And, there was certainly a buzz around the school community on Friday as students’ grandparents and “significant others” spent the morning together in celebration of Grandparents’ Day.

Member for New England Barnaby Joyce was in Scone for the morning which doubled as the official opening of the School’s new Secondary Teaching and Learning Centre (STLC).

The Right Reverend Dr Peter Stuart, Bishop of Newcastle was also in attendance to officially dedicate and bless the new facilities.

“It was great to visit Scone Grammar School and see the new facilities firsthand and the impact they will have on students’ learning potential,” Mr Joyce said.

The government provided $900,000 for the project from the Capital Grants Program, which provides funding for non-government schools to improve capital infrastructure where they otherwise may not have access to sufficient capital resources.

Mr Joyce said students and the whole school community would benefit from these new facilities.

“These new learning spaces take into account the latest in educational research and will see students in regional centres like Scone, learn more effectively,” he said.

The school also celebrated another significant milestone with the official opening of their new Primary playground – a project which has been two years in the making for the School’s P&F.

Scone Grammar School P&F president Diana Gillet said they contributed $93,000 towards the project over a period of three years through various fundraising activities.

“This was the result of hours of work including Colour Fun Runs, four School Fetes which each raised in excess of $20,000 and three Homegrown Handmade Markets,” she said.

“The project involved the landscaping and replanting of the whole area, building a maze, reviving the sandpit and making it an open play area for kids.”

“I think the end result speaks for itself when you see the smiles on student’s faces.”

Scone Grammar School principal Mr Paul Smart also spoke of the gratitude of the school community for the Federal Government funds and funds received from donations from the local school community for this project.

“This extremely generous support has made the STLC possible and the generous giving of so many parents over time have enabled the playground change and has brightened up the play opportunities for our students,” he said.