Ararat College has unveiled a bright, new synthetic turf for its basketball and tennis courts.
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Work has been underway on the ground for the past three months as retaining walls, tree removals and painting was done in preparation for the turf.
Students can now play basketball, tennis, soccer, hockey and netball on the multi-sport area.
College principal Geoff Sawyer said light had also been installed so the area would be available to the whole community.
“All along we have been thinking ‘community’ with this, because while it is a fantastic thing for students, I think it will be fantastic thing for the community as well,” he said.
“That is why we installed lights – as school we don’t need those because kids are only here during the day – but now clubs if they want to use it they can.
“At this stage we don’t wish to lock it up if people want to come and have a hit of tennis at the weekend.”
After preparing the area for three months, it took about 10 days to lay the synthetic turf, which can be used in lessons and at breaks.
Mr Sawyer said it was a valuable multi-sport area that can be used in any weather.
“Around the outside of course there is a running track for the PE class so they don’t have to go through mud,” he said.
“A surface like that can also be used for kicking for footballs – so we refer to it as a multi sport facility.”
The new grounds have arrived at the perfect time for the college which has also seen an increase in enrolments for 2017.
While all year levels have grown, there will also be an extra year 7 class next year.
Mr Sawyer said the college was excited about the end to another successful school year.
“You don’t improve student learning by denying access to your school to the academically weak, to students with a disability, to students with mental health issues or by not allowing students to undertake their chosen course of study” he said.
“This may improve the statistical average of your school’s results, but it is morally wrong and also does next to nothing to improve the learning of individual students.
“You improve student learning through hard, targeted work to ensure that students attend regularly, that the teaching and learning that goes on in the classroom is constantly improving and that students are provided with point of need teaching to maximise their learning growth.
“This is what our school prides itself on, and the data sources upon which state schools are judged have shown ongoing improvement at our school, particularly in recent years and most particularly this year.”