26 students will get a VIP tour on the world's first largest passenger plane

Students from St Paul of the Cross Primary in Dulwich Hill will be amongst the first people in the world to tour the new Singapore Airlines A380, which will be broadcast live on the Today show at 8.30am tomorrow morning.

The senior 5/6 class are yet to embrace the world at large, but the 26 students can't wait to board the world's first double-decker super-jumbo plane when it flies into Sydney from Singapore for the first time this afternoon.

The students won the treat to be part of the aviation history of the world's first commercial flight of the A380, after winning the A380 art competition that Singapore Airlines and Sydney Airport held for
Primary schools within the Sydney Airport community.

Schools were tasked with creating a collage of Singapore Airlines 'firsts', with the A380 as the centrepiece.

The 5/6 class from St Paul of the Cross Primary School designed the winning special world globe collage judged by Sydney Morning Herald's renowned art critic, John McDonald, and representatives from Singapore Airlines and Sydney Airport.

In recognition of their hard work and creative talent, St Paul of the Cross also received a donation of $10,000 for its library this week in a special presentation attended by Federal Member for Grayndler and Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Water, Mr. Anthony Albanese MP. 

The winning artwork will also be published in Singapore Airlines' worldwide in-flight magazine, SilverKris.

Principal Mary Colagrossi said that the whole school has just been buzzing ever since they heard the great news.

"Receiving $10,000 for our library is absolutely incredible and we are so delighted with the difference it will make!" she said.

"The kids are obviously really excited about being amongst the first people onboard the A380; I don't know how we're going to keep them in line until October 26th!"

One lucky student from the school will also be selected to appear on the TODAY show, which plans to cross over live to Sydney Airport when the plane arrives later this month.

Dale Woodhouse, Manager Passenger Marketing Australia at Singapore Airlines said the Airline was overwhelmed by the time and effort put into the A380 artworks by local schools in the region.

"We are thrilled with the response from local schools and excited to share this once-in-a-lifetime event with such an eager audience. When the A380 touches down at Sydney Airport world aviation history will be made, and it is a pleasure to give the next generation of Australians a chance to be a part of this milestone."

Year 5 student Faye Katsoulas says she's very excited about getting on the plane.
"Prior to this, the closest I've been to an airplane was watching it from a road," Faye said. "i have never been outside of Australia or on a plane. Now i get to go on the biggest one ever!"

Media enquiries:
Bernadette Zebec, Catholic Education Office, Sydney. Tel: 9568 8223 / 0439 601 440