St Francis de Sales College

St Francis de Sales College
Location
Mount Barker, South Australia, Australia
Information
Type	Independent/Catholic
Motto	"Wisdom; God's Gift, Our Endeavour"
Established	1999
Principal	Mrs. Pam Ronan
Enrolment	900+
Campus	Reception - Year 12
Colour(s)	Bottle Green, Navy Blue & Wattle Yellow
Website	stfrancis.adl.catholic.edu.au

St Francis de Sales College is a Catholic co-educational school in Mount Barker, South Australia, not to be confused with a college by the same name which existed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, until its closure in June 1982. It teaches students from Reception until Year 12. St Francis is a rapidly expanding Adelaide Hills school.

History

Founded in 1902 by the Sisters Of Mercy under the name of St. Scholastica as convent and day school. In 1959, the school expanded into a new building separate from the convent, The Dell. The sisters Of Mercy withdrew from teaching in Mount Barker in 1977, but the primary school continued to expand. The Mount Barker Parish School changed its name in 1986 to St Francis De Sales School. In 1997, a successful application was made for the primary school to expand into an R-12 College. Originally opening in 1999 with 212 students, St Francis De Sales College has expanded in the past years, with the first year 12's graduating in 2004.

New buildings have been built, the Ralston Building, and the number of portable classrooms is ever growing. There are plans in the process to build a sports hall and more permanent classrooms. St Francis De Sales College currently educates students from all corners the Adelaide Hills, coming from Murray Bridge, Stirling, Meadows, Strathalbyn, Lobethal, Nairne, Littlehampton and anywhere between.