St Leo's Catholic College

St Leo's Catholic College is a Catholic systemic secondary day school for boys and girls, located in the Upper North Shore suburb of Wahroonga in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Situated in the Diocese of Broken Bay, the high school currently has approximately 800 students from Year 7 to Year 12.

St Leo's Catholic College
Location
16 Woolcott Avenue

Wahroonga, Upper North Shore,
Sydney
,
New South Wales

Australia
Coordinates33°42′56″S 151°06′19″E
Information
TypeIndependent systemic secondary day school
MottoLatin: Lex Dei In Corde
(God's Law In The Heart)
Religious affiliation(s)Catholicism
DenominationCongregation of Christian Brothers (1956–1983)
Patron saint(s)Leo the Great
Established1956 (1956)
FounderCongregation of Christian Brothers
Educational authorityNew South Wales Department of Education
OversightDiocese of Broken Bay
PrincipalAnthony Gleeson
Years offered7–12
Gender
Enrolment800 (2019)
Campus typeSuburban
Colour(s)Purple and gold   
Websitewww.stleos.nsw.edu.au

The school's patron saint is Leo the Great, one of the early Popes of the Catholic Church.

History

The college was founded by the Congregation of Christian Brothers on 24 April 1955 for the education of boys of Sydney's Upper North Shore. The first classes commenced in 1956 with 118 students in Years 3 to 6. By 1983, the Brothers were no longer able to staff the college and so its administration was passed to the Catholic Education Office, Sydney. Upon the departure of the Christian Brothers, the first lay Headmaster was appointed.[1]

The College became co-educational, with the first girls enrolling in Year 11 in 1983 and Year 7 in 1984. By 1987, the college had fully completed the integration of co-education. When the newly created Diocese of Broken Bay was formed, the College came under the jurisdiction of the Catholic Schools Office, Broken Bay.

In the 1980s, the College undertook an extensive building program including a multi-purpose hall and art and hospitality facilities. In 2002, a new Technology Centre was constructed. The multi-purpose Light of Christ Centre was opened in 2012.

By the start of 2020, the College completed a $25 million building works program that included the new Mary MacKillop Centre for Creative and Performing Arts, Technology and Hospitality which includes a dance and drama theatre, commercial kitchens, TAS workshops, art gallery, visual art studios, specialty music, orchestra, and band rooms as well as other learning spaces. Other recently completed upgrades include renovation of the College Chapel, Aquinas Resource Centre including library and cafe, a new College entrance, and additional outdoor recreation spaces.

In 2020, the College introduced new academic and sports uniforms for both junior and senior students, with a three-year transition period for the new uniform.[2]

Campus and facilities

St Leo's is located on six hectares (fifteen acres) in the Upper North Shore suburb of Wahroonga and, in 2020, completed a $25 million building upgrade. Facilities include:[3]

  • the new Mary MacKillop Centre for Creative and Performing Arts, Design, Technology and Hospitality, which includes a theatre, art facilities, kitchens, woodworking shops, and large meeting spaces
  • The Light of Christ Centre – a multipurpose complex for over 1000 people used for indoor sports, assemblies and a range of College functions and events
  • a Chapel
  • two full-sized sports ovals and three outdoor basketball courts
  • two large shaded outdoor recreational areas
  • an Aquinas Resource Centre (LIBRARY) including a library, study hubs, open learning areas, student cafe, and outdoor meeting area
  • a canteen.

House system

Each student is allocated to one of the eight College houses. Each house has a brother and or sister house which combine for certain occasions. The houses have been named in honour of Saints and other influential faith leaders:[4]

  • Aquinas (green)
  • Bakhita (purple)
  • Chanel (Dark blue)
  • Loyola (gold)
  • McAuley (light blue)
  • MacKillop (bronze)
  • Teresa (white)
  • Xavier (red)

See also

References
  1. "Our College – History". St Leo's Catholic College. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  2. "Future Students – Uniform Information". St Leo's Catholic College. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  3. "Our College – Facilities". St Leo's Catholic College. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  4. "Discover St Leo's – House System". St Leo's Catholic College. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
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