吃瓜不打烊

22 July 2022

Archbishop Peter A Comensoli officially blessed and dedicated the $5 million Sr Genevieve Robertson Junior STEM Centre and Fidelis Community Garden at St John’s Regional College, Dandenong, last Friday.

The new centre offers dedicated learning spaces to foster science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), providing opportunities for St John’s students to pursue learning and future career pathways in the critical STEM industries.

Features of the centre include state-of-the-art facilities in the areas of science, design technology, robotics and information technology. Classroom design has also incorporated flexible learning spaces to allow for a variety of teaching and learning styles, which provides an integrated and hands-on application of the key learning areas.

In blessing and dedicating the new facilities, Archbishop Peter highlighted the importance of STEM.

‘Bless this junior STEM building which has been developed for our students and teachers.

‘May all who use it experience the joy of learning, the challenge and the fun of science, technology, engineering and maths in their lives, the ability to grapple with and learn from new problems.

‘Just the facts? Science, technology, engineering and maths aren’t just the facts. They are what is true, good and beautiful’, he said.

Member for Dandenong, the Hon Gabrielle Williams recognised the state government’s $3 million investment, as part of the Non-Government Schools Capital Fund, towards the new centre.

‘This facility will ensure that St John’s Regional College teachers have first-class facilities to give their students the 21st century education they deserve’, she said.

Principal Tim Hogan said the STEM centre provides a wonderful opportunity for St John’s Regional College to become a leader of STEM education in the local region.

‘The completion of this state-of-the-art educational facility will provide exciting future pathways for our students.

‘As their teachers, we will continue our work providing them with an environment of high support and high challenge, and as we have seen time and time again, once our students have the opportunity, they can do some amazing things’, he said.

The junior STEM centre and community garden were named in honour of Presentation Order sisters Sr Genevieve Robertson and Sr Fidelis Burgess to recognise the foundational work of the Sisters in Dandenong and at St John’s Regional College, as they worked tirelessly to establish and bring the mission of Catholic education to life.