St Andrew's Cathedral School
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| St Andrew's Cathedral School |
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| Motto: Via Crucis Via Lucis 'The Way of the Cross is the Way of Light' |
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| Established | 14 July 1885 |
| Type | Independent all-male (K-9); co-educational (10-12) |
| Headmaster | Phillip Heath, BA (Hons), MA (Hons), DipEd, MACE, MACEA |
| Founder | Dr. Alfred Barry, Third Bishop of Sydney |
| Chaplain | Rev Tim Bowden |
| Students | 1200 |
| Grades | K–12 |
| Location | Sydney, NSW Australia |
| Campus | 15 acres |
| Colours | Blue and white |
| School Hymn | Hymn written by the school's founder, with music by Michael Deasey |
| Website | www.sacs.nsw.edu.au |
St Andrew's Cathedral School is an Anglican day school (Years K-12) in the heart of the city of Sydney, Australia, with a co-educational Senior College (years 10-12), but at this present time, there are 6 girls currently enrolled in Middle School. The school uniform is well known by people who reside or work in the Sydney CBD due to its notable inclusion of high-heels for female students - the only such school to allow this in the Sydney metropolitan area. It is a member of the Independent Schools Association (ISA).
Because the School was founded from the Cathedral traditions, St Andrew's is legally supervised by the Cathedral Chapter which appoints and approves members of the School Council which was formed in 1979. The Council is responsible for administering the School's policies and formulating its mission and vision as well as appointing successive Heads of School.
St Andrew's Catherdal School is a member of the international Choir Schools' Association.
Former pupils include aviator Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith; prominent musicians John Henry Antill, Former Wallabies coach Rod Macqueen, Barry Tuckwell, Nicole Vasilakis and Alexander Gavrilyuk; world-renowned pianist Simon Tedeschi; television celebrity Tim Harding; Liberal politician Dean Gillespie and academic Richard Grover.
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[edit] School prayer
O God our Heavenly Father, whose blessed son Jesus Christ, went about doing good and teaching the good news of Your Kingdom, we give you humble thanks for the inspiration of the founder of this School, and for the lives and influence of those who during the past years have built up its traditions.
Help us, we humbly beseech You, to find the way of the Cross, and in finding it, to follow more closely. Him who on the cross gave His life, that we might have the Light of Life, through Him who is the true Light, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
[edit] History
St Andrew's Cathedral School was founded by the third Bishop of Sydney, Dr Alfred Barry. The School was opened on 14 July 1885 in the St Andrew's Schoolroom in Pitt Street, Sydney.
At the School opening, Bishop Barry stated that St Andrew's was established to provide 'the choristers with a high-class, free education on Church principles, in addition to a musical training'.
In 1997 the School Council decided that St Andrew's students would be better prepared for post-school work, study and lifestyle choices if the School became co-educational in Years 10, 11 and 12. Accordingly in Term 1, 1999 the first 76 girls commenced in the Senior College. St Andrew's had become the only co-educational school in the City.
In 1999 the School's Student Business Club formed a working partnership with the Sydney 2000 Paralympics Organising Committee (SPOC) to raise awareness of the Games. In addition the students conducted a range of events over a two year period that ultimately raised $130,000 to help stage the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games.
The School has a vibrant music program with a large number of students involved in musical ensembles and curriculum music classes. In 2001 there was an orchestral and choral tour to Italy and England, in 2002 a music tour to England and Ireland and in 2004 a music tour to the United States of America.
The Reverend Canon Melville Cooper Newth OBE, the 11th and longest-serving Headmaster of St Andrew’s Cathedral School, died peacefully on 21 October 2004. He was aged 90. Canon Newth served the School as Headmaster for 38 years.
2005 marks the School 120th years of education in the city. At the same time, Mr. Phillip Heath celebrate his 10th Anniversary year as the Head of School. Phillip started at St Andrew's Cathedral School on May 8, 1995.
2005 also saw the School Council confirm the decision to vacate the Leadership and Enterprise Centre at 495 Kent Street (fondly known as "495").
2006 saw a new breakthrough for "SACS", when Sophia Benedict joined the school as the youngest female student in history (Year 8). In term 2, a second female, Cynthia Ning (also year 8) joined but later left.
2006 "SACS" saw another breakthrough when the third youngest female student in history when Grace Paltridge joined the school in Term 3 (also year 8). She has remained at the school for the remainder of the year.
2006 also was the centenary year of the Old Andreans Association (OAA) which is the alumni organisation of St Andrew's Cathedral School. The OAA was orginially the Old Boys Union, with the name being changed with the entry of girls to the Senior College. The OAA was established by the School's third Headmaster, Rev. Percy Simpson in 1906. The first president of the then Union was the Hon Mr Justice Webb, a judge of the Industrial Relations Commission of NSW. He held office for over 40 years. In the last five years, the OAA has become an incorporated entity, and has improved its governance arrangements greatly. It continues to provide a means of maintaining contacts between Old Andreans and their school. Some other distinguished members of the OAA include Mr Ken Tribe AC, Lt-Gen John Grey AC as well as Simon Tedeschi, Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith, John Antill and Paralympic swimmer Matt Levy.
