By Jed Lanyon
Construction on the Yarra Valley’s newest school is well underway as the School for Student Leadership appoints a campus principal with the aim of opening early next year.
The $8 million Don Valley campus is located next to Don Valley Primary School marks the fourth School for student Leadership campus, which will house Year 9 students for 7-10 weeks at a time.
Mark Reeves, principal of the School for Student Leadership’s Alpine campus welcomed the school’s new principal, an East Gippsland educator.
“We are delighted to advise that Michael Heyne has been appointed to lead the new campus of our school,” Mr Reeves said.
“We have undertaken an extensive search and recruitment process which resulted in international and national responses. Against this competition, we have found the right person, an outstanding educator and an educational leader.”
Mr Heyne said it was a “great honour and privilege” to be a part of the new school.
“The work that it does in particular for regional Victoria is fantastic,” he said. “I am excited to be the leader of this new campus and add value to the lives of young Victorian students, as well as the communities in the Yarra Valley.”
Mr Reeves said that most local secondary schools have already participated in all of the School for Student Leadership campuses over the last 20 years, including their international operation in China.
The Don Valley campus was designed by Maddison Architects. It’s director, Peter Maddison, is known to many as the face of Grand Designs Australia.
“While the new school is not a Grand Design in the sense of the TV show, it is a grand and
magnificent $8 million project in a beautiful location in the Yarra Valley,” Mr Reeves said.
The school will feature an operable roof, will feature state-of-the-art computer technology and can respond to potential fire risks in a safe manner.
“It accommodates 45 students in two separate accommodation wings. It will have access to many of the Yarra Ranges natural assets for expeditions, river activities and mountain bike riding,” Mr Reeves said.
“Importantly, the new campus is deemed critical infrastructure by the State Government. As a result, construction will continue unabated through Stage 4 restrictions.
“We may encounter minor delays due to the availability of materials and trades due to the lockdown but we are still anticipating and working to deliver the project by the end of this year or early next year in time for the school to open in term one.”
