Footings Festivities and Family Fun Fair 

On Friday 18th August we celebrated the pouring of the Discovery Centre foundations with a 'Footings Festivities and Fun Fair for Families.'

To celebrate this significant milestone in the construction of this exciting new building, the foundations were blessed by our Chaplain, Pastor Sarah Pollitt and opened by our Chair, Bruce McKay. At the same time, on the oval our Family Fun Night was underway with live music, beautiful weather and a warm atmosphere. It was great to see a multitude of children enjoying the free jumping castle, bungee run, popcorn and ice cream. Thanks to Paul Bailey, Lisa-Marie Burgoyne and Joey Klarenbeek for making it happen.

Our new Discovery Centre at St Philip’s College is an exciting and innovative educational space. More importantly it will enable a teaching and learning approach more suited to the needs, academic development and wellbeing of our students. The Discovery Centre is a teaching and learning space that fits our unique place in Alice Springs and in Central Australia. 

The design connects with the rocks and landscapes and acknowledges our location in the heart of Australia. A Yarning Circle draws on the cultural heritage of Alice Springs and the stories and knowledge that have been shared over thousands of years around campfires/circles; this will become part of how we teach and how our students learn. The location of the Discovery Centre between the Swag Chapel and the Sustainability Centre is deliberate and will support teaching and learning approaches with a focus on discovery (To Strive), spirituality (To Seek) and environmental sustainability (To Care), representing a physical manifestation of our motto. 

Our students and teachers will experience, enjoy and benefit using Discovery Learning approaches in our Discovery Centre. Discovery Learning curriculum, and the approaches to teaching and learning to be employed, will be framed by the Australian Curriculum, the Round Square Discovery Framework and Aboriginal pedagogies and knowledges.

Inherent in the notion of discovery is a commitment to honouring and connecting with the First Peoples of Australia, and the Country on which St Philip’s sits.