Sacred Heart College, Geelong

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Sacred Heart College
Virtus Vera Nobilitas
Location
Geelong, Victoria, Australia
Coordinates 38°8′58″S 144°20′20″E / 38.14944°S 144.33889°E / -38.14944; 144.33889Coordinates: 38°8′58″S 144°20′20″E / 38.14944°S 144.33889°E / -38.14944; 144.33889
Information
Type Private
Denomination Catholic
Established 1860
Principal Anna Negro
Enrolment 1,324
Colour(s) Sky Blue & Navy Blue
Website http://web.shcgeelong.catholic.edu.au/

Sacred Heart College is a Roman Catholic secondary school for girls, and is located in Retreat Road, Newtown, Geelong, Victoria in Australia. Established in 1860 by the Sisters of Mercy, the school quickly became recognised as a high class education establishment, with a liberal, comprehensive curriculum. Today the student population is approximately 1500.[1] Sacred Heart's brother school is St Joseph's College nearby. It also has a sister school in Akita, Japan called Seirei. The current principal is Anna Negro, with three vice-principals being Sharon Gillett, Martina Millard and Patricia Hatzis.

History

James Alipius Goold
In June 1859, the Archbishop of Melbourne, James Alipius Goold, petitioned the Sisters of Mercy in Dublin to establish a community in Geelong. Mother Mary Xavier Maguire, Sr Mary Gabrielle Sherlock, Sr Margaret Mullally, Sr Joseph Manly, Sr Rose Lynch and Novice Aloysius Ryan arrived on 3 December 1859.[2] They immediately set about providing Catholic education for all who desired it. The boarding school and day school that is now Sacred Heart College was opened for the beginning of the next school year with 12 pupils, 6 of whom were boarders. In 1861 the orphanage was opened and very soon there were 50 girls being cared for. The Sisters also started a primary school in the area and after school hours were seen visiting the sick and aged in their homes and the hospital. Over 150 years of educational endeavour have seen Sacred Heart College establish a tradition of faith and academic effort that gives all who share in it a valuable opportunity for growth and life.

College crest and motto

The School's crest features the following elements:

  • The Laurel Wreath - a symbol of Victory, reminding us to give the best in all that we do
  • The Sacred Heart of Jesus - this age-old symbol of the Sacred Heart epitomises our life in Christ
  • The Eagle - the king of birds, ever aspiring to the heights, reminds us to keep our ideals high, and our minds ever open to truth and beauty
  • The Cross - surmounting all, is the symbol of our dediation to Christ and his Church

The shield bears the school motto Virtus Vera Nobilitas, a Latin phrase which means Virtue is true nobility.[3]

House system

Upon entering Year Seven, all girls attending Sacred Heart College are assigned to a House. If a member of their family has previously attended the school, they will be placed in the same house. There are four houses, named after the home towns of some well known saints: Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Saint Anthony of Padua, Saint Catherine of Siena and Saint Bernard of Clairvaux. Houses meet several times a year to compete for the House Cup. Events include Athletics Day, Cross Country, Swimming Sports and the Mercy Arts Day. The houses are run by the House Captains, consisting of an Arts Captain, Sports Captain, Deputy Captain and a Year 11 House Assistant, as voted into the positions by their peers.

House Padua Clairvaux Loyola Siena
Colour Green      Blue      Red      Yellow     
Named after St. Anthony of Padua St. Bernard of Clairvaux St. Ignatius of Loyola St. Catherine of Siena
2011 Captains Arts: Ashlen Rollauer Sports: Annabelle Nunan Deputy: Beth Anderson, Assistant: Emma Delaney Arts: Jasmine Miller Sports: Elizabeth McKeown Deputy: Harriet Darley Assistant: Demi Grant Arts: Ashley Koorn Sports: Molly Teague-Neeld Deputy: Georgia Russell Assistant: Luci Hedley Arts: Jordan Walter Sports: Hayley Livingston Deputy: Kate Kearney Assistant: Abbey Turner
2012 Captains Arts: Isabelle Hovey Sports: Emma Delaney Deputy: Alana Babic Assistant: Maeve Nunan Arts: Georgia Hardiman Sports: Demi Grant Deputy: India Kinsey Assistant: Gabby McKeown Arts: Adrianna Maddalon Sports: Alice Buckley Deputy: Monique Di Blasi Assistant: Hannah Burchell Arts: April Lipson Sports: Rebecca Goring Deputy: Amelia Ekkel Assistant: Madeline Barry

Sacred Heart also has a House Points system, which focuses on encouraging and acknowledging students who participate in the school community activities beyond the classroom or students who excel academically. By actively taking part in activities, students become eligible to apply for House Points. After accumulating a certain number of House Points, a student is awarded House Colours on their blazer for dedication and commitment to the school.

Extra-curricular activities

The college has a comprehensive range of extra and co-curricula activities. These activities complement the academic program and provide students with opportunities to discover and develop personal skills and talents. Some of the extra-curricular activities available are:

  • The Senior Vocal Ensemble
  • Public Speaking and Debating
  • College Orchestra and Chamber Group

The orchestra and ensemble groups often represent the College at liturgical celebrations, school assemblies and other events.

Old Collegians' Association

In 1924, a Past Pupils' Association was formed and this became predecessor of the Old Collegians' Association established in 1932.[4] As well as the Geelong based committee, a Melbourne Group was formed in the 1930s and in 1981 a Western District Group was set up to bring together former students from that area, many of whom had been boarders.

Today, each student automatically becomes a member of the Old Collegian's Association upon her graduation from the College.

Curriculum

Main entry to the school on Retreat Road

The College aims to provide education which inspires curiosity and challenges young women to make a difference. The curriculum enables students to develop critical skills and understand the structure of society, assisting them in the challenge of social reconstruction.[5]

The College offers subjects in the following areas:

  • Humanities
  • English
  • LOTE - Italian, French and Japanese
  • The Arts - Including theatre studies, music and visual art
  • Mathematics and science
  • Technology
  • Health and Physical Education

Some classes are also offered at brother school St Joseph's College at VCE level, including Chinese.

Sacred Heart College the Victorian Certificate of Education, and has introduced the International Baccalaureate for middle years students.[6] Year Eleven and Twelve pupils may also choose to undertake a Vocational Education and Training or Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning program.

150th Anniversary and flashmob

On April 18, 2010 the College celebrated its 150th anniversary with an outdoor mass and a day of festivities. The mass, led by Bishop Tim Costelloe, was attended by more than 5,000 people with some travelling from as far as the United States to be in attendance. Festivities of the day also included a heritage exhibition chartering the school's history, and performances by past and present students.

One of the highlights of the day was a flashmob performed by the entire school community. It was the first of its kind to be performed in Geelong and featured the staff and students surprising the attendees by breaking out into dance. The performance was filmed and sparked much interest from the Geelong general public.[7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Sacred Heart College, Newtown, from privateschoolsguide.com, retrieved 2011-02-28
  2. ↑ History, from official school page, retrieved 2011-02-28
  3. ↑ Sacred Heart, from Mercy Secondary Education Inc., retrieved 2010-09-26
  4. ↑ Mercy Girls, The Story of Sacred Heart College Geelong 1860 - 2010, Sacred Heart College, Newtown., 2010.
  5. ↑ Faculties, from official school website, retrieved 2010-06-18
  6. ↑ Sacred Heart College Geelong, from ibo.org, retrieved 2008-04-19
  7. ↑ School dance an internet hit, article from the Geelong Advertiser, retrieved 2011-03-01

External links

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