classrooms with “state of the art” facilities and equipment.

“The building and renovating doesn’t stop here – there are still five more phases of our College master plan for implementation,” he says.

“But you have to remember, buildings alone do not make a school. It’s the quality of the learning environment created by teachers and their positive relationship with their students that determines the success in the classrooms.”

Mr Hegarty says students, teachers and the wider community have many things to look forward to from a unified school.

“The unification of the schools allows us to develop a fully integrated seamless Year One to Year Ten curriculum, to ensure the best possible educational outcomes for students,” he says.

“The manner of curriculum delivery will change with the different phases of learning from early, middle and senior years, so that we deliver the most engaging and appropriate learning experiences for each student.

“We will start to see some practical outcomes of unification by fourth term, such as one administration office, a campus-wide wireless network and the official opening of the new facilities on Friday, the second of November.”

Each refurbished classroom in the secondary college is equipped with the latest technology. 

Gone are the days of chalk and blackboards. Instead students have access to interactive whiteboards, Bluetooth tablets and the modern air conditioning systems throughout the school.

 “We are confident that we can provide the highest quality education from Prep to Year 12 in the most modern facilities right here in Dalby,” John says.