Luther College (Victoria)

Luther College
Address
1-39 Plymouth Road Croydon Hills , Victoria 3136 Australia
Coordinates	37.7830°S 145.2726°E / -37.7830; 145.2726
Information
Type	Independent
Motto	Template:Lang-la (The Holy Spirit is our Mother)
Established	1964
Principal	Michael Kleidon
Enrolment	~1100
Colour(s)	Red, White, Blue
Website	www.luther.vic.edu.au

Luther College is a co-educational independent secondary school of the Lutheran Church of Australia located in the outer-eastern suburb of Croydon Hills in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It maintains a close relationship with the Outer Eastern Lutheran Church parish of the Lutheran Church of Australia, which congregates in the school's chapel facilities. It provides education for years 7-12. Some year 10 and all year 11 and 12 students undertake the VCE program.

History

Opened in 1964, Luther College is a school of the Lutheran Church of Australia, named for the father of the Lutheran Church, Dr. Martin Luther, a 16th-century German theologian.

Beginning as a boarding school with students from remote regional areas of Victoria making up a large percentage of its enrolment, the school grew to become popular with International students. However, after a decline in International enrolments and worries about the growth of the student body in relation to the school's facilities, the boarding program ended at the end of 2002, with the boarding house facilities being demolished or adapted into classrooms. The school now admits small numbers of students from remote areas who take part in a home-stay program, residing with the families of local students.

Campus

The campus has altered considerably since the school's opening in 1964.

Several houses originally owned by the College and formerly lived in by its chaplains, boarding students and boarding-house supervisors have been converted into office blocks, including what is now the school's Ministry Centre.

The school's facilities also comprise one football oval, and two soccer/hockey pitches, three basketball courts and four tennis courts which can be converted into a half-sized hockey court, and often doubles as a soccer field during lunchtimes. There is also two full size basketball courts in the gymnasium as well as a gym for students to use at lunchtime from Year 10 onwards.

In 2010, the new middle school building was opened. The building consists of state-of-the art facilities, including over 25 classrooms. Students in years 7-9 use these classrooms.

In 2012, the old middle school building was redeveloped and became the Senior Years Centre and incorporates a common room for Year 12 students, a variety of learning spaces, a Careers Centre and easy access to Year level coordinators.

In 2014, the Prime Minister of Australia, Mr Tony Abbott, and several parliamentarians, visited the College. This visit coincided with the release of the Commonwealth Government’s review of the Australian Curriculum and educational initiatives to promote the Government’s Competitiveness Agenda. Together with the Prime Minister, Principal Michael Kleidon and other science and careers staff discussed the Australian Government’s focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects. Mr Abbott and his colleagues also visited the College’s recently refurbished Mathematics facility, an inspiring learning space for students.

Religious education

As a school of the Lutheran Church of Australia, Luther College students participate in mandatory religious education classes in years 7-12.

All students from all year levels attend a chapel service in the school's chapel four days out of the week. On Wednesday, students participate in a devotion in their homegroup classes.

The school's campus contains a special Ministry Centre which contains the offices of the school's two chaplains as well as the school counsellor. Students can go to the Ministry Centre at any time of the day to seek advice or counselling.

IT program

Luther College is a notebook computer school. The notebook program was commenced in 1995, with a pilot class of 30 Year 10 students. At the end of the year, the school council voted to commence the notebook program for all year 10 students, commencing from 1996 onwards. More recently, the program was extended to year 9 students. The IT is set to be removed from the school in 2016 as Apple Macintoshes are coming into place.

School houses

There are four houses operating within the school. These are further divided into form classes, also known as home groups, which hold meetings every morning to distribute news and information. They include 5-8 students from every year level.

Involvement with Good Shepherd Lutheran Primary School

Both Luther College and The Good Shepherd Lutheran Primary School are private schools, as well as schools of the Lutheran Church of Australia. Both their campuses are located in Croydon Hills, separated by two sporting ovals.

The schools share many of their facilities, including the sporting ovals, as well as the Luther College chapel which is used by the primary school for special occasions. The schools have very similar uniforms, and until 2004 their physical education uniforms were almost identical.

As many as 80% of Good Shepherd students attend Luther College after the completion of year 6, due to the school's close proximity and affordable fees. Due to this, students of the schools share a close relationship. Many Collegiates undertake work experience or voluntary service placements at Good Shepherd, and both schools often present chapel services for each other.

There has been speculation since Good Shepherd's inception that the schools will one day join to become one college that provides education for all students years prep-12, as other private Church schools including Methodist Ladies' College and Yarra Valley Grammar have successfully done, but there has been no official acknowledgement of this proposal from either school at any time.

Notable alumni

• Aaron Baddeley - Golf player
• Sarah Blanck - Olympic representative for Sailing
• Ash Grunwald - blues and roots artist
• Sarah Groenewald - Soccer player
• 360 - hip hop artist
• Kathleen O'Kelly-Kennedy - Paralympian (Bronze medal, basketball, Beijing 2008)
• Tom Boyd - Australian rules football player, #1 pick in 2013 AFL Draft, selected by the Greater Western Sydney Giants
• Daniel McStay - Australian rules football player, #25 pick in the 2013 AFL Draft, selected by the Brisbane Lions.