St Edmunds College, Ipswich

Infobox Aust school
name = Saint Edmund's College


motto = "Possunt Quia Posse Videntur"
(Latin:"They are achievers because they see they have ability")
established = 1892
type = Independent
principal = Mr. Brendan Lawler
city = Ipswich
state = Queensland
country = Australia| campus = Woodend
enrolment = ~900 (8-12)
colours = Blue & White
homepage = [http://www.sec.qld.edu.au/ www.sec.qld.edu.au]

St Edmund's College is a Catholic, secondary day school for boys', located in Ipswich, Queensland, Australia.

The school is member of the Associated Independent Colleges of the Greater Brisbane region along with Marist College Ashgrove, Iona College (Queensland), Padua College, Villanova College and others.

St Edmunds’s College is conducted in the tradition of Edmund Ignatius Rice. The school accepts students from Years 8 to 12, drawing from a wide area of Ipswich, Queensland. The total enrolment of the school is approximately 900.

History

In February 1892, the Congregation of Christian Brothers arrived and took up residence in Ipswich. They taught only in the original building, St Mary's Christian Brothers' College, on the corner of Elizabeth and Mary Streets from that time until 1961.

In the early 1960s, it became obvious that the demand for higher secondary education was going to increase, and, for the second time in the history of the Christian Brothers in Ipswich, a meeting of parents resolved to follow a far-reaching course of action.

With the support of the Parish Priest of St Mary's, the building of the new college commenced, and on 21 February 1965, the first of the buildings financially supported by the newly formed Parents and Friends' Association was blessed by Rev. Sir James Duhig, Archbishop of Brisbane, and the foundation stone laid by the Mayor of Ipswich, Alderman J. T. Finimore.

At this time the name of the College was changed to St. Edmund's Christian Brothers’ College.

In 1999, St Edmund's entered a new phase of its development where the first lay-Principal was appointed to the College. The Trustees of the Christian Brothers Queensland continue to own and administer the College. 108 years after arriving in Ipswich the Christian Brothers moved on and the Principalship was turned over to a layperson.

The College at present consists of two campuses, the College at Mary Street, and the Edmund Park Training and Leisure Centre near Thornton in the Laidley Valley. In 2005, St Edmund's College has an enrolment of 961 secondary students in Year 8 to Year Twelve.

Facilities

* Virtual Desktop
* Exchange Email
* Library - Westcourt Resource Centre - WRC
* Online Helpdesk
* Online Library Bookings
* Computer Labs
* Graphics Labs
* Sporting/Hall facilities - Br Schofield Centre
* Performing Arts Centre
* Design Technology Centre
* Counselling centre - Pender House
* Science Labs
* Student Office
* Bookroom
* Uniform Shop
* Tuckshop
* Pool & Gym
* Tennis Courts

= Co-Curriculum =

Tournament of Minds

Last year (2007) St. Edmunds College Ipswich was the state representative for the National Championship of the Tournament of Minds Competition. The team who had never before competed in such as event, finished first place, successfully claiming the Tournament of Minds Australian Championship.

Music

As offshoots of the Music Program, an Orchestra, Stage Band and a Concert Band have been established which also draw on the talents of St. Mary's students. All rehearsals are held outside of school hours. The College Choir performs at various liturgies and functions throughout the year. Performing Arts Evenings, giving students an opportunity to develop confidence in performance, are held once a term. Visiting tutors offer individual tuition in some instruments. The cost is an extra fee to be borne by the parents of these students.

= Debating, Public Speaking, Mooting = Queensland Debating Union: The Q.D.U. Debating is conducted on Wednesday evenings between March and August, with a Finals Series in third term. Students participate in four competitive debates prior to the finals. All debates are conducted at a fixed venue, usually in the South-West of Brisbane. Apex: Apex Debating is conducted from March through to August on a knockout basis. Each school is guaranteed three debates. The Apex competition is locally contested at a fixed venue in Ipswich.

= Musical & Drama Productions = Each year a full Musical production is conducted, in conjunction with St. Mary’s College. Students also participate and perform at various musical and drama evenings and lunch-time theatre groups. Voluntary excursions are offered to students to view a variety of plays in the local and Brisbane areas.

= Sport =

= AIC Sports = St. Edmund's is a member of the Associated Independent Colleges.
* Season 1 February - March Swimming, Cricket, Volleyball
* Season 2 April - June Cross Country, Rugby Union, Soccer
* Season 3 July - October Cross Country, Track and Field, Basketball, Tennis AIC Sports:
*Australian Rules
*Basketball
*Chess
*Cricket
*Cross Country
*Rugby Union - St Edmunds College Ipswich was selected to represent Australia at the prestigious Sanix World Rugby Youth Invitational Tournament in Fukuoka, Japan during 2003.Fact|date=February 2008
*Soccer
*Swimming
*Tennis
*Track and Field
*Volleyball

= Non-AIC Sports =
*Golf
*Hockey
*Orienteering
*Rugby League

ee also

*List of schools in Queensland

External links

* [http://www.sec.qld.edu.au/slcweb/ St Edmund's College Website]