Building Program

Pool & Multipurpose learning space

At the beginning of 2009 St. Edmund's began a major building project to provide critical facilities for the students. The whole program, facilities and grounds are designed and used to increase student engagement with each other and the community, develop their social and language skills and to assist in regulating their behaviour thereby extending their post school work and social opportunities.

Pool

One of the key components of the building project was to enclose the pool and to provide both bathroom and change amenities. It transpired that the old pool's foundations were of extremely poor construction, despite having been in use for at least 60 years.The engineers reported that it could not be refilled and therefore had to be demolished. Without the assistance of the P21 funding the building of a new pool would have been beyond the financial capacity of the school and we would have had a beautiful enclosed facility surrounding what would have been a hole in the ground.

For a special school a pool cannot be considered to be a luxury, it is a critical part of student learning, in fact it is a multipurpose learning space. The pool:-

Supports students in maintaining health, freedom of movement, fitness and emotional stability.
Is used across the curriculum - PDHPE, Music, Sport for example swimming training, aerobics, fitness, safety, play and leisure, team sports, independence in life skills, social awareness and organisation.
Enables students to learn to swim. Majority of Yr.7 students cannot swim as their parents have been unable to find suitably trained instructors. Many new students have a great fear of water. Eleven of St. Edmund's teachers are Aust Swim trained and instruction is provided to develop both safety and swimming competency, thereby increasing opportunities for community and family participation.
Supports the community through after school swimming classes, Special Olympic activities, aged care fitness and recreational use.

Multipurpose learning space

The school took the advantage of the Stimulus funding to refurbish three small classrooms which hadn't had much done to them for more than 30 years. The internals were totally guttered, new electrics and computer access were installed together with security, carpet and painting. Eddie's now has two beautiful learning spaces which can be opened up to a huge one space when necessary.

Updated photos coming shortly.