St Patrick's College, Campbelltown


Saint Patricks College is an independent Roman Catholic single-sex secondary day school for girls, located in Campbelltown, in south-western Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Established in 1840, it was the first school built by private enterprises in New South Wales and provides a religious and comprehensive education for approximately 850 students from Year 7 to Year 12, in the traditions of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan.
The current principal is Sue Lennox.

History

St Patrick's College was established in 1840. It was the first school built by private enterprise in the colony of New South Wales and was the result of the initiative of the Catholic people of the Campbelltown area in association with the priest responsible for the district, Fr Gould.
This original school was built on three acres of land donated by Mary Sheil, wife of Dennis Sheil and daughter of local pioneer, William Bradbury and named St Patrick's. The original building still stands today and is now known as ‘Quandong’, which houses the Campbelltown Historic Exhibition, Tourist Information Centre and the St Patrick's museum.
Teachers from the general community staffed this early St Patrick's until 1887 when the Sisters of the Good Samaritan assumed responsibility for the school. In 1888, after the completion of the new St John's church in Cordeaux Street, a convent and school was established at the 'old’ St John's ‘on the hill’ building and took its name from the original St Patrick's at ‘Quandong’.
The final change in location came in 1970 when St Patrick's moved from ‘old’ St John's to its present location. This site was originally a Preparatory School for Boys named St John's or "Westview" and was also conducted by the Sisters of the Good Samaritan. From 1970 until today the College has continued to grow and now has an enrolment of over 730 students from Years 7 - 12.

Curriculum

Vocational Education - VET
Business Services, Hospitality - Kitchen Operations

Facilities

The school's annual activities include:
Yearly co-curricular activities: aerobics, circuit, pump, spin and body combat fitness classes, indoor rock climbing, yoga, dance, ten-pin bowling, tennis, competitive aerobics, martial arts and gymnastics. It is also a compulsory part of activities that all Year 10 students participate in a self-defence course.

Social justice

There are four houses, each named after a significant female figures to Australia:
The College is a sister school to other Good Samaritan schools in Australia and overseas - St Marys Star of the Sea College, Mater Dei School, Mount St. Benedict College, Stella Maris College, Rosebank College, St. Scholasticas College, Mater Christi College, Santa Maria College, Lourdes Hill College, Seiwa Junior and Senior High School, and Kinder School.

Alumni

The school alumni participate in funding and regular events at the school

Newsletter

The College publishes a fortnightly newsletter which contains information of importance to parents/caregivers and is distributed to parents/caregivers via the students in their Home Rooms. The College WEBSITE is another media for accessing important information as well as The FLAME a twice yearly full colour publication.