If you could design a school from the ground up, what would you create?
This was the task set for the team at Nirimba State School several months ago. And now it’s open, the results are truly impressive.
Designed to educate the kids of the future, this 21st century school has considered every detail to ensure it meets its motto of ‘Embracing opportunities of today, inspiring futures of tomorrow’.
The future starts with a well-rounded education
Principal Steven Moore knows that, if students are to discover their own unique talents and become the best version of themselves, they need access to a broad range of learning opportunities and experiences.
“When preparing kids for the jobs of the future, you have to consider global competencies,” says Mr Moore. “Therefore we encourage our students to think globally but act locally through curriculum and multi-pedagogical approaches. Japanese is also taught from Prep to support the acquisition of language from an early age.”
“We have a large sustainability precinct that will develop into a community garden in the future,” continues Mr Moore. “Students can grow and, will eventually sell produce, learn where their food comes from, and enrich their learning in biological sciences.”
The school also has a very strong focus on the Arts, ensuring students engage in all five strands: music, dance, drama, media and visual arts throughout the year.
“We have an excellent music program. And we will also be partnering with a visual artist in the future, who will be offering after school activities in the art space.”
Understanding the relevance of the Arts in future skills, Nirimba State School has taken the typical STEM program one step further to include this extra creativity component.
“Our STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Maths) program provides students with opportunities to apply knowledge and skills to unfamiliar problems in creative ways.”
Health and physical education is also a core part of the curriculum.
“We’ve so far partnered with Elite Tennis International and Brazilian Soccer Skills to bring those extracurricular opportunities to the school. We also have a dance company, Dance Energy, that operates out of the school, and we are constantly looking for more sports partnership opportunities with local individuals and organisations!”
A learning environment to love
The classrooms designed for Caloundra’s newest little learners are as calm as they are inviting.
“A lot of the fabric and furniture components that we’ve chosen for the school environment haven’t been used before in Queensland schools,” says Mr Moore.
“We’ve used a lot of neutral tones in the fabrics and the textures, with light timbers and colour coordinated furnishings.”
Everything has been meticulously thought out to create a calm, earthy, yet modern environment.
“We wanted to create a unique learning environment for our students so that they could be inspired to learn and have fun.”
“Thanks goes to Principal Robyn Taplin at Brightwater State School and Principal Barry Dittman, at the new Palmview State High School, who were both very supportive in setting up the school,” continues Mr Moore. “Happy 10th birthday to Brightwater.”
Nirimba State School is located at Park Avenue and Nirimba Drive, Caloundra South
(07) 5413 7777
