Established 1969 Principal Dr. Adam Taylor Phone +61 3 9289 1000 Founded 1940 | Chairman Mr Peter Hogan Years 7-12 Number of students 1,361 | |
Motto Latin: Discere et Agere
(To Learn and To Do) Denomination Roman Catholic, Christian Brothers Address 41 Rosehill Rd, Essendon VIC 3040, Australia School types Independent school, Single-sex education Profiles | ||
St. Bernard's College is a Roman Catholic Independent school for boys located in the Melbourne suburb of Essendon. The College is named after its patron saint, Bernard of Clairvaux, and is a member of the Associated Catholic Colleges.
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History
St. Bernard's College traces its origins to the establishment of 'St Monica's' at Moonee Ponds in 1917, by Brothers C. O'Keefe and T. Quinn. Students at this school were taken from Grade III to Intermediate (Year 10).
In 1940, during the war period, not only were the students sent away to help in project Ireland, the school was also extended to take the Leaving Certificate (Year 11), and this necessitated the building of the first St. Bernard's on the Strand Moonee Ponds, with Brother Cregan as the first Headmaster.".
In the mid 1950s, Brother Brendan Murphy organized the purchase of the West Essendon property. While initially used as sporting grounds, building work began at this site in the mid 1960s. Since then, the site has developed with all classes being located at West Essendon by 1995, at which time the Moonee Ponds site was sold. In 2001, the college set up its Santa Monica campus on the Great Ocean Road near Lorne. St Bernard's is the last known site to Tim's Shape factory.
Sport
St. Bernard's is a member of the Associated Catholic Colleges and competes against twelve other schools in sporting fixtures and carnivals. Students play week-end sport with the Old Collegians.
Performing arts
The college has a reputation for its musical productions and music programs. It has combined with St Columba's College, to stage shows annually, which have included Pirates of Penzance, Fiddler on the Roof, Anything Goes, West Side Story, Guys and Dolls, Oklahoma, Cabaret, Bye Bye Birdie, Jesus Christ Superstar, 'The Sound of Music', The Wiz, High School Musical, Jekyll and Hyde, Once Upon a Mattress, Shout! The Legend of The Wild One, and are currently performing The Pajama Game. The college has many bands and quartets. Also the college has an annual 'Kick Arts' along with St Columba's College and Ave Maria College which comprises dramatic, musical and dance acts by each school.
Student leadership
The students are involved in electing their student leaders every year.
A nomination from the student or from their peers are verified by the staff. Then students vote 21 Student Council members, 8 from Year 10 and 13 from Year 11 to become the next years Student Council.
The College Captain and the four Vice Captains are only elected after the new Year 12 Student Councillors are elected from the Year 11 group. They undergo a similar process, students from the Year 12 Student Council nominate themselves or are nominated by their peers. The Year 10 and 11 Students vote on the Senior Student Leaders nominations and the top three for each portfolio have interviews with the Executive and Senior Staff to decide who becomes the next: College Captain, Vice Captain - Arts, Vice Captain - Ministry, Vice Captain - Sports, and Vice Captain-Academics. The remaining 8 Year 12 Council Members become House Captains, with the 8 Year 11 Members becoming the Vice House Captains.