St. Norbert College (Perth)

Peter O'Reilly O Praem with Archbishop Goody in the 1970s.

In 1959, Peter O'Reilly O Praem, John Reynolds O Praem and Stephen Cooney O Praem travelled to Western Australia from Kilnacrott in Ireland. The original intention was to establish a boys' boarding school in York. This did not eventuate but the Norbertines have maintained a presence in the York parish until the present date.

In 1964, Archbishop Prendiville invited the Norbertine Canons to establish a boys' school in Queens Park. St Norbert College was officially blessed by the Rt. Rev. F C Colwell O Praem, Abbot of Kilnacrott, on 7 February 1965. In that year, less than thirty students were enrolled in one Year 6 class.

The College expanded by one class each year until 1971 when the first students entered for the Leaving Certificate examinations. By this time, enrolments in Lower Secondary necessitated double streaming of classes. The College only enrolled boys until 1976, when girls were enrolled in Year 8. The College eventually eliminated lower grades, enrolling Year 8 through 12, with the neighbouring St Joseph's Primary School enrolling Year 1 through 7.

In 1966, two Norbertines formed the staff, with Laurence Anderson O Praem as Headmaster. By 2005, 50 teaching staff were supported by 22 administrative and maintenance staff. In 2016, there were 111 teaching and non-teaching staff at St Norbert College.

In 2008, new science facilities and a refurbished Administration Centre were completed.

The new Xanten Performing Arts Centre, opened in 2017.

The Xanten Theatre.

In 2010, the College began enrolling students in Year 7, in accordance with the Catholic Education Commission of Western Australia's expanded enrolment parameters. A new building, the Cappenburg Centre, was also blessed and opened in 2010. Italian and Japanese classes are held in the Cappenburg Centre, which is also the home of the school's Careers Office.[2] In 2016, the school celebrated being founded for 50 years.[3]

St Norbert College has developed into a school with facilities set within 7 hectares (17 acres) of landscaped grounds. Facilities include:

• Language Centre
• Design Studio for Photography and Technical Graphics
• Trade Training Centre
• Music Centre
• Sporting facilities that include gymnasium and 25-metre (82 ft) swimming pool
• Theatre and Performing Arts Centre
• Science laboratories

The first expansion of facilities took place in four stages until 1976. Initially, three classrooms met requirements. However, 1968, 1971 and 1974 saw additions which provided Language and Science Laboratories, Library and Administration Blocks, as well as general classrooms. Manual Arts and Home Economics courses commenced in the new McMullen Centre in 1977.

During 1978 the Connell Centre, containing facilities for Mathematics and Science, was completed. The Dawkins Centre received its first students in 1979 and the O'Sullivan-Devine Centre catering for Art, Business Studies, Music and Language began operating in 1980.

In 1986 there were further additions to the Connell Centre (Magdeburg) in the form of a computing room, a staff preparation area and one classroom.

In 1993, Stage 1 of a new three-stage Capital Development Plan was completed. This stage involved a complete re-location of the administration and clerical services, refurbishing of the original St Joseph's block, the building of three new classrooms, two meeting rooms, a new staffroom and a 'state-of-the-art' Word Processing/Computer Room. Stage 2 included an ongoing process of updating the grounds and gardens.

The Fr Peter O'Reilly Multi-purpose Recreation Centre, Stage 3 of the plan, was completed at the end of 1998 and opened in 1999.

In 2000, an upgrade to the Photography teaching area was made and a new Music classroom was created. Significant improvements were made to Art facilities and extra provision was made for external seating for students.

In 2008, the Science facilities were all located in the Magdeburg block and were refurbished with contemporary science facilities including access to smart board technology. The Administration area was also extended and refurbished to extend Student Services and provide a modern and welcoming Reception area. Rooms in the new facility were named to reflect the Norbertine charism and saints. The College Board Room, Koinonia, and meeting rooms reflect significant Norbertine Saints and Blesseds – Kern, Siard, Evermode, Gibert and Isfrid.

In 2009, with the introduction of Year 7 students planned for 2010, the Br Patrick Doolan Learning Centre was built. This building was designed around contemporary pedagogical practices and provides five learning areas, an open area, the Forum, staff facilities and a Reading Room attached to the Prémontré Library. The Canteen was demolished to make way for this Centre and a new Cafe 135@Treasure, was established in what was previously the 'sewing room'.

A new Design and Technology: Textiles Studio is now located in Xanten House, which houses the Design Studio (2011) and Design Room (2011).

A shade structure outside Cafe 135, refurbishments of the current exterior courts, construction of one new court and major works to the swimming pool storage facilities and pump house were also completed in 2009.

In 2010 the Cappenburg and the Floreffe Trade Training Centre were completed. The Cappenburg Centre has provided contemporary 21st century technology and learning spaces for students of different language backgrounds. The Trade Training Centre provides training in the areas of plumbing, painting and decorating in partnership with MBA Skills.

In 2011, developments of Ricvera Court adjacent to the Café, Gilbert Court adjacent to the Fr Peter O'Reilly Centre and Isfrid Place behind the Centre began. In 2011, courtyards were renamed after Norbertine Saints: Ludolph, Gilbert, Adrian, James, Hugh and Isfrid, with the intention to provide the school with an enduring connection to its Norbertine heritage.

A Capital Development Plan was agreed upon in 2015, and the following year a new Performing Arts Centre was built. The work included an extension of the Xanten Theatre, and was completed in early 2017. The new building includes a dance studio that doubles as a green room, a music classroom with multiple practice rooms, dressing rooms, and an external amphitheatre for outdoor performances.

In 2022, construction began on a new building, replacing the current year 7 area with a 2 story building, adding 3 new classrooms a total capacity of ~135 extra students, as well as a staff room on the second floor with a walkway bridge connecting the building to the Fr O'Reilly centre. Construction has not finished as of August 23 2023, however is expected to finish towards the end of 2023.

The pastoral care program in the College is based on vertical Homerooms within a House structure, introduced in 1997. Under this organisation, each Homeroom consists of approximately 25 students from Years 7 to 12. There are seven Homerooms in each House and it is envisaged that the Homeroom teachers will remain with the same Homeroom from one year to the next, giving the students continuity and stability and allowing Homeroom teachers to oversee a student's program of study over six years. The vertical Homeroom system provides senior students with the opportunity to develop their leadership skills. Finally, the vertical Homeroom system encourages a sense of belonging by each student to a relatively small group, creating a feeling of 'family' and community. House Captains are senior students who have been selected to support the Head of House. College Captains and an elected Student Representative Council act as a liaison between the College Administration and the student body, and act as ambassadors for the College at public events.

To assist in the coordination of all aspects of Homeroom, the 35 Homerooms are organised into five Houses, each with an appointed Head of House. Each house is named after a place of considerable significance to the Norbertine Order. Many aspects of College life operate under the House system. It is recognised that the enduring House system provides a strong pastoral care structure for the College.

The College provides a co-curricular program.

• Peter Bol, Olympic middle-distance runner.[4]
• Pete Curulli, MIX 94.5FM radio host.[5]
• Robyn van Nus, Olympic shooter.[6][7]
• Gabriella Rogers,[8] reporter for Nine News.[9]
• Scott Walker,[10] Olympic bobsleigh team member.[11]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to St. Norbert College.

• St Norbert College Home
• Catholic Education Office Perth

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