Building for the Future at Braybrook

When a girl’s school in Melbourne’s west built a structure to protect its outdoor sports courts, the community got much more than a shelter for physical education classes.

And nearly a year later – the benefits for the year seven-to-nine college continue to flow – as campus pride skyrockets and student enrollments rise.

Caroline Chisholm Catholic College Principal, Robert Brennan, had wanted a shelter for the two basketball courts at the girls’ campus for a long time.

The former physical education teacher understood the educational benefits of an all-weather recreational space, but as principal, he knew the shelter was more than that.

“The boys’ campus – down the road, got a brand-new indoor gymnasium, so this (the shelter) was important for all students to have equal access to facilities,” Robert said.

“I think, also, that we as a society are trying to encourage girls to be active, then we have to provide the facilities to allow them to do that.”

Sport at Braybrook College – educating about 400 females – is viewed as a learning opportunity.

“While education is our number one priority, it (sport) is giving them skills for life,” Robert said.

“Whether it’s swinging a tennis racquet, throwing a cricket ball, bouncing a basketball – these are things we can do both physically and socially for a long time in our lives.”

Providing sporting facilities at school has been important for student’s uptake of physical activity.

“There are a couple of major cultural groups (at our school) where sport wouldn’t play a major part in their lives,” Robert said.

“But having something like (this shelter) enables them to participate at school and gives them opportunities that they probably wouldn’t have to go through their family.”

A Statement Structure

Robert Brennan would be the first to admit it.

He was dubious about employing an agricultural shed construction firm to make an “aesthetically pleasing” shelter for a city school.

But, after a word-of-mouth recommendation, and a satisfactory quote and timeline, the College engaged Entegra – and its specialist educational division ENVIROCLASS – to build the structure.

“From start to finish it was a wonderful process,” Robert said.

“I’ve seen some that are apex in shape whereas I was always looking for something that had the dome shape to it.

“I like the softness of its appearance; it looks nice and it’s an impressive feature.”

The shelter is (measurements in here) and it was built during last year’s summer school holidays.

Robert said he was pleased with how ENVIROCLASS was “accommodating” with alterations to the design and were able to install power and lighting into the shelter.

But it’s the students who were most impressed with their new sheltered outdoor physical education area and what it’s done to the appeal of the school.

“The girls have always loved this campus,” Robert said.

“Tiny community that gets along very well. But are they prouder now? Yes absolutely.”

A Talking Point

The new structure over the basketball courts makes a declaration without even realising it, according to Robert.

He said the shelter has replaced an “eyesore” of an area that was desperately in need of renovation.

“The shelter makes a statement about the status of the school,” he said.

“It's about our values and the fact we have great facilities.”

Even though Caroline Chisholm Catholic College has a co-ed senior school for year ten to twelve students, Robert said parents of students at the female junior campus view the school as a "girl’s school first”.

The single-sex nature of the school is one of the main reasons parents enrol their students at Caroline Chisholm Catholic College, he said.

But as a “girls’ school” it meant it needed facilities equal to other local girl’s schools to compete.

The shelter, and the flexibility it provides for physical education and sport, have become a strength of the school, adding to its attraction for prospective students and families.

“Now we get families through the door because the whole frontage of the school has changed significantly because they are getting through the door, we have seen a significant jump in female enrollments,” Robert said.

“It is because of the shelter? I’d say probably not, but that would have had an impact, as it would have been one of the factors that got them through the door.”

The Caroline Chisholm Catholic College is now preparing to enrol about 150 females next year – on par with the number set to start in year seven at the male campus.

Prepared for the Future

After a few years without gathering as a school, l because of COVID-19 restrictions, Caroline Chisholm Catholic College is now prepared if “COVID was to ramp up again”.

The shelter across the courts is enough space for everyone to meet out of the sun or rain while providing the bonus of outdoor airflow.

While they “haven’t had sunshine” since it was built over the summer holidays, Robert is convinced the shade will be well received on hot Melbourne days – providing somewhere for students to relax outdoors.

In the meantime, there’s been plenty of sport played beneath the structure – the reason it was built in the first place.

“It’s been extraordinarily well received by all and think teachers get the biggest boost of all,” Robert said.