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Schools
Catholic, Community, High, Primary, Specific Purpose, Private and Independent
Catholic Schools in The Sutherland Shire
By Colleen Passfield
In 1919 the first Catholic school in the Sutherland Shire was established by the Sisters of St Joseph in Cronulla. Named after St Aloysius Gonzaga, classes were conducted in the recently opened church/school on land fronting Curranulla (now Cronulla) Street. In 1921, Archbishop Michael Kelly blessed the foundation stone for the dedicated school building on land in Giddings Avenue, where the present day St Aloysius' School is still situated. From those modest beginnings has grown the network of Catholic systemic primary and secondary schools that cover the Sutherland Shire, catering for the educational needs of students from Kindergarten to Year 12. The following notes record some of that development enabled by the skill and dedication of teachers from the various religious communities and the secular teachers who assisted them.
1919 – St Aloysius' School, Cronulla
Established by Sisters of St Joseph
First teachers – Sister Gonzaga Delaney, Sister Blandina O'Neill
Original enrolment about 30 children increasing to about 55 in 1920
1924 – St Aloysius' School
Sisters of Mercy, (Parramatta), replaced Sisters of St Joseph
Teachers – Sister M Peter Hartigan (Principal),
Sister M Leonard O'Keefe, Sister M Matthew Higgins – Music Teacher
NB. Sister M Peter (Mary Ellen Hartigan) was the sister of Father Patrick Hartigan who, under the name ‘John O’Brien’, published many books of Australian verse notably ‘Around the Booree Log’.
1924 – St Patrick's School, Sutherland
Established by Sisters of Mercy, (Parramatta)
Teachers – Sister M Andrew Lynch (Principal), Sister M Cyril Johnson, Sister M Matthew Higgins – Music Teacher
Original enrolment – 26.
School fees 6d per week.
Located in church/school in Robertson Street.
1928 - St Patrick's School moved to brick church/school in Belmont Street.
1936 – De La Salle College, Cronulla
Established by De La Salle Brothers
Director/Principal – Brother Donatus Edward ( Patrick Slattery)
Boarding and Senior Boys School
1936 – De La Salle Junior Boys School - Thornton Hall
Principal – Brother Louis
1937 – Our Lady of Mercy College, Cronulla
Established by Sisters of Mercy on the Esplanade, Cronulla
Principal -Sister M Machtilde
Junior boarding school - closed during the early war years
1938 – First Intermediate Exam class at St Aloysius' School, Cronulla
Passes – Betty English, Dulcie Cook (Grundy)
1942 – Boys Town, Engadine
Established by Father Thomas Dunlea, in 1939, for disadvantaged young males. The boys attended St Patrick's School until the De La Salle Brothers took over management in September, 1942
1943 – OLMC, Cronulla, re-opened as a day school to Intermediate level
1950 – Presentation Sisters assume control of St Patrick's School, Sutherland
Teachers – Sister M. Casimir (Principal), Sister M. Hilary (Assistant), Sister M. Joachim, Sister M Ambrose, Sister M Julian, Sister M Emmanuel
Enrolment January – 210 – increased by December to 330
1950 – Star of the Sea School, Miranda
Established by Presentation Sisters
Teachers – Sister M Ambrose (Principal), Sister M Joachim
Original enrolment in January – 28 – increased to 54 by December
1951 – Our Lady of Fatima School, Caringbah
Established by the Sisters of Mercy, Parramatta Community
Teachers – Sister M Malachy McGrath (Principal) (Catherine), Sister M Chanel
Original enrolment of 78 children.
First on roll – Peter Coady and Margaret (Quirk) Wislang
1951 – OLMC, Cronulla presents first candidates for
Leaving Certificate
1952 – Star of the Sea School, Miranda
Sisters of St Joseph of California assume responsibility for school
Teachers – Mother Patricia Kelly (Community School Supervisor), Sister Margaret Mary Fennell, Sister Marie, Therese Johnston, Sister Clare Oldfield
1952 – Salesian Fathers of St John Bosco assume responsibility for Boys Town
1953 – St Joseph's School, Oyster Bay
Established by Presentation Sisters
Teachers – Sister M Stephen (Principal), Sister M Celsus (now Sister M Noela)
Original enrolment January – 45 – increased to 95 by December
1954 – St Catherine Laboure School, Gymea
Established by Sisters of St. Joseph of California
Teachers – Sister M Therese Johnston (Principal)
Sister Imelda Todd (Term 1)
Sister Janice Latta (Term 2)
Sister Dominica McNamara (Term 3)
1956 – St Patrick's College, Sutherland
Established by the Christian Brothers
Teachers – Brother Hannigan (Principal), Brother Cummins, Brother Boulton
Original enrolment – 177 – increased by December to 200
First student in register – Michael Egan, later MLC and NSW State Treasurer
1957 – De La Salle College, Cronulla
Boarding School discontinued
1957 – OLMC. Cronulla, full secondary registration
1958 – De La Salle, Caringbah, Primary School
Teachers -Brother Dermot Brosnan (Principal)
1959 – Mary Immaculate College
Established by Presentation Sisters
Teachers – Sister M Peter (Principal), Sister M Gerard, Sister M Casimir, Sister M Benedicta, Sister M De Porres
1959 – St John Bosco Primary School
Established by the Salesian Sisters
Teachers – Sister Frances Dardanello
Original enrolment – 83
1960 – Our Lady of Mercy College, Burraneer
Established by Sisters of Mercy
Teachers – Sister M Alphonsus Stanley (Cecily )
1963 – Junior boys classes move from Thornton Hall to De La Salle College, Cronulla
1963 – St Francis De Sales School, Woolooware
Established by Sisters of Mercy
Teachers – Sister M Le Merci Anderson (Principal) (Patricia), Sister M Giuseppi
1966 – De La Salle Junior Secondary School,Caringbah
