This article appeared in this week’s Sunday Herald Sun. It’s great news about one school, which was recently affected by the devasting bushfires.

Kids in a class of their own   by Stephen Drill

SOME are still living in caravans on their burnt out bush blocks, but the children at Kinglake West Primary School have something to celebrate after moving into a new school.

The seven classrooms, shared multi-purpose spaces, library, hall and administration buildings have made going to school exciting for the 120 students.

The lights turn off if no-one is in the room for more than 15 minutes and the windows open and close automatically depending on the outside temperature.

And in the toilets, warm water flows from the taps.

Grade 2 student Hannah Creed, 8, whose family lost their house in the fires, said she liked the new school because it was warm.

“It’s warmer inside here than outside. We are living in a caravan on our block where our house used to be,” she said.

The new school was being built before the fires and was scheduled to be finished last November.

The Country Fire Authority saved the partially built school on Black Saturday, but the fires caused further delays.

Principal Mark Portman said the new buildings had made students excited to come to school after a difficult six months.

“The opening of the new school is almost like a re-birth,” he said.

“We have new facilities and we are really looking forward to moving ahead.”

Keen to learn: Principal Mark Portman with students at the new Kinglake West Primary School. Picture: Rob Leeson.