New Baldivis school a boon for kids

Future parents and students of Tuart Rise Primary School lent a helping hand last week volunteering to put the finishing touches on Baldivis' newest primary school.

The independent public school, on the corner of Smirk Road and Kempeana Way, is set to open its doors to 380-plus students from kindergarten to Year 6 come February.

The school is hoped to alleviate pressure on surrounding primary schools, which have reached student levels of 900 to 1000-plus students.

Principal Gary Crocetta said he was excited to head the new school, which is predicted to grow to the mid-800s by its third year.

"We are excited about the whole facility. The fact that it's all brand new and we are getting to shape the programs that we run in it," he said.

"Our motto is 'Belong and Become' - because we are a new school everyone is coming from somewhere else so it's really important that students feel like they belong to this community.

"If we get a good sense of belonging and people feeling valued then I think we'll make a bigger difference to their education."

Mr Crocetta said he was grateful to the school's steering committee and parents for taking the time to help construct equipment for early childhood, science and maths ahead of the school term.

The school was constructed as part of the State Government's $1.16 billion four-year capital works program for education, set to increase the State's primary schools by 16.

Education Minister Peter Collier said the new and improved schools would support WA's rapidly growing population.

A further two schools in Baldivis near Rivergums and Kerosene Lane are expected to be open by 2016 and 2017, respectively.