Established by De La Salle Brothers
Teachers – Brother Dermot Brosnan (Principal)
First to Third Year move from Cronulla campus to Caringbah
1966 – De La Salle College, Cronulla
Teachers – Brother Xavier (Prncipal)
Fourth and Fifth Year and two senior primary classes
1967 – De La Salle Junior Secondary College, Caringbah
Year 7 to Year 10
Teachers – Brother Dermot Brosnan (Principal)
1967 – De La Salle Senior Secondary College, Cronulla
Teachers – Brother Celestine (Principal)
Year 11 to Year 12
1975 – De La Salle College, Cronulla becomes co-educational
Teachers – Brother Edward
Brother Nicholas
1978 – St John Bosco High School , Engadine
Established by Salesians of St John Bosco for Years 7 – 10
Teachers – Fr Patrick Laws SDB (Principal)
1979 – Co-educational classes between Mary Immaculate and St Patrick's Colleges
Feeder parish schools – Sutherland, Oyster Bay, Gymea – retain primary students
1986 – St Patrick's College, Sutherland
Mary Immaculate College and St Patrick's College amalgamate under one administration
1986 - Holy Family Primary School, Menai
Founded by the Presentation Order originally using St.Patrick’s Church Hall at Sutherland, moved to present site in 1987
1993 – Aquinas College, Menai
Not associated with any particular Catholic religious order.
Peter Turner –founding Principal
1998 – St John Bosco High School becomes St John Bosco College
Extended to include Years 11 and 12
References:
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Correspondence with Sister Benedetta Bennet, Congregational Archivist, Sisters of St.Joseph, North Sydney
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Howarth, Laurel (Editor) -De La Salle College Cronulla, Golden Jubilee 1936-1986
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Kirkby, David R. –From Sails To Atoms
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Lester., Gary et al., Celebrating a Journey – Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Caringbah
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McFarlane, Marie et al., Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish Miranda
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McGrath, Madeleine Sophie, These Women – The Sisters of Mercy Parramatta 1888-1988
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Personal family knowledge
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Toohey, Sister Casimir, P.B.V.M.- Sutherland Saga
Government Schools of New South Wales Since 1848
Glossary of Types of Schools (with relevance to Shire schools)
Community School (1992 -)
A school catering for students from Kindergarten through to Year 12. Community schools differ from central schools in that they have been established not because there are too few secondary students to support a high school, but because of a choice to have k-12 education provided by one school.
High School (1883 -)
First established in 1883 but after 1910 secondary education was officially subdivided into a variety of types of courses and schools. The long term trend has been towards comprehensive High Schools and, from 1962, the Wyndham Scheme completed the process, except for the survival of a few High Schools with selective intakes and in some cases special courses. Since the late 1960s all new High Schools have been co-educational and many older schools have been converted into co-educational schools.
Home Science (1913-1962)
A school combining a general post-primary education with home science and commercial training for girls.
Infants School ( 1880-)
A Public School enrolling only the youngest children
Intermediate High School (1912-1977)
A school containing both primary and secondary departments. The numbers of Intermediate High Schools declined after 2950 as High Schools were established in large numbers.
Junior Technical School (1913-1962)
A school combining general post-primary education with technical training for boys expected to enter a skilled trade. These were gradually converted to comprehensive High Schools.
Provisional School
A Provisional School could be established in areas where at least 15 children but fewer than the 25 required for a Public School, could be expected to attend.
Public School
The New South Wales education system known as the National Schools from 1848 to 1866 and Public Schools since 1867. Originally the attendance of 30 children was required for the establishment of a school and reduced to 25 in 1867 and 20 in 1880. The 1880 Act provided for the establishment of superior Public Schools with primary and post-primary courses and for separate High Schools. The development of High Schools has meant that, with some exceptions, most Public Schools now offer only the primary course.
School for Specific Purposes (SSP) ( 1923-)
A school for children with special needs including the hospitalised, the physically and intellectually disabled and the emotionally disturbed.
References
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Fletcher, J. and Burnswood, J. -Government Schools of New South Wales Since 1848
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Kirkby, David R. – From Sails to Atom
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https://education.nsw.gov.au/historyofgovernmentschools
Government Schools
Lucas Heights Community School
Jan., 1992
Principal: Janice Gooden
High Schools
Caringbah HS
Jan., 1960-
Principal: S. W. Prior
Cronulla HS
Jan., 1961-
Principal: E. G, Pidgeon
Endeavour HS (Caringbah) (Now known as Endeavour Sports High School)
Jan., 1964-
Principal: A.A.White
Engadine HS
Jan., 1969-
Principal:
Gymea HS (Now known as Gymea Technology HS)