Cade Lucas
The start of every school year is always a time of new beginnings, for students and staff alike.
However, it’s not often that a school gets to record the list of firsts that Laa Yulta Primary School in Mambourin will when term one of 2024 begins on January 31.
Not only will its students be starting school or starting at a new school and its teachers all starting new jobs, but the whole institution will be opening for the first time.
Laa Yulta is one of a host of new public schools set to open in Wyndham,
but even among these, its status as the first in its home suburb of Mambourin, sets it apart.
“It’s exciting but also fairly humbling,” said Laa Yulta’s inaugural principal Mark Zhara.
“We’ve got an opportunity to create a culture from the start.”
Mambourin, a fledgling suburb situated just to the west of Wyndham Vale, already has plenty of new homes, some shops and businesses and plenty more planned, but Mr Zhara said Laa Yulta represents more to the local community than just a new primary school.
“We’re the first school in Mambourin, but also one of the first community hubs.”
Like the suburb around them, it’s one that is set to grow.
The P-6 school will open with 200 students, but is built to accommodate 650.
There are already 21 staff members including teachers, classroom assistants and office employees and all classrooms are finished and fully equipped, including those to be used for science, music, art and PE.
“We are ready to go,” said Mr Zhara, who was employed as principal a year ago.
“I was employed at the end of term 1 in 2023 and preparations have been ongoing since then,” he said, adding that his job at Laa Yulta couldn’t be more different from his last role.
“My previous school that I came from just celebrated their 100 year anniversary, so it’s a bit of a change. I’ve done new builds before but not a whole new school.”
Other new public schools preparing to open in Wyndham are Wimba Primary School and Brinbeal Secondary College in Tarneit, Warreen Primary School and Bemin Secondary College in Truganina and Walcom Ngarrwa Secondary College and Nganboo Borron School in Werribee.
