Everleigh is the first prospective student to see a bird’s eye view of her future school via a 3D model in the Principal’s office. Along with parents Gretta and Patrick Little, Everleigh will also be the first to take an exclusive tour of the school site, led by Notre Dame College, Bells Creek Foundation Principal Dan McShea, on Thursday 25 January.
The visit will include a trip to the 7.9-hectare school site where earthworks are currently underway, preparing it to become what will be the initial stage of the new Prep to Year 12 College, including five new buildings comprising of fully airconditioned general learning areas, administration block, sports court, and carpark that will be completed by 2025.
At Notre Dame’s temporary school office at Stockland Baringa, Dan has the pivotal role of meeting, enrolling, and welcoming new families while spearheading the recruitment of 15 new staff members who will educate the first cohort of 200 new students starting in January 2025.
“There has been significant demand for a Prep to Year 12 school within the Bells Creek area, and it’s incredibly exciting for our community who can now not only enrol their children at our College but also see a 3D model of what our College will look like once complete,” said the Principal.
Patrick and Gretta Little are among the first few parents to enrol their daughter Everleigh, aged four, who they hope will start Prep at the College in 2025.
Gretta said the new College will mean her children, including one-year-old Amelia, can one day walk to school.
“When we were building our home in Banya, we saw a Catholic school was coming,” she says.
“Little did we know it would be within walking distance from the school.
“As a former Siena Catholic College student, I felt Notre Dame College would be the perfect place for my child to start their Catholic education journey.
“The school motto of compassion, courage, and hope also resonated with us. It’s something we are already trying to instill in our daughters, and we felt this helped cement for us that Notre Dame College was the right school.”
Gretta added that Everleigh is so excited for ‘big school.’
“When we drive past the Notre Dame College site, Everleigh always says, ‘That’s where my school will be built!’
Notre Dame College construction began in December 2023 and will continue throughout 2024 before the completion of Stage 1 works in time for the 2025 school year, with the school now accepting enrolments for Prep to Year 3 and Year 7.
By 2030, the College will cater to 1800 students and employ 280 staff.
Little family (left) with Principal Dan McShea (right). ©Brisbane Catholic Education (2024).