John Paul College (New South Wales)

John Paul College is a private secondary school

Secondary school

Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...

 located in Coffs Harbour

Coffs Harbour, New South Wales

-History:By the early 1900s, the Coffs Harbour area had become an important timber production centre. Before the opening of the North Coast Railway Line, the only way to transport large items of heavy but low value, such as timber, was by coastal shipping. This meant sawmillers on the North Coast...

, New South Wales

New South Wales

New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...

. The college has strong Catholic

Catholic

The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...

 roots, being named after the late Pope John Paul the Second

Pope John Paul II

Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...

.

John Paul College was opened in 1983 with years 7 and 8, and was the culmination of many years of planning by the Parish

Parish

A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...

 Priest

Priest

A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...

of Coffs Harbour, Father Anthony Casey and the Parents' Planning Committee.

Land on Hogbin Drive was donated by Mr. Paddy Hargraves and the first stage of construction was completed in 1982. The second stage of building was commenced in 1985 and opened in 1986, followed by the opening of the Chapel (now Drama) and Multi-purpose hall in 1987. A new block was opened in 1992 and named Nagle Block after the foundress of the Presentation Order. To commemorate the contribution of the Sisters of Mercy to John Paul College, 1983 though 1992, the library was dedicated to Catherine McAuley, their foundress.

College colours are sky blue, maroon and navy, with school teams and individual sports people participating in all sports to a very high level.