The College was originally founded on 24 April, 1955 for the education of boys of the Upper North Shore. The first classes commenced in 1956, with 118 students in Years 3 to 6. By 1983, the Brothers were no longer able to staff the College and so its administration was passed to the Catholic Education Office, Sydney. Upon the departure of the Christian Brothers, the first lay Headmaster was appointed. Co-education The College became co-educational, with the first girls enrolling in Year 11 in 1983 and Year 7 in 1984. By 1987, the College had fully completed the integration of co-education. When the newly created Diocese of Broken Bay was formed, the College came under the jurisdiction of the Catholic Schools Office, Broken Bay. Building Works In the 1980s, the College undertook an extensive building program including a multi-purpose hall and art and hospitality facilities. In 2002, a new Technology Centre was constructed. The multi-purpose Light of Christ Centre was opened in 2012. By the start of 2020, the College completed an extensive $25 million building works program including the new Mary MacKillop Centre for Creative and Performing Arts, Technology and Hospitality which includes a dance and drama theatre, commercial kitchens, TAS workshops, art gallery, visual art studios, specialty music, orchestra, and band rooms as well as other flexible learning spaces. Other recently completed upgrades include renovation of the College Chapel, Aquinas Resource Centre including library and cafe, a new College entrance and additional outdoor recreation spaces. Uniform In 2020, the College introduced new academic and sports uniforms for both junior and senior students. The College has set a three year transition period for the new uniform.
Principals
The following individuals served as Principals of St Leo's Catholic College:
St Leo’s is located on six hectares in the Upper North Shore suburb of Wahroonga and has just completed an extensive $25m building upgrade. Facilities include:
the new Mary MacKillop Centre for Creative and Performing Arts, Design, Technology and Hospitality, including: – a drama and dance theatre with retractable seating – art gallery and visual art studios – specialty music, rehearsal rooms and individual instrumental tuition rooms – two fully-equipped commercial-grade kitchens – two TAS workshops for woodwork – several large meeting gallery spaces
The Light of Christ Centre – a multipurpose complex for over 1000 people used for indoor sports, assemblies and a range of College functions and events
our Aquinas Resource Centre including fully-equipped library with extensive digital and online resources, study hubs, open learning areas, student cafe and alfresco meeting area
Each student is allocated to one of the eight College houses. These houses have been named in honour of Saints and venerable women and men who have transformed the world through faith-filled action:
