Nathaniel Atherton, Primary Principal
20 September 2024
Exciting Developments and the Pavilion Move
On Tuesday night, we hosted a fantastic strategic evening with our Head of School, Ms Lucy M. Gowdie. It was an inspiring night exploring our school’s bright future. The evening marked the unveiling of our new five-year strategic roadmap and the 4 pillars (Self, Community, World and Resources) that will enable us to move closer to achieving our school’s mission. Additionally, Ms Gowdie shared the early progress already being made within these pillars, highlighting the school’s direction for the years ahead. Central to this vision is a focus on building enhancements that will shape the future of our campus.
One of the first enhancements you'll see will arrive in just a few short weeks. After the October break, the new Pavilion will make its debut. While there will still be a couple of months of preparation ahead before it's fully ready for occupancy, the external structure of the building will be visible as a sign of the school’s ongoing growth and progress. This new building is a significant new addition to our campus, designed to act as a pressure valve as we continue to expand.
This modern, modular building is purpose-designed for education. It boasts 24 classrooms, with a couple of connecting learning spaces on each floor to allow for collaboration between teachers and classes. Additionally, it includes dedicated spaces for small group work and support services interventions. Access to the various floors will be via an external double staircase with accessible access to the upper floors via an elevator. The Pavilion promises to be a dynamic learning environment for the next five-plus years.
Our Primary students will be the first to transition into this space after the December break. When they return on 8 January 2025, they’ll be welcomed into their homerooms in the Pavilion. The move has been carefully planned to ensure a smooth and seamless transition for all students. Primary students will remain in the Pavilion until the April break.
During time away from the school, built between 1971-1972, and opened in January 1973, we will see some exciting accessibility upgrades made to the Primary building, including the installation of an elevator and an accessible restroom on the lower floor. Additionally, we’ll also regain some classroom and office space lost during summer construction.
These transitions are no small task, and our teams — across facilities, maintenance, and IT — are working tirelessly to ensure everything goes smoothly. Their dedication ensures that every step of this process is impactful and well-executed.
We look forward to sharing more updates in the coming weeks, including when you’ll be able to tour the Pavilion ahead of the big move.
Every transition like this is another opportunity for growth, and we’re thrilled to continue improving our campus and the educational experience at ICS.
Kind regards,
Nathaniel Atherton
Primary Principal