Canberra’s 88th public school has been officially opened in the Gungahlin suburb of Taylor.
Minister for Education and Early Childhood Development, Yvette Berry unveiled a plaque and planted trees at Margaret Hendry School to mark the occasion.
Ms Berry said communities naturally revolved around their local schools, whether because of their children, or the activities that took place in the hall or on the oval, so a new school was a milestone to be celebrated.
“The students that attend Margaret Hendry School now will, when they’re older, be able to return with their own kids or grandkids and be able to say ‘I was one of the first students to learn here and here’s the plaque I helped unveil’,” Ms Berry said.
“It is great to be able to again recognise Margaret Hendry, a woman who made a tremendous impact on Canberra as a landscape architect, role model and advocate for women’s equality,” she said.
“Generations of students will grow up learning about her work in this city.”
Ms Berry said the school opened in February and had the capacity to cater for 176 preschool and 600 primary school students.
“The school has also been planned to allow for an additional 150 primary school students through future expansion if required,” the Minister said.
She said that at the start of Term Two, there were 276 students enrolled.
Margaret Hendry School is the first community facility provided in Taylor and includes two playing fields, a school hall available for community hire, an oval and meeting rooms for a range of activities and gatherings.
