Moama Anglican Grammar is excited to announce a new on-site preschool, among other developments. Pictured are business manager Suzanna Barry, board chair Jane Millar, deputy board chair Dr Sydney Paul, teacher Fiona Gibbs with her children Mabel and Joseph, and principal Scott Downward.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
Having grown from 16 students to more than 700 within 20 years, Moama Anglican Grammar School is no stranger to expansion.
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Now, the latest addition to its Kirchhofer St campus will be a new preschool, made possible by a $3.36 million grant from the NSW Government.
The Early Years Learning Facility will offer 40 preschool places, significantly improving access to education for families in Moama’s growing community.
School principal Scott Downward said the project was in development over a long period, and the government funding had helped make it a reality.
“We’re most grateful to the government, but super excited to be able to support the community,” he said.
“The ability for us to provide quality early years learning, to support families, to support young people in their foundational years, it’s critical.”
Moama was identified as a high-growth area by the government, and received support as part of an initiative to build 50 preschools at non-government schools.
The facility at MAGS will cater to both three- and four-year-old’s, and construction is scheduled to begin early next year, with the first intake planned at the start of 2027.
Mr Downward said the school was thrilled to be offering a seamless transition for students from pre-school years up to high-school graduation.
With the facility to be located at the northern end of the campus, families with different aged children will be able to save time on the school run each day.
“There’s not three drop-offs for the child in preschool, the child in primary school and the child in secondary school,” Mr Downward said.
“It’s a real attractive value proposition for families to have that accessibility within our site.”
Scott Downward, Mabel Gibbs, Fiona Gibbs and Joseph Gibbs.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
Teacher and mother Fiona Gibbs said she added her first child, Joseph, to an early education waiting list as soon as he was born.
She was able to secure two days of care initially, which later rose to four days after two years, allowing Ms Gibbs to increase her hours teaching music at MAGS.
While she will be caring for her one-year-old, Mabel, next year, the early learning facility’s completion will open up room for support.
“Finding places to accommodate care for children and mothers returning to work is really important,” Ms Gibbs said.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity, and it’s certainly very supportive for staff and any mothers that will be wanting to return to work.”
On top of the new facility, the first stage of the school’s multipurpose stadium is progressing ahead of schedule, with completion expected in December.
The $13.1 million project includes two international sized multi-sport courts, two contemporary sprung floor dance studios, advanced audiovisual systems and retractable seating for over 1000 people.
Planning for the stadium’s second stage was recently approved by the school board, and construction is now set to begin early next year.
Extra classrooms, music studios, a specialist food technology and VET hospitality space, undercover outdoor learning and recreation areas, office spaces and a foyer are included in its designs.
Mr Downward envisions opening the stadium to community and sport groups once it is completed.
“It’s a big time of growth, and that’s exciting,” he said.
“What I’m more excited about is delivering great outcomes for kids in the school ... our goal is to just provide great service to families.”
An information session for the school’s early learning centre will be held at the start of next year, with details to be announced before the year’s end.
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