Emmanuel College, Melbourne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Emmanuel College |
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| Location | |
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Altona North and Point Cook
Melbourne
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Victoria
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3030
Australia
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| Coordinates | 37°49′56″S 144°50′30″E / 37.8321°S 144.8416°E |
| Information | |
| Former name | St. Paul's College |
| Type | Private comprehensive co-educational secondary day school |
| Motto | Life to the Full |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Marianists |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Established |
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| Principal | Janine Biggin |
| Years | 7–12 |
| Years taught | 7–12 |
| Gender | Co-educational (Notre Dame Campus) All boys (St. Paul's Campus) |
| Enrolment | 2,498 (as of 2024) |
| Colour(s) | Red and sky blue |
| Affiliation | Associated Catholic Colleges |
Emmanuel College is a private Catholic high school in Melbourne, Australia. It used to be called St. Paul's College. The school has two campuses: one in Altona North and another in Point Cook. It teaches both boys and girls from Year 7 to Year 12.
Contents
School History
How the School Started
The St. Paul's Campus first opened in 1965. It was called 'St. Paul's College' back then. The school was started by the American Marianists. They were asked by the Archbishop of Melbourne to create a Catholic high school for boys. The school's first colors were red, white, and blue. Its motto was Ecce Mater Tua, which means "Behold Thy Mother" in Latin.
In 2008, the school opened a second campus in Point Cook. This new campus was named Notre Dame.
Building the Campuses
St. Paul's Campus Buildings
In the early 1960s, local church leaders bought a large piece of land in Altona North. The parents of the first students helped build and landscape the school. The main building, called the "Jubilee Building," was finished in 1969. Other buildings were added later:
- The Chaminade Library was completed in 1971.
- The Art/Craft/Science Lab and senior classrooms (the "Winters Building") were finished in 1979.
- The administration offices and gymnasium were built in 1982.
The Jubilee Building was updated in 1998. In 2004, the library was made bigger, and two new computer labs were built. These were finished in 2005. More new buildings were added between 2009 and 2010. These included an expanded Technology Building, a new canteen, gym, changing rooms, and the McMahon Language Centre.
Notre Dame Campus Buildings
Building work for the Notre Dame Campus in Point Cook began in mid-2007. The campus opened in 2008, starting with only Year 7 students. More buildings were added as new year levels joined the school. The first group of Year 12 students graduated from the Notre Dame campus in 2013.
Becoming Emmanuel College
In 2006, plans began to change St. Paul's College into Emmanuel College. By 2008, the school fully became 'Emmanuel College'. It also opened its second campus, which teaches both boys and girls. The school got a new emblem and changed its motto to Life To The Full. This motto comes from the Gospel according to John, which says: "I have come that they may have life and have it to the full" (John 10:10).
School Leaders
Christopher Stock was the principal of the St. Paul's campus starting in 1997. When the school became Emmanuel College in 2008, he became the principal for both the St. Paul's and Notre Dame campuses. Mr. Stock retired in 2022 after being principal for 26 years. He was the longest-serving principal in the school's history.
Since 2023, Dr. Janine Biggin has been the principal. She is known for her dedication to Catholic education and school leadership.
House System
Emmanuel College has a house system with five houses. Students are placed into one of these houses:
- McCoy (Navy)
- Cassidy (Red)
- McCluskey (Yellow)
- Winters (Green)
- Chaminade (Sky blue)
These houses are named after Marianists who helped start the school. Father John Cassidy, from St Mary's Parish, also helped establish the college. Chaminade House is named after William Chaminade, who founded the Marianist order. Both campuses have homerooms with about 25–30 students from Years 7–12.
Before this, St. Paul's College had four houses named after famous athletes:
- Fraser (Red)
- Laver (Blue)
- Elliott (Yellow)
- Bradman (Green)
Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE)
Emmanuel College has offered the VCE program since 1990. The VCE is a certificate students get when they finish high school in Victoria. The school usually does well in VCE. In 2019, one student achieved a very high ATAR score of 99.15, which was the school's highest score at that time.
Sports
Emmanuel College is part of two sports groups: the Sports Association of Catholic Co-educational Secondary Schools (SACCSS) and the Associated Catholic Colleges (ACC).
ACC Championships
Emmanuel College has won several ACC championships:
- Golf – 2021
- Soccer (2) – 2010, 2014
- Senior Cricket – 2025
- Senior Tennis – 2025
Notable Alumni
- Jordan Bos, football player for K.V.C Westerlo
- Jason Duff, hockey player
- Daniel Giansiracusa, former AFL player
- Mick Martyn, former AFL player
- Trent McKenzie, Former AFL player for Gold Coast Suns and Port Adelaide
- James Podsiadly, former AFL player
- Antonio Sagona, archaeologist and University of Melbourne professor
- Bill Sheahan, cricket umpire
- Rohan Smith, former AFL player
- Mangok Mathiang (born 1992), Australian-Sudanese basketball player for Hapoel Eilat of the Israeli Basketball Premier League, former NBA player
See also
- Mount St. Joseph Girls' College
- List of schools in Victoria
- Education in Victoria
