Mt Maria College

Mt Maria College is a Catholic, Secondary Coeducational College located in Brisbane in the suburb of Mitchelton. It offers both an OP course and a VET course for students. It is part of Brisbane Catholic Education.

Mt Maria College, Mitchelton
Address
54 Prospect Road
Mitchelton, Queensland
Australia
Information
Type Private School, Roman Catholic, Coeducational, Secondary.
Motto Strong mind ~ Compassionate heart
Established 1930 (reformed in 2006)
Principal Mr Glenn McConville
Grades 7-12
Campus Suburban
Colour(s) Burgundy & Navy
Affiliations Brisbane Catholic Education
Website http://www.mtmaria.qld.edu.au

History of the college

Mt Maria Junior Secondary College and Mt Maria Senior College existed for many years as two separate schools. In 2006 the amalgamation of the two colleges took place to form Mt Maria College.

The Rose Pelletier building at Mt Maria College, Mitchelton

The property now occupied by the Mt Maria College Mitchelton campus was originally set up in 1930 by the Sisters of the Good Shepherd as the Good Shepherd Home, catering for those with special needs or those deemed to be ‘uncontrollable’ in their own homes.[1] The home was closed in late 1974 due to changes in community and government expectations, as well as financial difficulties.[1][2]

In 1970, the site that was occupied by the Mt Maria College Enoggera campus was established by the Marist Brothers as a boys school, initially for years 5-7. The school was known as Marcellin College (and as Marist Brothers Enoggera).[1] The first year 12 class graduated in 1976.

In 1978 Brisbane Catholic Education purchased the Mt Maria Senior College Mitchelton campus, with the intention of providing co-educational schooling for senior students (years 11 and 12) from Marcellin College and from St Benedict's Catholic Girls School at Wilston. Marcellin and St Benedict's closed their year 11 and 12 classes in 1977 and in 1978 Mt Maria Senior Secondary College began operating at Mitchelton, under Brother Terrence Heinrich, who had previously been principal at Marcellin. He was succeeded by Brother Robert O'Connor in 1981, who in turn was succeeded by Brother Anthony in 1985.

By the late 1980s, Catholic primary schools were teaching boys through to grade 7, and consequently Marcellin no longer needed to provide primary school education. When St Benedicts finally closed its doors in 1991[3] the girls school moved over to the Marcellin campus at Enoggera and became Mt Maria Junior Secondary College.

The two schools operated like this until the amalgamation in January 2006, when the two colleges were jointly renamed Mt Maria College, a new uniform phased in and the adoption of a new logo took place.

[4] The initial phase is to construct new facilities on the Mitchelton campus, which will allow year 10 from Enoggera to be combined with years 11 and 12 to form the new Senior school at Mitchelton. During the following year, the original buildings was refurbished, followed by construction of the remaining buildings to accommodate years 8 and 9. It is possible that year 7 may be incorporated into the school by this stage, depending on the outcome of the educational reviews being carried out in Queensland.[5]

In February 2012 The Marcellin Champagnat Building was opened at a cost of $7.5 million.[6] The former convent home, now known as The Rose Pelletier Building is currently undergoing a major refurbishment that is expected to be completed by the end of 2012.[7]

On 1 December 2012, a Mass of Thanksgiving was held to celebrate 42 years of Catholic schooling at the Enoggera site.

Heritage listing

Home of the Good Shepherd (now Rose Pelletier Building), Mitchelton, Brisbane, 1931

The former convent, the Home of the Good Shepherd (now the Rose Pelletier Building), is listed on the Brisbane Heritage Register.[8]

Events

Mt Maria holds many events in the school year. There are three sporting carnivals held per year: swimming, cross country and athletics. Two performances are also held each year, These typically showcase music, dance and drama, as well as film as of 2008. Another key event was the Live Simply Day held on 8 August 2008. This was an initiative of the Student Representative Council where the student body was asked to wear black and white to school and to live simply in all aspects of their daily school life, such as turning off lights, computers and using minimal resources. A photograph was taken of the whole school, the first taken since the amalgamation in 2006.

Key learning areas

Mt Maria College is split into Key Learning Areas for students. These are:[9]

Parents and Friends Association

Mt Maria College has a Parents and Friends Association that meets on the second Wednesday of each month. The 2014 President of the Committee is Marianne Flowers. This Association meets to further advance the college community.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Mt Maria - History & Tradition". Mt Maria College. Archived from the original on 16 February 2011. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
  2. ↑ Good Shepherd Home and Laundry (former), Brisbane City Council Heritage Citation, Brisbane City Council Heritage Unit.
  3. ↑ Mt Maria College Education Brief (Draft), retrieved 28 July 2010.
  4. ↑ Fulton Trotter Architects: Mt Maria College Mitchelton Master Plan Archived 11 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine., retrieved 28 July 2010.
  5. ↑ A Flying Start for Queensland Children: Education Green Paper for public consultation, retrieved 28 July 2010
  6. ↑ Mt Maria College builds on learning, retrieved 28 May 2012
  7. ↑ Building Projects Archived 14 June 2012 at the Wayback Machine., retrieved 28 May 2012
  8. ↑ "Good Shepherd Home (former)". Brisbane Heritage Register. Brisbane City Council. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
  9. ↑ "Key Staff". Mt Maria College. Retrieved 2 March 2010.

Coordinates: 27°24′41.33″S 152°58′47.6″E / 27.4114806°S 152.979889°E / -27.4114806; 152.979889

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