College Prospectus

PROSPECTUS LIFE AT SAINTS

ST AUGUSTINE’S COLLEGE CAIRNS

Principal’s Welcome

Welcome to the St Augustine’s College (Saints) prospectus. Our Catholic college has been specialising in boys education since 1930 and is part of the worldwide network of Marist schools. We also offer boarding for boys and girls.

As part of the global Marist school network, we follow the educational philosophy of our founder, St Marcellin Champagnat. Our core values are presence, family spirit, simplicity, love of work and in the way of Mary.

Our dedicated staff provide a relevant and engaging curriculum, fostering academic and life skills. We prioritise the holistic development of our students, by nurturing their intellectual, physical, emotional, social and spiritual dimensions.

We offer a wide range of co-curricular activities, including sport, music, the arts, debating and chess, and are known for our outstanding academic, cultural and sporting achievements.

Our goal is to ensure our students achieve St Marcellin’s vision of becoming good Christians and good citizens with strong minds and gentle hearts.

Alongside our day school, we offer co-educational boarding for students in Years 7 to 12, with girls educated at St Monica’s College. The boarding program provides modern accommodation, study support and organised recreation.

Thank you for taking the time to read our prospectus. I invite you to email sac.enrol@cns.catholic.edu.au or call us on 07 4052 9111 so we can show you over our college and what it is to be part of the lifeaffirming St Augustine’s community.

Glen Seivers

About Us

A Firm Foundation

St Augustine’s College is a Catholic boys secondary school in the Marist tradition. It was established by the Marist Brothers in 1930 and holds the honour of being the oldest Marist school in Queensland. The College offers full-time and weekly boarding for boys, and for girls who are students of St Monica’s College.

Known locally as Saints, the College is renowned for outstanding academic, cultural and sporting achievements, with links to local, rural and international communities.

Building Blocks for Life

Our expertise is founded upon over 90 years’ experience in the education of boys. We offer an innovative curriculum delivered by expert teaching staff, many co-curricular activities, pastoral care and services opportunities.

Each student is involved in an engaging program to challenge his intellect, help him to gain knowledge and develop the skills essential for success. Our students’ education goes well beyond academics; they learn to become comfortable within themselves, discover their strengths and how to work as independent, confident and articulate individuals.

Every child is supported within the Saints family, which offers him boundless opportunities to become a well-rounded young man.

Our Pastoral Care

We believe that best-practice pastoral care supports each student’s wellbeing.

Good pastoral care fosters a sense of belonging and connectedness, within a safe environment. St Augustine’s size ensures teachers know all students well, developing their strengths with positive outcomes.

Each year level has a Head of Year who is guided by the Marist commitment to developing good Christians and good citizens.

Effective pastoral care relies on a strong home-school partnership. Homeroom teachers are the primary point of contact, promoting clear communication and supporting student progress.

Homeroom teachers foster genuine relationships with students, creating a safe and connected class atmosphere. Students care for one another while embracing Marist values. The pastoral care team and classroom teachers provide additional support, enhancing our student-centred approach.

We educate by being present and showing personal care for our young men. We make time for each student, establishing relationships based on love of learning and personal development.

Our Spiritual Life

Saints is a vibrant, contemporary school which has at its core the mission to live out the vision of St Marcellin Champagnat encapsulated in the following characteristics:

SIMPLICITY IN THE WAY OF MARY

FAMILY SPIRIT PRESENCE LOVE OF WORK

The Marist charism and its values underpin all that we do here. In Religious Education, boys have the freedom and support to explore their own spirituality and to come up with their own answers through questioning, debating, research and inquiry.

Nurturing the Whole Person

St Augustine’s is small enough to ensure a safe and friendly environment where each boy is known, valued and nurtured. Yet we are large enough to provide depth across the curriculum and co-curricular programs. Pastoral care is paramount, and we develop a close partnership with students and their parents or carers.

Service at Saints

The College creates a Catholic Christian environment through words and actions. We prioritise holistic development, embodying the Gospel’s spirit and the Church’s values. Following St Marcellin’s example, students and staff take part in Masses and liturgies, and community service within and beyond the school. We encourage our men of Saints to live with compassion, courage and a strong sense of social justice with a determination to benefit society.

