Marist College Bendigo to open on February 2

Marist College Bendigo principal Darren McGregor says the Maiden Gully community is keenly anticipating the opening of Bendigo's newest school on February 2.

"Every day I'm getting parents ringing saying they're so excited," Mr McGregor said.

"I was sitting in my office yesterday and two year eight boys rode up on their bikes to say hello."

The school's shiny year seven and eight buildings have been completed, ready for 220 students to pour into the college next Monday.

Construction of additional teaching spaces will continue over coming years, and by 2019 the college plans to run classes from prep to year 12 and have a study body of 1000.

Mr McGregor said the school would embrace contemporary teaching methods.

"We'll be focusing on facilitated learning, rather than teachers having all the knowledge and imparting that on students," he said.

He said "educators" would teach students how to research and critically analyse information, equipping them with independent learning skills they could use for the rest of their lives.

"With technology kids are learning all the time," he said.

"We have to teach our kids essential learning skills.

"By changing that one word from 'teacher' to 'educator' we're reminding ourselves that we're breaking from traditional teaching methods."

He said the school would encourage students to continually improve their learning, by setting goals each week, which they would reflect on and revise.

He said he wanted students to be actively engaged with the wider Maiden Gully community, as exemplified by an agreement with the City of Greater Bendigo to share recreational facilities.

The Marist Brothers is an international community of Catholic brothers, which has school across Australia.

Land was purchased for Marist College Bendigo in 2008 and construction began in February 2014.

Darren McGregor is the former principal of Catholic College Bendigo.