HORSHAM’S Holy Trinity Lutheran School will have a full cohort of students from prep to year 12 by 2019.
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Lutheran Church of Australia Victorian District Church Council approved the school’s expansion to year 12 on Friday.
The school will take on a class of year 10 students next year, year 11s in 2018 and year 12s the in 2019.
The expansion will also include a new set of buildings for years 11 and 12, that will be built on the south end of the school grounds.
School business manager Garry Wallace said the announcement was absolutely brilliant.
He said there had been a big demand for the school to expand to senior year levels.
"We've had parents saying they would like us to go to year 12,” he said.
"Anecdotally it's something the town needs.
"We will be the only p-12 single campus school in Horsham - it will be a one stop shop.”
The school opened its middle school to year sevens in 2014.
The school expanded with its first year eight classes last year.
The first class of year nine students started at the school this year.
Mr Wallace said the green light to go to year 12 was a long time coming.
"We're over the moon this is actually happening,” he said.
He said next step was getting plans in motion.
"There's a lot of work to go from now, there will be building projects, marketing projects,” he said.
"We'll apply for government funding, loans from the Lutheran Laypeople’s League and there could be a little bit of fundraising.”
Mr Wallace said the announcement also meant more jobs in Horsham.
"There will be a need for more staff, which is not only good for our school, but also the region’s economy,” he said.
“We employed five new teachers this year and we would look at employing at least five next year.”
School council chairman Richard Nagorcka said it was great to see the vision come to fruition.
“We’ve been waiting for this for a long time,” he said.
“All the hard work in getting school numbers up to make this viable is paying off.”
School captain and year nine student Josiah Mock said it was great for his class – the first class of year sevens to start at the school in 2014 – to be able to finish their education at the school together.
“It’s just brilliant,” he said.
“It takes a lot of stress off – now I don’t have to change schools or go to boarding school.
“I don’t have to start again.”
The school is already working on expanding its middle school section. with stage 2a of the development to start this year.