Our Curriculum

Years 7 & 8

The Years 7 and 8 curriculum aligns with the spirit of St Marcellin Champagnat, addressing contemporary needs. Our focus is equipping students with skills to navigate a changing world. Subjects cater for boys transitioning from primary school, emphasising health, wellbeing, and relationship management. Following the National Curriculum, our approach engages students and supports their transition to secondary school. We offer diverse elective choices through specialist teachers. Year 7 involves six-week rotational subjects, while Year 8 students explore arts and design technologies for a semester each, fostering skill development and exploration.

Years 9 & 10

Years 9 and 10 emphasise student experiences guided by the National Curriculum and the Marist tradition. These years promote consolidation, growth, independence and decision-making preparation. Year 10 specifically focuses on developing skills for senior schooling and post-secondary pathways.

Years 11 & 12

In Years 11 and 12, students can explore new subjects and select electives across various disciplines. They are encouraged to make informed decisions about their learning pathways, nurturing their interests and skills. These final years focus on the development of flexibility, character strength, mentorship, and personal integrity. The senior school program supports students in preparing for life beyond the school gate. Their individual goals may involve tertiary study, completing apprenticeships or entering the workforce. We are here to help bring those goals to fruition.

The Arts & Technologies

Music

The ensemble program has a strong presence within the College. All students are encouraged to be involved in a variety of musical activities across many styles and genres. Our ensembles have successfully participated in numerous performances, national tours, camps and competitions as well as playing a vital role in our cultural and liturgical life.

The co-curricular program runs alongside our curricular and extracurricular music programs, involving students from Years 7 to 12. Old Boys have gone on to perform, record, compose and DJ professionally, nationally and internationally. There have also been Queensland Music Award nominees and winners as well as the Australian Society for Music Education (ASME) Young Composer of the Year Award winners. Saints co-curricular music program includes the following options:

COMBINED SAINTS COLLEGES WIND ENSEMBLE & CONCERT BAND

COMBINED SAINTS COLLEGES STRING ORCHESTRA

SAINTS CHOIR SAINTS BIG BAND

Drama

SAINTS PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE

We offers students the chance to be involved in various kinds of theatre productions. With different genres covered, there is something for everyone: acting, directing, script writing and backstage technical theatre experiences.

THEATRE PRODUCTIONS SAINTS YOUTH THEATRE MUSICALS

Visual Art

Visual Art is deeply embedded in the life of the College and is an intrinsic part of the curriculum. It allows the boys to learn through engagement with a wide range of media, design practices, concepts and theories. This hands-on learning fosters imaginative exploration, art creation and critical analysis in our visual art studios. Alongside developing and enhancing artistic talent, students cultivate critical and creative thinking skills. Progressing through each curriculum stage, students explore various art forms:

CERAMICS

PRINTMAKING

PAINTING

PHOTOGRAPHY

DIGITAL MEDIA

DRAWING

Film, Television and New Media

Students work collaboratively and on their own to use fundamental ideas in film, television and new media to create videos and other visual content. Through this, they come to appreciate the various ways videos can be used in different situations. They also learn important abilities such as thinking creatively, communicating effectively, cooperating with others, planning well, analysing thoughtfully and using digital tools responsibly.

Design and Technologies

We empower students to become more confident users and consumers of technologies and to be discerning and creative problem solvers, equipped for an increasingly knowledge-based economy and society. In Food Technology, students prepare tasty and healthy meals and gain an understanding of the hospitality industry. In the senior years they can complete a certificate course in kitchen operations.

DIGITAL DESIGN FOOD

Our Boarding Program

Saints boarders, boys and girls, come from near and far: from the suburbs of Cairns, to the remote areas of Queensland, from interstate and overseas.

Boarders have been the heart and soul of the College since 1930. While boarding residences will never be the same as home, they have a strong family spirit with a sense of fun and purpose.

A common theme is the desire to create an environment that gives students a greater chance of academic success than they would otherwise have at home. This might be because of distance or remoteness, but there are other factors, too. Parents or carers and students often choose boarding because of structured study time, free from the possible interruptions and distractions they may have at home. Others opt for boarding because of family reasons, or simply because they are attracted to it as a style of education.

A Holistic Experience

> While boys and girls live in separate residences, everyone dines together and takes part in organised recreation. The girls and boys follow the same evening and weekend schedule.

