The history of the building, now known as NEXUS is a chequered one. In the first ten years of the School there was a deliberate decision not to have a centralised library, choosing instead to decentralise reading resources throughout the teaching departments so they were of use at the point of teaching and learning. However to mark the 10th anniversary of the School, the building was constructed and commenced functioning as a traditional library space.
Over the past twenty-five years the traditional functions of the library (and libraries generally) altered with the advent of increased technology and, for a period of time the building served as a place where computers could be easily accessed across the curriculum. However, with the introduction of the 1:1 Tablet PC Program K to 12, usage of the building declined significantly. Similarly, the relocation of the Junior School Library collection and functions back into the K to 6 environment has further reduced usage of the library building (whilst also saving travel time for the students and their teachers who had to walk to the library each day, wasting valuable learning time). The Centre for Innovation and Creativity within the Junior School is now a wonderful facility and being used in creative and innovative ways while still holding an extensive collection of books to encourage our youngest students to read. Whilst our Senior students (particularly Year 12) enjoy the current NEXUS facility up to 8.00pm each night, and it provides a safe place for students after school / co-curricular until parents are able to collect them, usage during the school day is negligible. As such we have a four storey building underutilised for much of the year.
I have also set effective and efficient leadership and management of the School as a priority this year. Given that the administrative functions are spread across the campus, inefficiencies in terms of time management, communication, seamless processes and collaboration are negatively impacted. The bringing together of leaders and managers will, in my view, enable and foster greater cohesion, address the inefficiencies and ensure an interconnectedness currently missing. The Principal’s Office, Enrolments, Marketing and Community Relations, Accounts, ICT, School and Student Office. Professional Learning, Human Resources and School Reception will relocate into the repurposed NEXUS later this year.
The relocating of these functions in to a centralised space (NEXUS) will also allow us to free areas up around the campus which will facilitate further opportunities for students, and ensure our futures school size plan (I will outline this in the next newsletter) can be accommodated. For example the following areas will be freed up for other uses.
- the Brown House
- ICT/ Help Desk area (additional space and resourcing for the Year 6 Centre)
- Student Office to accommodate the fourth Kindergarten class
- Accounts (White House) providing more space for Archives / Maintenance Staff / Other
Significantly, it will free up the area currently occupied by the Principal’s and School Office in the Mallik Centre which will be repurposed as a Senior Study and Resource Centre / Library (containing the book collection and offering students (and HSIE and Science Departments) collaborative and individual learning spaces. It will be here that students will wait safely at the end of a school day and be able to work independently into the evening.
The Capital Works Committee has been working with Matthew Greene from Paynter Dixon to put some flesh on these concepts and I have attached these for your interest and information for both NEXUS (Central Admin) and the current Principal’s and School Office (Senior Study and Resource Centre/ Library)
Phase One of planning is nearing conclusion and I expect to receive from Paynter Dixon final plans, scope of works and preliminary estimates of cost in the coming weeks. I envisage that the work will commence in September this year with a view to the works being completed for the return to school in 2019. As such, alternate arrangements will be in place during Term 4 for student usage and I will advise these in due course as planning continues and implications are identified. Year 12, in particular will be provided with alternate spaces to study if they choose to do so at School during the September holiday period and throughout their Higher School Certificate examinations in October and November.
Michael Smith | Principal
Twitter: @Principal_Hills
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