St Mary's College, Hobart

Infobox Aust school private
name = St Mary's College


motto = "God is the Fountain of all Knowledge"
established = 1868
type = Private, Single-sex, Day school
denomination = Roman Catholic, Presentation Sisters
slogan = "Positive Values for Tomorrow's Women"
key_people = Mr. Tom Dorey (Principal)
fees =
city = Hobart
state = Tasmania
country = Australia flagicon|Australia
enrolment = ~770 (K-12)cite web |url=http://www.ceo.hobart.catholic.edu.au/hobart2.htm |title=St Mary's College |accessdate=2007-09-01 |work=Catholic Education Office: Hobart ]
num_employ =
revenue =
products =
colours = Green, Pale Blue & Brown color box|#008000color box|#ADD8E6color box|#964B00
homepage = [http://www.smc.tas.edu.au// www.smc.tas.edu.au]

St Mary's College is a private, Catholic, day school for girls', located on the northern city fringe of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.

Although predominantly a girl’s school, St Mary's accepts both boys and girls until Grade 2, and currently caters for approximately 770 students from Kindergarten to year 12. It is located on the grounds of St Mary's Cathedral, next to the Junior School campus of St Virgil's College. Boys that attend St Mary's for Kindergarten to Grade 2, generally make the transition across to the St Virgil's College Junior School Campus.

St Mary's College is a member of the Alliance of Girls' Schools Australia.cite web |url=http://www.agsa.org.au/members.php?PageID=11&Group=State&State=TAS |title=Member Schools |accessdate=2007-09-01 |work=The Alliance of Girls' Schools Australia ] St Mary's College is also currently celebrating its one hundredth and fortieth birthdayas a school of the Presentation Sisters. Its current slogan to celebrate this year is "St Mary's College. A proud past. A strong future".

History

St Mary's College was originally founded by the Presentation Sisters in 1868, and although students are no longer exclusively taught by sisters of the order, they still administer the college. Originally there were two schools on the present-day campus - St Columba's (a free primary school for the poorer community) and Mt St Mary's. The two were eventually merged into one. The original convent and school-rooms are still on-site today.

Although it is primarily an all girls' school, until the opening of St Virgil's College in 1911, the college catered for boys in senior grades as well. The college only taught Preparatory to Grade 12 until 1996, when the Kindergarten was opened. Until the 1990s, the college's Principal was always a member of the order, but the last of the Presentation Sisters to be Principal was Sister Barbara Amott. Sister Barbara has been a teacher and active member of St Mary's College for many years, and has been Principal on several different occasions. The current Principal is Tom Dorey.

Curriculum

St Mary's College is currently implementing the Essential Learnings Framework in grades 7-10. All subjects are compulsory in grades 7 and 8. In grades 9 and 10, students choose a certain number of elective subjects, as well as having core subjects. In Grade 11/12, students choose subjects which must add up to a minimum of 700 hours per year. Many of these subjects are pre-requisites for university courses.

Co-curriculum

The School offers a variety of after-school activities in both sporting and arts areas. Sports include Hockey, Badminton, Soccer and Rowing. The rowing boat shed is jointly own by St Mary's College, St Virgil's College and Guilford Young College, and is located in Newtown Bay. Other activities include the Junior and Senior School Choirs, the Senior Choral Group, the Senior Concert and Jazz bands, St Vincent De Paul Society, Debating, and Public Speaking.

The college also holds a biannual Arts Festival, which goes for the three days before Hobart Show Day. During this week the students are allowed to choose from a variety of activities that include making jewellery, painting murals, and learning to belly dance. The Long Lunch, a picnic lunch on the school lawns, happens every arts festival, as does "KickArts", a competition in which other local schools may enter their rock bands.

Religion

St Mary's College is located next to St Mary's Cathedral. The College celebrates the Catholic liturgical year by attending Mass.

References