By Julie Moore 

On Monday, August 26, Daborra, a new learning centre for Years 8 and 9 at St Mary of the Angels Secondary College's in Nathalia was blessed by Bishop Shane and officially opened.

St Mary of the Angels Secondary College Principal, Matt Carver said, “It was wonderful to celebrate the completion of our new middle school building project, Daborra, with all of the contributors who have made it possible. This has been our largest building project to date and brings to life our plan for state-of-the-art year-level facilities across the board.

The building, which includes ten new classrooms, staff offices, meeting rooms and break-out spaces, provides a wonderful agile and calming learning environment to support the implementation of the College’s various pedagogies and teaching strategies.

“The name Daborra has particular meaning for the students who learn in this building,” said Mr Carver. “Daborra in our local Yorta Yorta language means ‘along the journey or pathway’. This building predominantly houses our Year 8 and 9 staff and students. Our year 8 and 9 students are no longer the ‘newbies’, yet they are not quite at the senior end of their educational journey either. These students are navigating their way ‘along the journey’ through the middle years; they are trying to work out what their gifts, talents and areas of interest are.”

“The name also has a poignant connection to our Year 9 Immersion Program, which provides an invaluable opportunity for students to deepen their understanding of the culture and lives of our First Australians.”

From left, Federal Member for Nicholls, Sam Birrell; St Mary of the Angels Secondary College Principal; Matt Carver; Senator for Victoria; Raff Ciccone; College Leader, Ryan Tranter; Bishop of Sandhurst Shane Mackinlay; College Leader; Elly Slatterie, Executive Director of Catholic Education Sandhurst; Kate Fogarty and College Leader; Liliana De Maio.