On 13 March 2006, Her Majesty The Queen, His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh and the Earl of Wessex, with representatives of Commonwealth nations, and Australian community leaders were present at the Commonwealth Day Observance in St Andrew’s Cathedral. The invitation came from the Prime Minister and Mrs Howard, and the Dean and Chapter of St Andrew’s Cathedral, Sydney.
The Choristers from St Andrew’s Cathedral School sang at the service, which was led by the Dean of Sydney, the Very Rev. Phillip Jensen, who designed and wrote the service, including special prayers. The Archbishop of Sydney, the Most Rev. Dr Peter Jensen preached the sermon. The Prime Minister and the Premier of NSW read the Bible passages. The music at the service was under the direction of Ross Cobb, the School’s Master of Choristers.
The School was also privileged to be asked to carry flags of the 53 Commonwealth countries into the Cathedral before the service began. These students were chosen from the 250 people in the Senior College who volunteered for the task.
The School Captains enjoyed the special treat of attending the refreshments at Admiralty House representing the School. In addition, Mike Ford (Year 11) was selected to represent the School at the Opera House reception earlier in the day.
St Andrews has for the last few years had considerable success in the Mock Trial Competition, organised and operated by the Law Society of New South Wales, participated in by both public and non-government schools throughout NSW. In 2004, the team came Runners-Up to Mereweather High School, and in 2005 the school team comprised of Year 11 students went on to become winners of the competition. In 2006, an elite selection of that team took part in an International Mock Trial, and once again was victorious.
On September 22, 2006, the school celebrated the opening of their new front entrance and changing the address from 474 Kent St to Sydney Square. This event was viewed by the Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore, as well as many parents and friends of students.
Later that night, the school had their first middle school (Years 7-9) social. The night was a big success for everyone. The school invited various female schools from around Sydney including Monte Sant' Angelo Mercy College and Pymble Ladies College
St Andrew's Cathedral School contains eight houses, each named after an English cathedral or abbey with a choir school. The houses are Canterbury, Durham, Hereford, St Paul's, Salisbury, Westminster, Winchester and York.
[edit] Dean Pitt Shield
The Dean Pitt Shield is a trophy awarded to the house with the most house points, at the end of the year. The houses get points by participating in; inter-house sporting competitions such as football, swimming and athletics carnivals, community service participation and the primary school.
[edit] Cathedral Choir
The Cathedral Choir can trace its origins to the consecration of St. Andrew's Cathedral in 1868 and this establishes this group as one of the oldest continuously active choirs in Australia. The choir comprises boy choristers and choral scholars from St Andrew's Cathedral School as well as a group of men, known as lay clerks who sing the lower parts.
Through overseas tours and recordings St Andrews Cathedral Choir has won an international reputation and has accepted invitations to deputise for the resident choirs in such places as St Pauls Cathedral, London, Canterbury Cathedral, York Minster and many other important centres of Anglican worship. In 2002 the choristers appeared before HM the Queen at a Golden Jubilee concert in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle and also made a significant contribution to the ANZAC day service in Westminster Abbey.
A number of choristers participated in the 2004 music tour to the USA although this tour differed from previous UK music tours because of the liturgy expectation in cathedrals visited by the School. In addition a number of cathedrals, including the Washington National Cathedral, offered mixed gender chorales so numerous female singers from St Andrew's also contributed to uplifting church choral music at these locations.
In 2005, St Andrew's Cathedral Choir has been invited to deputise for the choirs of Westminster Abbey and Canterbury Cathedral, sing at All Souls Langham Place and also in Holy Trinity Pro Cathedral in Brussels from 27 March 2005 to 16 April 2005.
The choir has made several recordings and the latest CDs are Fairest Lord Jesus and Choral Evensong. The latter was produced from a service broadcast throughout Britain on BBC Radio 3 at the time of the Sydney Olympics.
During the school terms the choir sings at the morning Sunday service at 10.30am and at Evensong on Thursdays at 5.30pm. The choristers also sing a service of Morning Prayer (Matins) each Wednesday at 8.15am, sometimes augmented to full choir status by the inclusion of the lower parts.
The Girls' Vocal Ensemble sings Matins on Tuesday mornings.
Michael Deasey, the Master of Choristers was appointed to this post in 1981 following extensive experience in Canada and the United Kingdom. He has given organ recitals and conducted choirs in many countries throughout the world and has been a featured organ recitalist at Westminster Abbey. Deasey resigned his position as Master of Choristers in mid 2005, and Ross Cobb was appointed as his successor. During the transitional period part-time directors have included Samuel Blanch, Gregory Platt, and Huw Belling.
[edit] New entrance
On 22 September 2006 the school was delighted to be able to open their brand new entrance. This entrance is located opposite St Andrew's Cathedral in Sydney Square. This entrance is spacious and has a contemporary design. It is a wonderful addition to the school.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- St Andrew's Cathedral School Website
- SACS Gifts from the heart Website
- St Andrew's Institute:CityEd
- St Andrew's Cathedral Website
- St Andrew's Cathedral Choir Website
- SACSWiki
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