There’s growing excitement in Medowie as Catherine McAuley Catholic Primary School prepares to welcome its first students in 2027.
The Newcastle Herald and NBN News were invited inside the brand new school this week for their first look at the contemporary learning spaces and facilities taking shape for the inaugural school community.
Founding Principal Samantha Kelley told the Newcastle Herald the Primary School was the “final puzzle piece” in the Catholic education precinct, creating an opportunity for local families to access Catholic education from St Nicholas Early Education through primary and secondary schooling.
“It is the first time we are offering faith-based education in Medowie for primary school,” Samantha said.
The Newcastle Herald featured more than 20 photos from inside the school, showcasing classrooms with breakout rooms and their own outdoor learning spaces, as well as the library, STEM spaces, hall and playground. Work is continuing on the school’s outdoor sporting facilities ahead of opening.
Samantha said there was already a “real sense of excitement” among staff and families, with enrolment interviews continuing. The school will begin with three Kindergarten classes and one class in each of Years 1 to 6, with capacity to eventually welcome up to 630 students.
NBN News also took viewers inside the new school, highlighting the investment in education infrastructure supporting Medowie’s growing community.
As Samantha told the Herald: “We are excited to be able to open the school up at the beginning of next year and see these classrooms come to life.”
Watch the NBN News story here.
Port Stephens’ newest primary school is gearing up for opening day next year, unveiling the finished classrooms for the first time.
Catherine McAuley Primary School, Medowie, has completed stage one of construction, with just a few outdoor areas left to go.
The new site is sandwiched between St Nicholas Early Learning Centre and high school Catherine McAuley Catholic College.
In a walk-through of the new site, primary school principal Samantha Kelley said it was the “final puzzle piece” in the Catholic education precinct.
“It is the first time we are offering faith-based education in Medowie for primary school,” Mrs Kelley said.
The school includes a hall, library with STEM-specific spaces and an outdoor learning area.
Each classroom from kindergarten to year 6 has a main classroom, a breakout room and individual outdoor courtyards.
Classrooms for year 1 students onwards also have STEM areas and a common area.
There is a playground and smaller oval with a basketball court, synthetic oval and turf oval still to be built.
“We are still conducting enrolment interviews with families,” Mrs Kelley said.
“There is a real sense of excitement with us staff but also with our families,” she said.
The maximum capacity for the school was 630 children, with three classes per year level.
Mrs Kelley said the school would start with three kindergarten classes and one class from year 1 to 6 in its opening year.
“I think there’s also interest from our families to have the opportunity here to start at St Nicholas and go all the way through their schooling journey,” she said.
“We are excited to be able to open the school up at the beginning of next year and see these classrooms come to life,” she said.
Original article here with photos here: Catherine McAuley Primary School Medowie reveals new classrooms | Newcastle Herald | Newcastle, NSW
