Carinya Christian School's new middle school was officially opened by Parkes MP Mark Coulton in Gunnedah on Wednesday.
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Mr Coulton cut the red ribbon with students Wesley Law, Anna Bishop, Annabelle Biggar and Kaihan Anwan who are among the first to start Year 7 when it was introduced this term.
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Cormac Dunshea (Year 5), Domonique Schweitzer-Ashford (Year 6) and Eliza Guest (Year 7) spoke on behalf of fellow students at the opening, sharing what they like about having a middle school.
Highlight included new friends, teachers who are "funny and kind", "the best air-conditioning", the ping-pong table and lockers, feeling "grown-up", and plenty of activities.
Head of middle school Alex Wharton said it was "lovely" to hear from the students at the opening, which was a "recognition and celebration" of the opportunities and choices the new facilities could offer to students, parents, and the community.
Mr Coulton said his own mother was educated in the original building on Barber Street and congratulated Carinya on "having the foresight" to expand.
"It's very important that families have a choice of where they base their children," he said.
It's made a big difference to our family to have that Christ-centred teaching in a Christian-centred family.
- Jamie Chaffey, Gunnedah shire mayor
Mr Coulton said he was a "big fan" of middle schools" because they could meet "particular challenges and needs" of students during what could be a difficult time of transition from primary school to high school.
Gunnedah shire mayor Jamie Chaffey said he was thankful Carinya had made a "strong commitment" to schooling in Gunnedah in the past 20 years and he was glad to see the school grow.
Councillor Chaffey's four children have been through Carinya and he said the "Christ-centred teaching" had made a "big difference" to his family.
School principal Chad Kentwell said he could see the school's "potential" early on and was thankful to "an amazing God for making it all possible and bringing it to fruition".
Carinya plans to introduce a new year group each year, so the school will cater from prep to Year 10 by 2022. Subsequent infrastructure will be built to accommodate Years 9-10 and there are currently no plans to cater for Years 11 and 12.
