St Francis de Sales College


St Francis de Sales College is a Reception to Year 12 Catholic co-educational school located in Mount Barker, South Australia.

History

Founded in 1902 by the Sisters Of Mercy under the name of St. Scholastica as convent and day school. In 1959 the school expanded into a new building separate from the convent, The Dell. The sisters Of Mercy withdrew from teaching in Mount Barker in 1977, but the primary school continued to expand. The Mount Barker Parish School changed its name in 1986 to St Francis De Sales School. In 1997 a successful application was made for the primary school to expand into an R-12 College.; it opened in 1999 with 212 students. The first year 12s graduated in 2004.
The Ralston Building was built, and portable classrooms added. St Francis De Sales College educates students from all over the Adelaide Hills, including from Birdwood, Stirling, Meadows, Strathalbyn, Lobethal, Nairne, Callington, Monarto and Littlehampton; students also Murray Bridge and other towns in the Murraylands area.

Redevelopment

In August 2017, plans for a $27 Million redevelopment of the college were approved by Catholic Education South Australia. These developments, while primarily funded by the college, were contributed to by the State Government and the Mount Barker District Council. The build would consist of a Community Sports Centre, a new Reception to Year 6 Primary School and an Early Learning Centre.
In 2018, the $10.2 million Community Sports Center was opened by Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing, Corey Wingard, Mayor of Mount Barker, Ann Ferguson and Director of Catholic Education South Australia, Dr Neil McGoran.
In 2020, the second stage of development commenced; the new Junior School and Early Learning Centre set to be completed in late 2020.

House system

The college's original houses were Sturt, Flinders and Barker ; after the number of students increased, in 2007 four new houses were adopted. Savoy, Geneva, Padua and Lyon. These houses are named after important places in the life of the college's patron saint Francis de Sales: where he was born, studied, was a bishop and where he died.

Alumni