The new Catholic school at Warragul, St Angela of the Cross Primary School, that took its first students this year has been formally opened and blessed by the Catholic Bishop of Sale, Bishop Gregory Bennet.

The school’s completed first stage comprises six classrooms, an administration centre, an oval and play areas with work on a second stage set to start about the middle of next year.

It will include an additional eight learning areas, outdoor learning facilities and additional amenities.

Bishop Bennet was joined for the blessing by the director of Catholic Education for the Diocese of Sale Maria Kirkwood, parish priest Father Peter Slater and the school’s principal Justin Greenwood.

Member for Monash Russell Broadbent sent a video message congratulating the school.

He said the $1.75 million provided by the Federal government was from the recording capital works funding for non-government schools based on recommendations from the Gonski Review of education.

Welcoming officials from the diocese and the local community to the ceremony, Mr Greenwood said this year’s foundation year had seen student numbers continue to grow.

Students have a dynamic and supportive environment where they are encouraged to be faith-filled, independent and co-operative life-long learners, he said.

Ms Kirkwood pointed out that St Angela of the Cross was the first new school to be established in Warragul in almost 20 years and also the first new facility built under the auspices of the Diocese of Sale Catholic Education Ltd.

The diocese now operates 38 primary schools and several secondary schools across south-east Victoria.

The first stage of the new Warragul school was jointly funded under the Federal government’s capital grants program and the school community.