| Avila College | |
|---|---|
 | |
| , Australia | |
| Information | |
| Type | Independent,single-sex,day school |
| Motto | Latin:Ecclesiae Filia (Daughters of the Church) |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Established | 1965 |
| Principal | Dr Michelle Cotter |
| Employees | 170 |
| Years | 7–12 |
| Enrolment | 1400 (2017) |
| Colours | Cyan, Lime |
| Website | www.avilacollege.vic.edu.au |
Avila College is aRoman Catholic day school for girls which is located in theMelbourne suburb ofMount Waverley. The school was established in 1965 by thePresentation Sisters who accepted an invitation from the parishes in the Waverley area to establish a Catholic Girls' College.[1] The school identifiesSaint Teresa of Avila as its patron saint, from whom the Latin motto 'Filiae Ecclesiae' (Daughters of the Church) is derived.
Avila College commenced in 1965 in temporary classrooms on the grounds of St Leonard's Catholic Primary School,Glen Waverley.[2] The college was established by the parishes ofMount Waverley, Glen Waverley,Syndal,Mulgrave and Jordanville who invited the Presentation Sisters to administer a Catholic college to provide for families in the area.
From an initial enrollment of 110 girls in Forms 1 and 2 – or years 7 and 8 – the college has grown to become one of the larger Catholic secondary schools for girls in the state with an enrollment of about 1100 students, and 150 staff.
Avila moved to its current location in Charles Street, Mount Waverley, in 1966.[2]
Sister Patricia Carroll was the founding principal of the college.
The list of principals is as follows.
The college offers extra-curricular programs which includes a heritage group, extended mathematics,social justice, reconciliation and conservation groups, music ensembles such as an orchestra and ensembles, eg. flute ensemble, a book club, public speaking and debating, and immersion trips to Central Australia and overseas. The school also has a brother school,Mazenod College, with which they collaborate on events, such as SMASH collaborations and orchestra workshops.
The house system at Avila comprises four coloured houses Nagle (blue), Chisholm (green), Flynn (gold) and Mackillop (red) for all of which the names are derived from the surnames of inspirational women relevant to the history of the Catholic Church and education. Each student is allocated a house colour at the beginning of their schooling at Avila (and typically are placed in a house accordance with whether they have an elder sister already attending the school or are assigned the same house as their mother if she attended Avila) for which they're a member of throughout their time at Avila.
Named afterNano Nagle, founder of the Presentation Sisters order and commonly known as "the Lady of the Lantern". Nano Nagle is known for her work setting up schools in Ireland and supporting needy families in defiance of the Penal laws.
Named afterCaroline Chisholm, a philanthropist and humanitarian who worked to support new settlers in finding jobs and housing.
Named after Julia Flynn, a local Melbourne educator and mathematician who supported women's education and became the first female Chief Inspector of Schools.
Named afterMary Mackillop, the first Australian saint and an educator who established schools and institutions in order to educate the poor.
37°52′29″S145°08′00″E / 37.8747°S 145.1333°E /-37.8747; 145.1333
