Catholic College Bendigo
Encyclopedia
Catholic College Bendigo is a Catholic
secondary school in the city of Bendigo
in Victoria
, Australia
. About 1800 students attend Catholic College Bendigo's two sites. 200 teachers staff the College.
La Valla Site is located in Junortoun and provides education for Years 7–9, while the Coolock Site in the CBD of Bendigo provides education for Years 10-12 Victorian Certificate of Education
. Another campus is currently being planned for West Bendigo to cater for the increasing population of Bendigo and the increasing demand for places within Catholic College's two present sites.
The current principal, Mr. Darren McGregor, was appointed in 2004. The deputy principal, who is in charge of the La Valla site is Mr. John Ferris. The deputy principal in charge of Coolock is Mr. Michael Chalkley. The deputy principal in charge of staff is Ms. Giselle Talbot.
In 1955, the site at La Valla was opened for boarding boys as 'St Vincent's College'. Due to declining boarders, the school opened to day pupils in 1972.
In 1983, the two schools run by the Mercy Sisters and the Marist brothers combined, to make a co-educational school. It was also renamed Catholic College Bendigo. By 1988, the school had two sites - La Valla and Coolock, which are the current two sites.
An ongoing process of refurbishment has been running since the late 1990s—in 1998, the Junortoun quadrangle was refurbished. In 2004, Wright Street, which runs through Coolock was bought by the school and closed, which led to a large refurbishment of the area to face the road. In 2005, the Coolock Arts building was refurbished. In 2006, work on a new Technology Building at La Valla began. It was completed in 2007.
In 2008, The Marian Centre at Coolock was opened. It features a new music block and theatre, as well as a large gym with 2 basketball courts. This gym is the venue for whole school assemblies—a 2008 initiative to bring the two sites closer together.
There was a major transition to a vertical pastoral care system in 2009. Prior to 2009, Catholic College Bendigo had four houses - Marcellin (Blue), Backhaus (Yellow), McAuley (Green) and Crane (Red). The new system comprises six houses, with homegroups now aligned into houses. The new houses of the College are Vincent
(Gold), Backhaus (Purple), McAuley (Blue), MacKillop
(Green), Jaara
(Orange) and Champagnat (Burgundy).
Coolock also changed their homeroom model to a vertical housegroup system. At Coolock, each house now has six Year 10/11/12 housegroups. At La Valla, each house has two Year 7 housegroups, two Year 8 housegroups and two Year 9 housegroups. The total number of housegroups across the College is 64. There are also two further housegroups, bringing the total to 66.
CCB is a member of the Catholic All Schools Sports Association
(CAS).
Kelly Building - two floors. On the ground floor, there are four general classrooms. On the first floor, there are three computer rooms and IT staff offices. All Vincent homegroups are held in this building.
Ursula Frayne Building - Science Block, two floors. All McAuley homegroups are held in this building.
Champagnat Arts Building - Arts Block, with general classrooms, Language classrooms, and on the first floor, Art, Media, Visual Communication, Textiles and Photography rooms, as well as Art offices reside. Champagnat and MacKillop homegroups are held here.
Library - General Library, with two Research Areas, an Information Lab, a non-Fiction Section, a Fiction Section and a reading area, as well as a silent study room and library offices.
Backhaus Building - two floors, classrooms on both floors and two staff offices on the first floor. All Backhaus homegroups are held here.
Coolock House - two floors, with Careers Office, staff offices and general classrooms. Jaara homegroups are held here.
Marian Centre - Music room/stage, theatre, music and PE offices, practice rooms, foyer. Gym with two basketball courts, a weights room, and two classrooms.
four portable classrooms are also installed.
we at Catholic College Bendigo
believe that life is your gift to us,
and that every person is worthy of our greatest respect, care and support.
May the spirit of Marcellin and Catherine
inspire us to live the Good News,
the Gospel message of Jesus Christ.
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
secondary school in the city of Bendigo
Bendigo, Victoria
Bendigo is a major regional city in the state of Victoria, Australia, located very close to the geographical centre of the state and approximately north west of the state capital Melbourne. It is the second largest inland city and fourth most populous city in the state. The estimated urban...
in Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. About 1800 students attend Catholic College Bendigo's two sites. 200 teachers staff the College.
La Valla Site is located in Junortoun and provides education for Years 7–9, while the Coolock Site in the CBD of Bendigo provides education for Years 10-12 Victorian Certificate of Education
Victorian Certificate of Education
The Victorian Certificate of Education or VCE is the credential awarded to secondary school students who successfully complete high school level studies in the state of Victoria, Australia. Study for the VCE is usually completed over two years, but it can be spread over a longer period in some cases...
. Another campus is currently being planned for West Bendigo to cater for the increasing population of Bendigo and the increasing demand for places within Catholic College's two present sites.
