st teresa's college - abergowrie : prospectus

P R O S P E C T U S

www.abergowrie.catholic.edu.au

2 3

C O N T E N T S

Welcome 2

Vision & Mission 2

The College 3

Growing Good Men 4

Curriculum 5

Pastoral Care 6

Boarding at Abergowrie 7

Outdoor Life 8

Sport 9

Socials 10

Cultural Programs 11

W E L C O M E

St Teresa’s College Abergowrie is a Catholic secondary boys boarding college located within St Teresa’s parish in the Herbert River Valley. The College is 38kms from Ingham, situated on Warrgamay land.

We are an inclusive community, embracing families from the Australian mainland, islands and international students from Papua New Guinea. Within the College more than 40 communities are represented and as many as 70 languages and dialects are spoken.

Although the religious context of the College is Catholic, there are many other religious and cultural traditions represented in the faith community of the College, and these are very welcome. They enrich the living of the message of Jesus Christ and strengthen the embrace, truth and challenge of the gospel of Jesus Christ within the College community.

V I S I O N & M I S S I O N

“St Teresa’s College Abergowrie in partnership with families and communities, is dedicated to growing good men and providing a meaningful education in the spirit of Jesus Christ”.

We strive to:

• Createahomeawayfromhomeandpurposelybuildaninclusive,safeandlifegivingenvironment.

• Createalearningenvironmentthatisrelevant,appropriateandauthentictotheneedsofallstudents,inlinewithTownsvilleCatholicEducationOfficecurriculumguidelines.

• CreateanAbergowriefamilywherethespiritofJesusChristisjoyfullyembracedandevidenced.

• Createeffectiveprogrammesthatinnovativelyengagestudentstogrowintosuccessful,goodmen.

• Createanenvironmentofoutreachwithinthecollege,drawingontheCharismofBlessedEdmundRice.

S T T E R E S APAT R O N O F T H E C O L L E G E

St Teresa was a young French nun, belonging to the strict Carmelite Order, where she spent a short life full of prayer and devotion to her one love, Jesus Christ.

During her life she prayed consistently for the Catholic Church, especially in mission lands. Shortly after her death at the end of the last century, she was named Patroness of the Church in Australia. Bishop McGuire, D.D., the founder of the College always had a very strong devotion to St Teresa’s and hence he named it after her. Now, St Teresa’s College is known throughout the length and breadth of Australia.

T H E C O L L E G E St Teresa’s College Abergowrie, was established in 1933 by the Bishop of Townsville, the Most Reverend Terrence McGuire.

Situated on 100 hectares in the lush surrounds of the Herbert River Valley, the College provides a unique rural environment which is relaxed and free from city pressures. This allows all boys to participate in a quality Catholic education blended into a safe, secure, stress free lifestyle.

S H I E L D

Designed by Mr Ian Ferrier the college crest is rich in symbolism. The colours, predominantly green and gold, reflect the college colours, while the red of the central panel calls to mind the beef production of Rosevale. Carrying the college motto ‘Reap what you Sow’ the open book symbolises both learning and the Word of God. The central cross and star are drawn from the Christian Brothers’ Crest which since the College’s inception has served as its badge. Calling to mind Bishop Faulkner’s patronage of the College a Bishop’s traditional heraldic symbol – the battlements of a fortress – are included in the crest. However, they are given a familiar touch; the battlements are constructed of stalks of cane. The Gowrie connotations are obvious.

S T T E R E S A ’ S C O L L E G E A B E R G O W R I E | P R O S P E C T U S www.abergowrie.catholic.edu.au

4 5

C U R R I C U L U M

St Teresa’s College offers a high quality education to students from varied academic backgrounds. English is a second or third language and therefore an integral part of our Literacy Plan – which aims to increase Standard Australian English (SAE) levels. This is achieved through the tailored Accelerated Literacy Program, facilitated by the Townsville Catholic Education Office (TCEO).

Students at St Teresa’s are able to select subjects from a wide range of both academic and vocational subjects. This means that all boys are catered for, whether they intend to go on to tertiary study, seek employment or return to work in their communities.

Study time is a valuable, essential part of any boarding school. It is a quiet time in which all students do homework, assignments and essential reading. At St Teresa’s College, a great emphasis is placed on study which is supervised.

G R O W I N G G O O D M E NSt Teresa’s College is a small Catholic Secondary Boy’s College. This allows all boys to become known to staff individually. The pastoral effect of this is highly beneficial and gives rise to the distinctive Gowrie family spirit. It also boasts a rich blend of cultures with students from around Australia and abroad.

