STATE and private schools have rallied to help 700 students stranded by the impending closure of the Uniting Church’s Acacia College in Mernda.
Plenty Valley Christian College has invited Acacia parents to tour its prep-year 12 school this Thursday.
Plenty Valley Christian College principal Douglas Peck, addressing parents on his school’s website, wrote: “[The college] will do the best it can to alleviate the anxiety and stress of your situation.” But he warned that enrolments were decided by interviews and not made on a “first in” basis.
Ivanhoe Grammar principal Rod Fraser warned it had limited spaces at its Plenty campus.
South Morang’s Marymede Catholic College principal said his school could take 150 Acacia secondary students and a yet-to-be-determined number of primary pupils.
Tania Pearson, Whittlesea Secondary College assistant principal said: “We have 800 students, but in the past we have had 1300, and with portables we can accommodate them all.”
Whittlesea Primary School principal Bente Stock said the 370-pupil school had room for an extra 200.
Doreen Primary School principal Glenn Simondson said his school was “busting” with 138 enrolments for next year.
Bundoora Northside Christian College principal Stephen Leslie welcomed Acacia enrolments while “recognising that the two schools are different in nature and ethos”.
Diamond Valley’s St Helena Secondary College principal Karen Terry said Acacia parents had been asked to provide their details by Wednesday this week, but with 1500 students the school was already at capacity.
