St Mary's College, Hobart
Encyclopedia
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 girls’ 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 who attend St Mary's for Kindergarten to Grade 2 generally transfer to St Virgil's College
Junior School Campus.
St Mary's College is a member of the Alliance of Girls' Schools Australia. In 2008 St Mary's College celebrated its 140th birthday as a school of the Presentation Sisters. Its slogan to celebrate this year was "St Mary's College. A proud past. A strong future".
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. 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.
, 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.
Private school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
, Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
, day school
Day school
A day school—as opposed to a boarding school—is an institution where children are given educational instruction during the day and after which children/teens return to their homes...
for girls, located on the northern city fringe of Hobart
Hobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
, Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Although predominantly a girls’ school, St Mary's accepts both boys and girls until Grade 2, and currently caters for approximately 770 students from Kindergarten
Kindergarten
A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
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
St Virgil's College
St Virgil's College Roman Catholic, primary and secondary, day school for boys, located over two campuses in Austins Ferry and Hobart, Tasmania, Australia....
. Boys who attend St Mary's for Kindergarten to Grade 2 generally transfer to St Virgil's College
St Virgil's College
St Virgil's College Roman Catholic, primary and secondary, day school for boys, located over two campuses in Austins Ferry and Hobart, Tasmania, Australia....
Junior School Campus.
St Mary's College is a member of the Alliance of Girls' Schools Australia. In 2008 St Mary's College celebrated its 140th birthday as a school of the Presentation Sisters. Its slogan to celebrate this year was "St Mary's College. A proud past. A strong future".
History
St Mary's CollegeCollege
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
was originally founded by the Presentation Sisters
Presentation Sisters
The Presentation Sisters, also known as the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary are an order of Roman Catholic women founded in Cork, Ireland by Nano Nagle in 1775....
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. The original convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
and school-rooms are still on-site today.
Although it is primarily an all-girls' school, until the opening of St Virgil's College
St Virgil's College
St Virgil's College Roman Catholic, primary and secondary, day school for boys, located over two campuses in Austins Ferry and Hobart, Tasmania, Australia....
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
Presentation Sisters
The Presentation Sisters, also known as the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary are an order of Roman Catholic women founded in Cork, Ireland by Nano Nagle in 1775....
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 Australian Curriculum in grades Prep-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 prerequisites for university courses.Co-curriculum
The School offers a variety of after-school activities in both sporting and arts areas. Sports include HockeyHockey
Hockey is a family of sports in which two teams play against each other by trying to maneuver a ball or a puck into the opponent's goal using a hockey stick.-Etymology:...
, Badminton
Badminton
Badminton is a racquet sport played by either two opposing players or two opposing pairs , who take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court that is divided by a net. Players score points by striking a shuttlecock with their racquet so that it passes over the net and lands in their...
, Soccer and Rowing
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
. The rowing boat shed is jointly own by St Mary's College, St Virgil's College and Guilford Young College
Guilford Young College
Guilford Young College is a Catholic senior secondary college, located in Hobart, Tasmania. It has two campuses, one in Hobart, and one in Glenorchy...
, 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
Royal Hobart Show
The Royal Hobart Show is an annual event held at the Royal Showgrounds in Glenorchy in October. The event focuses on the rural exploits of Tasmanians with events such as livestock judging and wood chopping. Also popular at the event are show bags and rides....
. 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.