Page 5 - 2020 Altiora Vol 72

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THE JOHN CUNNINGHAM STUDENT CENTRE
THE JOHN CUNNINGHAM STUDENT CENTRE | 5
The Headmaster and School Board are excited and proud to announce
the School’s plans to redevelop the Stratford Building into a purpose-
built Student Centre. The construction will take place in the second
half of 2021 and require the renovation and extension of the Stratford
Building. The design is still in draft form; it is anticipated to cost
$800,000 and will be the largest building project undertaken at our
School since the Performing Arts Centre was opened in 2012. It will
ensure that the School can continue to offer superb facilities to our
students for generations to come.

As Stratford is in the centre of the Senior School campus and our
students are at the heart and soul of our School, it is a natural location
to create a student-focused facility. Our new Student Centre will serve
as a warm and dry casual hub for students to use during study lessons,
lesson breaks and meal breaks. It will include specialist study areas and
breakout rooms. It will also house all Senior School student services
including Student Reception and sick bay and spaces where students can
meet with counsellors, pastoral staff and Learning Enrichment educators.
This project has been made possible by the philanthropy of Mr John
Cunningham, a generous benefactor and Blue Mountains Grammar
School alumnus. For this reason, the facility will be named the John
Cunningham Student Centre. Whilst Mr Cunningham’s generosity
has secured the construction of the building, we will rely on additional
donations to ensure the building is all that we hope it will be. Fortunately,
in 2020, Mr Cunningham pledged to match all donations to our Building
Fund and any donations specifically for this project. With the pressures
of COVID abating, in 2021, the School’s Foundation Committee plans
to take advantage of Mr Cunningham’s generosity. On our School’s
next Foundation Day, not only will we celebrate the School’s foundation
and our long and rich history, but the Foundation Committee will host
an exciting School community fundraising event. All funds raised will
contribute to the fit-out, including internal fittings and plantings, tables
and chairs, soft furnishings and technology.
Every current student, current or past member of staff, parents of
current or past students and those who once attended this wonderful
School knows how much we need a space dedicated to the heart and soul
of our school, our students. Please support our Giving Day on Foundation
th
Day, 5 May 2021. This event will be livestreamed from the School and
networked on all school social media platforms.
More information on construction plans will be made available as they
are developed and more information on the Foundation (Giving) Day will
be forwarded from the Foundation Committee early in 2021.
** Please note that all images shown here are conceptual drawings only.