Work has begun on a new Ambrose preschool – the first of the next wave in the Diocese – to be built in partnership with the Good Shepherd Parish in Plumpton.
When it opens in early 2025 the preschool, located next door to the Good Shepherd Primary School, will cater to 100 children aged two to five in four learning rooms, and will support working families with extended operating hours of 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.
It will be the first preschool to be built by the Diocese of Parramatta’s Community Ventures agency, which already operates six Ambrose preschools and 54 out of school hours care (OSHC) services in Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains. The Diocese plans to open many more preschools in the coming years.
Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, Bishop of Parramatta, concelebrated the blessing of the site with Assistant Parish Priest of the Good Shepherd Parish, Fr John Nguyen OFM Cap. Aunty Julie Jones, Dharug custodian and knowledge holder, gave the Welcome to Country which was especially symbolic in light of the breaking of the earth ahead of construction.
Bishop Vincent blessing the site before construction begins. Image: Gene Ramirez/Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
Bishop Vincent told those gathered for the event on 4 July that the service would mark “a new chapter in the lives of the community here”.
“We are all here for the sake of the children and the generations to come,” said Bishop Vincent, adding that the Diocese wanted to build a future that “mirrors the reign of God”.
“The work we are beginning today should enliven our faith and make us grateful,” he said.
“We know the familiar words of the psalm: If the Lord does not build the house, in vain do its builders labour.
“Whenever we look to the interests of our neighbour or the community and serve them, we are, in a sense, God’s own coworkers.”
Bishop Vincent with students of Good Shepherd Primary School Plumpton at the ceremony. Image: Gene Ramirez/Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
Jenny Nettleton, a director of Community Ventures, said in the five years since it was started, Ambrose has more than doubled the number of before-and-after school services to meet the needs of families in the Diocese.
“Parents deal with care requirements and in this area particularly [many of] those parents are essential workers at the hospital and other supporting services,” she said.
“This construction is the very first centre that we’re going to construct from the beginning. We hope to be able to do many more constructions over the coming years as we expand the reach of our services in the Diocese.”
She said Community Ventures was very grateful to the Capuchin Franciscan community, which administers the parish, for making the land available for the preschool.
The Capuchins started the Parish in 1970 and over the years established three schools in the area: Good Shepherd Primary, in 1979; St Francis Primary, at Glendenning, in 1991; and St Clare’s High School, in Hassall Grove, in 1994. The preschool with be the fourth.
From left: Anthony Goonon, CEO of Community Ventures; Fr John Nguyen, Assistant Priest at Good Shepherd Parish Plumpton; Bishop Vincent; Aunty Julie Jones, Dharug custodian and knowledge holder; Jenny Nettleton, a Director of Community Ventures; and Geoff Officer, Chief of Operations and Finance at the Diocese of Parramatta. Image: Gene Ramirez/ Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
Ms Nettleton said it was now well known that preschool education leads to better learning outcomes for school-aged children.
“So it’s really important for us as a community because without education our children don’t have the start that they need,” she said.
“That’s why the Diocese is investing and expanding into Ambrose, and really focusing on the ‘learning for life’ that Ambrose is known for.”
She said Community Ventures was providing “Catholic services for all, not just services to Catholics”, but that “Catholic values” were still weaved through every aspect of its operations.
Good Sheperd Primary School Principal, Anita Knezevic, with Community Ventures CEO Anthony Goonan. Image: Gene Ramirez/ Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
The principal of The Good Shepherd Primary School, Anita Knezevic, told the attendees that having a preschool next door would be “the start of a promising future for our children…the foundation of a place where curiosity, creativity and the love about God and learning will flourish”.
Anthony Goonan, CEO of Community Ventures said, “We know that more than 90% of brain development occurs in a child’s first five years, and our Ambrose preschools provide high quality early education to underpin lifelong learning and wellbeing.
“Good Shepherd will be the seventh preschool in the Diocese, and we have a vision of providing preschools at every primary school in the Diocese, so that every child has access to quality early learning and the best start to life.
“The blessing of the site for the new Ambrose preschool is a significant milestone in our synodal journey – it is an example of collaboration between Community Ventures, parish and school communities to support families and children and expand the mission of the Church”.