The current principal, Mr. Darren McGregor, was appointed in 2004. The deputy principal, who is in charge of the La Valla site is Mr. John Ferris. The deputy principal in charge of Coolock is Mr. Michael Chalkley. The deputy principal in charge of staff is Ms. Giselle Talbot.
History
There are two central founders of Catholic College Bendigo. The Sisters of Mercy arrived in Bendigo in 1876, and set up a school on Wright Street (Now the Coolock site). The Marist Brothers arrived in Bendigo in 1893. The founders of these orders, Marcellin Champagnat and Catherine McAuley are considered the founders of Catholic College Bendigo.In 1955, the site at La Valla was opened for boarding boys as 'St Vincent's College'. Due to declining boarders, the school opened to day pupils in 1972.
In 1983, the two schools run by the Mercy Sisters and the Marist brothers combined, to make a co-educational school. It was also renamed Catholic College Bendigo. By 1988, the school had two sites - La Valla and Coolock, which are the current two sites.
An ongoing process of refurbishment has been running since the late 1990s—in 1998, the Junortoun quadrangle was refurbished. In 2004, Wright Street, which runs through Coolock was bought by the school and closed, which led to a large refurbishment of the area to face the road. In 2005, the Coolock Arts building was refurbished. In 2006, work on a new Technology Building at La Valla began. It was completed in 2007.
In 2008, The Marian Centre at Coolock was opened. It features a new music block and theatre, as well as a large gym with 2 basketball courts. This gym is the venue for whole school assemblies—a 2008 initiative to bring the two sites closer together.
There was a major transition to a vertical pastoral care system in 2009. Prior to 2009, Catholic College Bendigo had four houses - Marcellin (Blue), Backhaus (Yellow), McAuley (Green) and Crane (Red). The new system comprises six houses, with homegroups now aligned into houses. The new houses of the College are Vincent
Vincent de Paul
Vincent de Paul was a priest of the Catholic Church who became dedicated to serving the poor. He is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion. He was canonized in 1737....
(Gold), Backhaus (Purple), McAuley (Blue), MacKillop
Mary MacKillop
Mary Helen MacKillop , also known as Saint Mary of the Cross, was an Australian Roman Catholic nun who, together with Father Julian Tenison Woods, founded the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart and a number of schools and welfare institutions throughout Australasia with an emphasis on...
(Green), Jaara
Dja Dja Wurrung
Dja Dja Wurrung, also known as the Jaara people and Loddon River tribe, is a native Aboriginal tribe which occupied the watersheds of the Loddon and Avoca Rivers in the Bendigo region of central Victoria, Australia. They were part of the Kulin alliance of tribes. There were 16 clans, which adhered...
(Orange) and Champagnat (Burgundy).
Coolock also changed their homeroom model to a vertical housegroup system. At Coolock, each house now has six Year 10/11/12 housegroups. At La Valla, each house has two Year 7 housegroups, two Year 8 housegroups and two Year 9 housegroups. The total number of housegroups across the College is 64. There are also two further housegroups, bringing the total to 66.
CCB is a member of the Catholic All Schools Sports Association
Catholic All Schools Sports Association
The Catholic All Schools Sports Association is a group of Catholic schools in Victoria, Australia. The Association was formed on 11 November 1996 and provides the basis for interschool sporting and other competitions between the member schools...
(CAS).
Coolock
Mercy Building - three floors. On the ground floor is general reception, staff room, office of Senior Leader and office of Deputy Principal of Coolock. On the first floor, there are staff offices, the finance office, the office of the director of Catholic Identity, and the Principal's office. On the 2nd floor, there is the publications office, alumni office, and the office of the Director of Teaching and Learning.Kelly Building - two floors. On the ground floor, there are four general classrooms. On the first floor, there are three computer rooms and IT staff offices. All Vincent homegroups are held in this building.
Ursula Frayne Building - Science Block, two floors. All McAuley homegroups are held in this building.
Champagnat Arts Building - Arts Block, with general classrooms, Language classrooms, and on the first floor, Art, Media, Visual Communication, Textiles and Photography rooms, as well as Art offices reside. Champagnat and MacKillop homegroups are held here.
Library - General Library, with two Research Areas, an Information Lab, a non-Fiction Section, a Fiction Section and a reading area, as well as a silent study room and library offices.
Backhaus Building - two floors, classrooms on both floors and two staff offices on the first floor. All Backhaus homegroups are held here.
Coolock House - two floors, with Careers Office, staff offices and general classrooms. Jaara homegroups are held here.
Marian Centre - Music room/stage, theatre, music and PE offices, practice rooms, foyer. Gym with two basketball courts, a weights room, and two classrooms.
four portable classrooms are also installed.
College Prayer
Loving God,we at Catholic College Bendigo
believe that life is your gift to us,
and that every person is worthy of our greatest respect, care and support.
May the spirit of Marcellin and Catherine
inspire us to live the Good News,
the Gospel message of Jesus Christ.