Scotch College opens the Purruna Spencer Newton Centre

Scotch College will officially open the Purruna Spencer Newton Centre on Thursday evening, heralding a new direction of student wellbeing and integrated learning at the Adelaide school.

The centre, which includes a 25m pool, indoor courts, flexible classroom facilities, collaborative workspaces, consultation rooms, and a high-performance gym and exercise rooms to allow for meditation, yoga, teaching and dance, will officially open to the school and public outside of school hours today, including learn to swim classes and gym sessions. The centre will be operated by YMCA.

Scotch College Principal Trent Driver said the school would deliver high quality programs at the Purruna Centre for its students and the local community, with a strong focus on student wellbeing and integrated learning.

Mr Driver said Scotch College was one of the first schools to integrate wellbeing in its curriculum in 2005, expanding to incorporate its Live Well program in 2017. The Purruna Centre will bring the major pillars of the Live Well program together, within the Scotch community.

“Knowing our students are resilient as they learn, grow and develop is essential. We know wellbeing is considered a major contributor to both high-achieving academic results and personal and professional success in later life,” Mr Driver said.

“They’re growing up in a world which is changing at a faster pace than ever, facing globalisation, digital advancements and ongoing health challenges, and the accelerated pace of change presents not just enormous opportunities, but also massive uncertainty.

“While this has placed unprecedented stresses on our students, their families and our community, our role has been to support their development, equip them to manage the challenges of change and to provide them with the intellectual, mental and physical resources to create opportunities and be globally-responsible.

“We hope the Purruna Centre will be the key to enhancing their wellbeing as they grow into global citizens, and we hope the local community will be able to share that journey with us though exercise and activities.”

The building will promote sustainability, with solar power and water capture design features. Internal and external vegetation will complement the College farm, and agricultural learnings will be integrated into food and nutrition curricula, including world food needs as global populations grow. Sustainability, energy and food production contribute to the first two pillars of Live Well, as well as educating students on world problem-solving and service.

Scotch has worked closely with Kaurna elder Uncle Mickey O’Brien, including choosing a name to signify lifeblood and wellbeing, which is at the heart of its purpose.

The centre will include a suite of allied health professionals including sleep, occupational therapy and life coaching specialists whose services will be available to students and the wider community. The centre’s sports facilities will also be made available to the local community.