Exciting new developmentfor St Ignatius School
Students at St Ignatius Parish School in Bourke stepped into the past on their return to school, now taking lessons in the old convent – but it’s for a good reason.
The school is on the verge of a multi-million dollar rebuild to provide a set of brand-new classrooms with state-of-the-art facilities, which means students and staff must make some temporary adjustments.
St Ignatius School Principal Una Taylor explained that the school students have been moved into temporary, renovated classrooms in the old Mercy Convent building, while the rebuild is taking place.
“There’s been refurbishing happening over summer in the convent building with new carpet and painting and lovely, big air conditioning units,” Mr Taylor said.
“The children are having classes there while the new school build is being finalised”
The eastern wing of the iconic convent turned 100 years old last year and the original Mercy Convent building dates to 1819 when it housed Irish nuns. It was also used as a boarding school at one point.
Mrs Taylor said that the buildings have been used for a classroom previously and from the 1980’s to the early 2000s the old Convent was used as the administration block and staff room.
“There was a temporary classroom upstairs at one point, but the building has not been used for about 15 years.”
Mrs Taylor said the huge changes happening to St Ignatius will result in “practically a new school”.
“The project is expected to cost at least $10 million, and demolition of the adjacent classroom buildings will begin this year. […]
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