AUGUST 15, 2017 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
NEWS + SPORT + PROPERTY GUIDE
(Joe Mastroianni)
Musical to relate to A Caroline Springs school is staging a high school musical about a high school musical. Creekside K-9 College will present High School Musical Jr at Wyndham Cultural Centre next month. More than 70 students are involved in on-stage or production roles in the stage adaptation of the popular Disney film that launched the career of heart-throb Zac Efron. College arts head Katia Buriani said the show was chosen for its relevance to the cast and crew, whose ages range from eight to 15. “The show addresses many social themes which we felt were particular relevant for our students.” She said it explored questions about identity, peer pressure, success, priorities and relationships. Ms Buriani, who is the show’s production director, said the musical had something for everyone. “It boasts exciting dance numbers, catchy songs, bold characters and is full of hilarious jokes,” she said. The show will be presented on September 7 and 8, from 7pm. Tickets cost $20 and $10 for children under 12. Bookings: wyncc.com.au/whats_on/ disneys_high_school_musical_jr HOLLY, PAIGE, ERICA, ANDRE AND HANNEN
Stella Tzobanakis
School no-go zone anger By Esther Lauaki Taylors Hill and Burnside Heights families are disappointed that they may be “zoned out” of accessing a new secondary college despite living close by. The state government released the zoning boundaries for Fraser Rise Secondary College, provisionally known as Taylors Hill West Secondary College, last week. Construction started on the $35.2 million school in February. Fraser Rise, one of 11 new suburbs in Melton, is west of Hillside and Caroline Springs and bounded by Melton Highway and Plumpton and Taylors roads.
The new school boundaries encompass the west side of Plumpton but do not include Hillside, Taylors Hill, Sydenham or Burnside Heights. Father-of-three Sumit Minocha, who lives in Taylors Hill, was one of a number of parents who expressed their dismay at the school zone on the college’s Facebook page. “One of the worries that we’ve had – and a lot of our friends have had – is the lack of a high school in this area,” he said. “When they announced this new school in Plumpton, after a lot of campaigning by residents, we thought our worries were over. “The state government has invested all this money into a school, but they’re not catering to
the growth of our existing area. Our family and a number of our friends have been left out of the zone. “The college is zoned for the other side of Plumpton, where we have heard no talk of any development happening anytime soon. Our option now is to go private.” Mr Minocha’s children attend Springside P-9 College, to which they gained entry to through a meeting with the principal. He told Star Weekly it was not guaranteed the same level of flexibility would be afforded to parents trying to enrol their children at Fraser Rise Secondary College. Another parent said she would have to consider schools further from home.
“I live under the Melton council and pay the ridiculous rates and still might have to resort to Brimbank … facilities because of zoning requirements,” she posted on Facebook. A spokesman for Education Minister James Merlino said the school had been built in response to forecast demand. “Local enrolment boundaries will continue to be monitored to ensure that all local families can access a great education,” he said. Fraser Rise principal John Goodman could not respond to Star Weekly’s questions before deadline. Fraser Rise Secondary College’s first cohort of about 300 students are scheduled to start at the beginning of the 2018 school year.