Members Statement: Aitken Hill Primary School

Ms SPENCE (Yuroke) (13:44:28): Last week I had the pleasure of participating in the opening ceremony of Aitken Hill Primary School with the Minister for Education. This is the first of six new government schools to open in my electorate over this term of the Andrews Labor government. I know the minister enjoyed meeting the school’s students as much as I did, and I would like to take this opportunity to say a big thankyou to all of them for being so welcoming. In particular, thanks to Delilah, Taylan, Sashwat and Millie for greeting us and taking us on a tour of their terrific new school. It was great to see the state-of-the-art facilities, including the massive physical education and performing arts building, where the minister and I joined students for a special assembly. The school community will also benefit from some great new neighbouring facilities on the way, including the Craigieburn softball centre, a community centre located next door with early years education and family services and the nearby and much-anticipated new Craigieburn South secondary school, which will open next year. I would also like to acknowledge the inaugural principal of Aitken Hill Primary School, Peter Hansen. He is doing a fantastic job ensuring that this new school develops a great learning culture right from the start. It was also great to see Peter Brookshaw take up the role as the first school council president. He has done a terrific job with Craigieburn Salvation Army, and I know he will do the same in this role. It was great to meet his fellow school council members Venu Venreddy and Sarah Thomas. I wish Mr Hansen and the Aitken Hill Primary School community all the very best of luck as they start their first school year.