Construction of Eveyln Scott School's senior site is now complete – with enrolments open for the start of 2023.
The senior and junior school campuses in Denman Prospect will be officially named today – after the ceremonies were delayed due to the global pandemic.
This marks the first time an ACT school has been named after a First Nation's woman.
"The completion of the high school is a significant milestone for ACT public education." said Minister for Education and Youth Affairs Yvette Berry.
"Evelyn Scott was a tremendous advocate for reconciliation and the advancement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. I'm so pleased generations of students will now grow up learning about her incredible work."
The ACT Government has invested $70 million in the state-of-the-art facility – built to accommodate 600 students.
It's the second zero-emissions school in the ACT and features integrated learning environments for all students, a canteen, sporting oval and hard-courts, double-gymnasium, library/resource centre, out of school hours facilities, outdoor learning/play areas and secure bicycle parking and storage.
The high school will also feature a plaque and new mural artwork by Ngunnawal artist Lynnice Church.
The junior site opened at the start of 2021 - accommodating almost 690 students. The junior and senior campus sites integrate to facilitate pre-school to year 10 learning.
"Like the junior school, the senior campus of Evelyn Scott School will offer a top-class public education in this high-growth region. We're excited to welcome students onto the new campus from next year." said Minister Berry.
Quotes attributable to Evelyn Scott School principal Jackie Vaughan:
"It is an incredible honour to lead the first school in Canberra to be named after an Aboriginal woman."
"We are very privileged to have a special connection with Dr Evelyn Scott's family. This is such a significant day because her daughters, Charmaene and Kathrine and her granddaughter, Kristine are attending our Naming Day. Charmaene is also a School Board member."
"This school is purpose-built for future-focused learning. It is a contemporary school, with open-plan architecture for 21st century learning. It provides a continuum of learning from preschool through to high school, of play, inquiry and project-based learning. And it's a connected school – connected to and co-constructed with our community, being a new school in a new suburb."
