Marist College Kogarah is a systemic Catholic College for boys from Years 7-12, in Bexley, NSW, Australia. The current principal is Mr Patrick O'Connor. The College was founded in 1909 and has a proud and rich tradition based on the teachings of the French educator Saint Marcellin Champagnat. The school offers education to approximately 1100 students in the St George area of Sydney Australia.
History
Marist College Kogarah was established in 1909 as the Kogarah Boys’ School, a primary school for boys. The Marist Brothers agreed to establish the school after requests by Fr John O'Driscoll, parish priest of the new parish of Kogarah. During 1909 a hundred pupils were enrolled,
it then being the only Catholic boys school in New South Wales south
west of Newtown.
As demand for secondary education grew in the region, junior secondary classes were added to the school in the late 1920's. By 1938 it was a full secondary school, presenting pupils for the Leaving Certificate. By the 1940's it was the largest Catholic School in Australia.
In the 1960's the school became part of the new Archdiocesan system of schools and this had important consequences for Kogarah. Parish schools were preferred for primary education and so in 1982 primary classes ended at Marist Brothers Kogarah.
From 1984 senior girls were enrolled in Years 11 and 12. This
was however short-lived due to the establishment of Bethany College in 1993.
1992 marked the end of the Marist Brothers' leadership and the appointment of the first lay principal, Mr Peter McNamara. In 1993 the Brothers withdrew from teaching in the school.[2]
Over the years the school has had three crest designs. They all have in common a red cross dividing a shield into four fields. Above the shield is the school motto Finis Coronat Opus, meaning The End Crowns the Work; below is the school name. The redesigns were required after the school's name was altered. The crest's symbols were also rearranged after the first redesign.
The fields contain the following symbols:
The Marist symbol.
The Southern Cross, the symbol of Australia
The Waratah, the symbol of New South Wales
An open book to symbolise learning
The school motto Finis Coronat Opus, 'The End Crowns The Work' is the driving force behind the school's emphasis on a wholistic education. It captures the idea that hard work towards a goal is essential to achieving anything in life.
School House System
The present Schools House System has been operating since 2000. As each new student begins at the school he is allocated to a house and its color. The school has four houses that have been named after four special people that have made a lasting impact on the school. Students are involved in House Competitions which include Sporting, Cultural and Academic events. The four houses are:
Cooper: Named after Alfred Cooper, a generous benefactor of the school.
Gonzaga: Named for the first principal of the school.
Gilroy : Named for Cardinal Gilroy of Sydney, who was enrolled in the school on the first day of lessons in 1909.
Shirt: Plain Marist College Kogarah polo shirt with collar and buttons
House Shirt: House polo to be used for all House activities and PE lessons
Shoes: Plain, predominately white, black or blue lace up sports shoes
Socks: Short white socks that must fully cover the ankle
Year 12: Students in Year 12 wear the same sports uniform as the rest of the college but a special student designed jersey can be worn instead of the usual sports uniform shirt.
Tuition
Kogarah Marist College
Subjects offered for the Higher School Certificate include English Standard, English Advanced, English Extension 1, English Extension 2, General Mathematics, Mathematics, Mathematics Extension 1, Mathematics Extension 2, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Engineering Studies, Studies of Religion 1, Studies of Religion 2, Geography, Modern History, Ancient History, History Extension, Economics, Business Studies, French Beginners, Italian Beginners, Italian Continuers, Music 1, Music 2, Visual Arts, PDHPE, Industrial Technology, Design and Technology, Information Processes and Technology, and Software Design and Development. For those who do not wish to study Studies of Religion in years 11 and 12, a School Based Religious Education program is followed, entitles "Catholic Studies".
In 2006, all of the above courses were above state average excluding Physics, Chemistry.
School Song
The school's Marist song, Sub tuum praesidium is sung at all official college masses, ceremonies and assemblies.
Sub tuum praesidium
Under thy protection confugimus, confugimus,
our refuge, our refuge Sancta Dei Genitrix,
Holy God Mother Sancta Dei Genitrix.
Holy God Mother
Nostras deprecationes,
our intercessor (ward off by prayer) ne despicias, ne despicias
do not ignore (look to) us in necessitatibus nostris,
in need ours
Sed a periculis cunctis
but our peril whole libera nos semper,
free us always Virgo gloriosa et benedicta.
Virgin Glorious and Blessed
Sub tuum praesidium
under your protection confugimus, confugimus.
our refuge, our refuge.[3]