> They are involved in service programs within the local community.

> Boarders enjoy after-hours access to school facilities such as the music centre, aquatic centre, weight room, basketball courts, volleyball courts and playing fields.

> They take part in a busy social program which includes trips to the beach, sporting events, theatre and movies; camping, skating and more.

Why Choose Boarding?

The decision to send your children to boarding school can be difficult. For parents or carers who are struggling to decide, here are some valid reasons to consider making St Augustine’s your children’s second home:

> Brothers and sisters will stay in the same place and mingle during boarding hours, while receiving a city-based, single-gender education.

> They will be challenged to move out of their comfort zone.

> They will have a support network of dedicated staff.

> They will have access to year-round sport and co-curricular opportunities.

> They will be surrounded by others with the drive to succeed.

> They will flourish in the structure and routine of boarding.

> They will enhance their time management and study skills.

> They will cultivate lifelong friends and a professional network.

> They will experience new things.

> They will develop their leadership and communication skills.

> They will gain a greater sense of independence.

Sport

Sport is synonymous with Saints, encouraging boys to discover personal strength borne of competition and camaraderie. The College is committed to the ongoing development of all kinds of sport and is keen to see participants of varying abilities improving their skills, fitness and team spirit.

Our teams compete each week in interschool competitions. Students not involved in representative sport are offered a wide variety of recreational activities such as ten-pin bowling, squash, table tennis and laser tag.

We also offer unparalleled opportunities for students to play many sports in high-level regional, state and national competitions, fostering a culture of excellence and sportsmanship.

ATHLETICS

AFL

CRICKET

FOOTBALL

MOUNTAIN BIKING

RUGBY UNION

TENNIS

BASKETBALL CHESS

CROSSCOUNTRY

FUTSAL

NETBALL

SURF LIFE SAVING

TOUCH FOOTBALL

CYCLING

HOCKEY

RUGBY LEAGUE

SWIMMING

VOLLEYBALL

Strengths of our Sporting Program

> Involvement in high-level regional, state and national competitions.

> Maximum student choice at each year level leading to enthusiastic participation.

> Development of student conceptual skills, decision-making, tactics and cooperation.

> Use of specialist coaching and links with community and professional sporting organisations.

> An emphasis on sportsmanship – fair play and respect for rules, authority, teammates and opponents.

> A strong emphasis on team spirit.

> Annual interschool sporting competitions for all year levels.

> Support of students who excel in a sport not offered by the College.

Sporting Excellence

The College is focused on developing its sporting programs, employing highly experienced coaches and building strong links with local sporting clubs. Our students are encouraged to pursue their interests and passions in independent sports associations and competitions. Several students are developing skills as top-line referees and officials.

Interhouse Sporting Competitions

A great college tradition is our interhouse sporting competitions. These events develop team spirit and allow house captains to be involved in team organisation and leadership. They also increase the opportunities for students to compete in sport.

Interested in enrolling your son?

We welcome applications for domestic and international students in Years 7 to 12, with boarding available for all year levels. Parents or carers who wish to enrol their sons, or sons and *daughters in our residences, are expected to fully support the Marist mission and values of our college. While many of our students are Catholics, we value diversity and embrace all faith traditions.

attach supporting documents

STEP 1

Apply online now! Provide requested supporting documents, complete the additional forms and pay the non-refundable application fee.

Please note: All items must be submitted and payment made for the application to be considered complete.

Attend interview

We strongly encourage families to submit their son’s Year 7 application prior to mid-February in the year before anticipated commencement. Enquiries and applications for other year levels are welcome at any time. However, the offer of an interview and possible enrolment will depend on whether there are vacancies.

*Please note: All boarding applications for girls will only be considered in conjunction with a successful and/or continued enrolment at St Monica’s College Cairns.

Offered a place

STEP 2

Applicants may be invited to attend an interview with a member of our leadership team. Prospective boarding students will be interviewed by the Director of Boarding.

Interviews form an integral part of the application process, but do not guarantee a place at the College.

STEP 3

Enrolment offers are emailed. Once you have completed the Confirmation of Enrolment forms and paid the acceptance fee (and boarding bond, where applicable), you will officially be a member of the Saints community.