JOY Burch has announced the appointment of the principal for the new school at Coombs today.

“It gives me great pleasure to announce that the first principal of the school at Coombs is Ms Kate McMahon,” Joy said.

“Kate has proven experience as a school leader across a number of different schools in the ACT and overseas, including most recently as the principal of Red Hill School.

“Kate’s strong educational leadership skills over the last 16 years as a school leader combined with her creative, strategic and innovative thinking will be invaluable assets to build this school up into another quality Canberra public school.”

The new school at Coombs will cater for preschool to year 6 students and is scheduled to open for the start of the 2016 school year. The school will cater for students in Coombs and Wright, the first suburbs being developed as part of the new Molonglo district.

The school will be the first community facility provided in the Molonglo Valley and will provide a range of facilities such as community meeting rooms, a school hall and sports court with community storage areas and a community oval.

“Schools are always at the heart of any thriving and close-knit community, and the new school at Coombs is no different. Kate’s passion and experience in developing strong learning environments and student outcomes, and building relationships between the school and the community will be invaluable.

“I would like to wish Kate all the very best in her new role educating and shaping the lives of the young people of the Coombs-Wright area. I have full confidence that this new school is in very good hands, and will become another one of the magnificent, high quality learning spaces that Canberra is so proud of,” Ms Burch concluded.

[Photo: Minister for Education and Training Joy Burch with the inaugural principal of the new school at Coombs, Ms Kate McMahon. The pair met to tour the school construction site today.]