Sacred Heart College, Geelong
| Sacred Heart College | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
|
Retreat Road Geelong, Victoria Australia | |
| Coordinates | 38°8′58″S 144°20′20″E / 38.14944°S 144.33889°ECoordinates: 38°8′58″S 144°20′20″E / 38.14944°S 144.33889°E |
| Information | |
| Type | Private |
| Motto |
Latin: Virtus Vera Nobilitas Virtue is true nobility |
| Denomination |
Roman Catholic (Sisters of Mercy) |
| Established | 1860 |
| Principal | Anna Negro |
| Gender | Girls |
| Enrolment | 1,420 |
| Colour(s) | Sky Blue & Navy Blue |
| Website |
shcgeelong |
Sacred Heart College is a Roman Catholic secondary school for girls, and is located in Retreat Road, Newtown, Geelong, Victoria in Australia. It is now one of the largest Catholic secondary girls schools in Victoria. Students are educated in the Mercy tradition to achieve their full potential and to make a positive difference in the lives of others.
The current principal is Anna Negro, with three vice-principals being Sharon Gillett, Patricia Hatzis and Gerard Raven.
History
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.[1] 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.[2]
Alumni Association
In 1924, a Past Pupils' Association was formed and this became predecessor of the Old Collegians' Association established in 1932.[3] 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.
The association is now known as the Alumni Association. Today, each student automatically becomes a member of the Alumni Association upon her graduation from the College.
Curriculum
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.[4]
The College offers subjects in the following areas:
- Humanities
- English
- LOTE - Italian, French and Japanese
- The Arts - Including theatre studies, music and visual art
- Religious Education
- Mathematics and science
- Technology
- Health and Physical Education
Some classes are also offered at nearby 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.[5] Year Eleven and Twelve pupils may also choose to undertake a Vocational Education and Training or Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning program.
155th Anniversary
2015 marked the 155th Anniversary of Sacred Heart College. A number of events throughout the year celebrated this important milestone in the history of the College.
On 12 June 2015, the day of The Feast of Sacred Heart, all students and staff travelled from Geelong to Melbourne for a day of celebration at the iconic Luna Park.
See also
References
- ↑ History, from official school page, retrieved 2011-02-28
- ↑ Sacred Heart, from Mercy Secondary Education Inc., retrieved 2010-09-26
- ↑ Mercy Girls, The Story of Sacred Heart College Geelong 1860 - 2010, Sacred Heart College, Newtown., 2010.
- ↑ Faculties, from official school website, retrieved 2010-06-18
- ↑ Sacred Heart College Geelong, from ibo.org, retrieved 2008-04-19
External links
- Sacred Heart College - Official website
- Schools Guide