We hope that our boys leave St Teresa’s determined to be good men. St Teresa lived with an enthusiasm for life, seeking perfection in her relationships and in all she did, she is their example.

Edmund Rice also lived by giving all to his family and serving the youth of Ireland. We also hope that our boys become strengthened by a determination to be good students, good friends, good fathers, partners, and good members of their communities.

S T T E R E S A ’ S C O L L E G E A B E R G O W R I E | P R O S P E C T U S www.abergowrie.catholic.edu.au

6 7

PA S TO R A L C A R E

St Teresa’s College – Abergowrie has a strong pastoral care program based on the development of a Christian environment for students and to enable students to live with the residential community and to realise their potential in the academic life of the college. Each week prayers and reflections are held in the chapel before the start of classes. The College community also attends Mass once a week in the chapel.

Spiritual retreats are held each year and are regarded as very important, giving boys the time to reflect on their relationships with themselves, their neighbour and their God.

Through the vertical College House system, each boy belongs to one of four ‘Houses’. These are named after significant people in the College’s history. This system allows boys of all year levels interact with one another, thus learning important social skills. In addition, leadership and cooperation are fostered through the Houses.

As a College of many cultures, the College behavioural expectations are based upon peace and goodwill to all. The rules are designed to help us live and work together.

For this reason the College fosters values, such as: showing courtesy and respect to parents, all members of staff and the public. Values such as: honesty, acceptance of rules, hard work, taking responsibility for actions and displaying strength of character in adversity are also encouraged.

B O A R D I N G AT A B E R G O W R I E

For over eighty years the College has played a significant role in the development of the young men who have attended St Teresa’s. We operate on the premise that students are first and foremost, their parents’ sons and that family is paramount. Consequently we are conscious that we are entrusted, not only with educational expectations, but with the care and welfare of the whole person.

This translates into a care system which both challenges and supports the young person so that he comes to realise his personal worth and dignity and the dignity of others.

S T T E R E S A ’ S C O L L E G E A B E R G O W R I E | P R O S P E C T U S www.abergowrie.catholic.edu.au

8 9

T H E O U T D O O R L I F E

Outside of school hours activities are largely based on outdoor recreation allowing students to take full advantage of the wonderful environment surrounding them, therefore, camping is an integral part of life at St Teresa’s College. The College has its own tents, packs and basic camping gear. All students get the opportunity to go camping overnight during term time. The College has access to a private 700 hectare cattle property for abseiling and camping. Boys are taken bushwalking, swimming and fishing in the local area under supervision.

S P O RT

St Teresa’s College, Abergowrie as part of the Herbert River district, compete regularly against Gilroy Santa Maria College and Ingham State High School. Trophies are contested for are in: Swimming, Athletics, Rugby League, Soccer, Tennis, Touch Football, Volleyball, Basketball and Cross-Country. Social games are also held in Townsville and Cairns. These are usually played on the weekend.

Abergowrie also competes annually in a variety of sporting carnivals for both AFL and Rugby League (including the Confraternity Shield) and participates in the Townsville Junior Rugby League competition.

All students have the opportunity of selection in Herbert River teams, North Queensland and Queensland teams, in their preferred sport. The College possesses a wide range of sporting facilities including a swimming pool, tennis courts, football and soccer fields, cricket fields as well as a state of the art multipurpose hall and gym.

S T T E R E S A ’ S C O L L E G E A B E R G O W R I E | P R O S P E C T U S www.abergowrie.catholic.edu.au

10 11

C U LT U R A L P R O G R A M S

The College has an extensive Cultural program for students who are willing to challenge themselves and in doing so, develop new skills.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dancers perform for schools, community and at a variety of impressive venues locally, regionally and interstate.

In recent years, the College has achieved recognition for outstanding achievements in the arts, including Constitutional Convention, Youth Parliament, Lion’s Youth of the Year and via the Gowrie Boys Youtube clips.

G O W R I E B OY S

The College has an inbuilt respect and commitment to the development of culture. We understand that many of our students come to us very strong in culture and we make every effort to honour and respect this. The “Gowrie Boys” project is one way the students share and promote their culture, using modern technology.

http://www.youtube.com/user/AbergowrieCollege

S T T E R E S A ’ S C O L L E G E A B E R G O W R I E | P R O S P E C T U S

12

3819 Abergowrie Road, Ingham QLD 4850 | PMB 61. MS 102, Ingham Qld 4850

P 07 4780 8300 | F 07 4777 4721 | E admin@abergowrie.catholic.edu.au | www.abergowrie.catholic.edu.au

Find us on Facebook and Twitter .