Welcome back to Term 3 at PCS! I hope you all enjoyed some extra time with friends and family over the winter break. It definitely feels like winter at the moment, but September is just around the corner!
I wanted to let you know of some exciting developments that are happening at PCS at the moment. In the midst of our major facilities construction, there have also been smaller projects that we have been working on behind the scenes that are now underway.
New Sports Oval
Our new sports oval is finally being constructed! I use the word constructed as we have needed to bring in a significant amount of soil to cater for the fall from one end of the oval to the other. This oval will predominantly be used by High School and will be a full size football and soccer field. The oval will be fully irrigated and will have a beautiful playing surface which we will be growing from seed. This oval is part of our facilities masterplan and an important step ensuring there is plenty of playground, PE and Sport space available at various times throughout the day. I can’t wait to see it in action!
Gymnasium Pad
As I have previously announced, a full indoor gymnasium is part of our facilities masterplan. Even though planning is still ongoing for this facility, we have decided to construct the pad for the gymnasium now while civil works machinery is here building our oval. You will see 2 separate areas in the coming weeks, one being the new sports oval, and the other being the pad for our future gymnasium, which will be located between the new oval and the existing Industrial Arts facility.
PCS Hospitality Center
We have finally begun construction of our hospitality center! As you will be aware, the 2 classrooms at the western end of our Industrial Arts building were designed so that we could convert them into a hospitality facility when the timing was right. That time is now.
I am so pleased that we will soon be able to offer Food Technology and Hospitality in a fully equipped commercial kitchen of industry standard. The center will feature student work spaces with ovens, gas cook tops, sinks and prep spaces, a demonstration bench, walk in cool room and panty, commercial dishwasher and perhaps even a coffee machine! How great it will be to prepare our students for the hospitality industry, and host catered events here at school with a suitable facility. I will look forward to sharing updates as the conversation takes place. This facility is part of our facilities masterplan and will be ready for use from the beginning of 2026.
New Bus!
I am very pleased to say that from today you will see a new PCS bus driving around! After looking for some time, we have just purchased a 57 seat coach. With growing classes, more excursions and increased demand on charter services, it was an easy decision to keep expanding our small fleet to meet the demands of the school. The purchase of this additional bus will provide greater opportunities for our students and solve a lot of logistical problems in the process. Our new addition is now looking resplendent in its PCS decals and is ready for work! We are keeping our existing bus which will still be doing various trips as needed.
It is really nice to provide you with exciting updates such as these, however the real business of PCS is our work with children and families. To that end, I am so fortunate to be involved in a community such as ours where people have always been the focus. We haven’t always been in the position to purchase buses or build new ovals, but the incredible work of Christian education and caring for students and families has been evident from our first day over 43 years ago.
As we head into this new term, let’s turn our focus again to looking after each other and working together to raise young men and women of God who know who they are, and know they are made by God for a purpose!
Check out some photos of the projects mentioned above, and I look forward to catching up with you again soon.
Have a great week.
Glen
