New school giving students a chance to thrive

A new independent special assistance middle school for young people aged 10-15 officially opened at Burpengary this week.

The Younity School aims to give young people an opportunity to thrive in middle school and create positive pathways for their future.

The school supports students in Years 5 to 9 who have complex learning and social support needs, who have experienced educational disadvantage, or who haven’t found their place in mainstream schooling.

Operating under the auspices of Younity Community Services, the school opened its doors earlier this year to about 45 foundation students.

Variety of learning styles

Younity Community Services co-CEO Jennie Drever told those gathered for the official opening that bringing the school to fruition was “testament to the huge amount of work” of the community.

She acknowledged Younity trainees who had helped prepare the school’s grounds for the opening and Younity Busi Events trainees who were on hand to deliver catering for the event.

“It really does take a village,” Jennie says.

Kurwongbah MP Shane King said he was honoured to be invited to the official opening because he knew first-hand that students needed an opportunity to experience different styles of learning.

“It’s not every day you get to do the opening of a new school – in particular this school and the value it will bring to the community,” Shane says.

“When I was at Pine Rivers high school, I failed maths.

“I wanted to be an electrician and I went to TAFE and with the different learning methods I passed with honours and that’s what this school brings – different learning methods.”

Supportive environment

Younity board chair Ashleigh Stephens says the school will give students the opportunity to learn in a unique environment that’s supportive and inclusive.

“We’re really excited to move forward and grow,” Ashleigh says.

Younity co-CEO Janine Botfield says the school was three years in the making and she was grateful for the support of the Freshwater Parish, which owns the land on which the school sits.

“They could have built townhouses here and made a lot of money, but they wanted to do something that represented the parish’s Kingdom values,” Janine says.

Plans for expansion

“I want to thank the staff and students for taking a risk for us – a lot of staff left jobs that were secure and a lot of the students were not going to do school again.”

Janine says she hopes the Burpengary campus will be the first of several across the City of Moreton Bay.

Guests were treated to a video presentation in which students shared their thoughts about the difference the Younity School has already made to their lives.

“Teachers help kids that struggle to learn and they explain it in a different way,” one student said.

“It’s better than mainstream because they teachers are nicer and listen to what you say,” said another.

“Here I have teachers who understand my way of learning and my friends understand me and I feel safe,” a third said.

See the gallery

Foundation Principal David McKay says he’s proud to be working with foundation staff and the school’s first cohort of 47 students.

“What we’re creating in these classrooms is brilliant,” David says.

“There’s a right school for everyone and for these kids here, this is the right school for them – they just need to be given an opportunity.

“If we continue on this journey it’s going to be fantastic to see 120-150 kids here in the next few years.”

David says he can already see the transformative impact the school has had in many students’ lives.

“We have two young girls who started with us in week two and we couldn’t get them out of the car for their interview and we couldn’t get them out on day one,” he explains.

“For the first couple of days it was really tough and we wanted to make their feel at home, like this is a place where they belong – they hadn’t been to school in six months.

“Fast-forward five weeks and they’re giving you all gifts for coming here today and giving school tours.”

Click here to find out more about the Younity School.