St Ursula’s College is a Catholic Residential and Day School for girls in Years 8-12. It was originally established in 1931 in an historic homestead called Kerrielaw built in the 1890’s. The College is administered by the Ursuline Sisters, who were founded by St. Angela Merici in Northern Italy in 1535. The College is set in extensive grounds with many extensions made since over the years.
As an expression of St Ursula’s philosophy and vision, Pastoral Care is an extremely important and valued aspect of life at the College. It allows for the integration of the academic, social and spiritual dimensions of the College. A Pastoral Care Team ensures the overall care and welfare of the girls in the day school at all times. The Pastoral Care Team in the residential community consists of the Boarding Supervisors, the College Nurse, the School Counsellor and the Assistant Principal-Boarding.
Through effective teaching, learning and residential care, we aim to empower young women for participation and leadership in all facets of today’s and tomorrow’s world and to develop a personal faith and spirituality.
Our challenge is to model relationships based on mutual respect, care for the individual, interdependence and collaboration through service so that our students, growing in wisdom, justice and truth, will be enabled to contribute responsibly to their own transformation and that of society.
As a residential community, we aim to provide a stable home-like environment, where each girl feels welcome and at ease, where each one can find her special place and a sense of belonging. We aim to challenge growth towards responsible, mature womanhood, in the context of community and the human relationships encountered there
LOCATION
St Ursula’s College is located in the inner city precinct of Toowoomba; short 7 minute walk from the city centre.
Toowoomba is a thriving city of more than 90,000 people and is well known as a University City, its exciting history as well as its parks, gardens and scenic views. It is strategically located at the junction of major highways from Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Darwin and is just 90 minutes drive from the state's capital, Brisbane. Toowoomba is Queensland's Garden City, with more than 150 public parks and gardens.
Toowoomba's climate is characterised by a dry winter and wet summer with four distinct seasons. Much less humidity is experienced in Toowoomba when compared with its coastal neighbours.
DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERISITICS
St Ursula’s College is a member of the Australian Alliance of Girls’ Schools which promotes confidence and success in young women and encourages them to reach their potential. Girls in girls’ schools achieve significantly stronger academic results than any other group in Australia.
The College offers an exciting and challenging curriculum characterised by quality teaching and learning. It has adopted the pedagogical framework of the Dimensions of Learning to enable a whole school approach to teaching and learning at the College.
BOARDING AT ST URSULA'S
There are two boarding houses – BRESCIA AND GARDA. The houses are vertically grouped. The girls share their daily lives in an environment which resembles the combination of ages experienced in family situations. We endeavour to make life “homely” in the residential community, a place where the girls can feel comfortable and grow in an atmosphere of respect for themselves and for others.
The girls in residence have access to:
the Health Centre
exceptional dining facilities complete with a commercial kitchen and accompanying chefs
a Retail Shop which supplies all their school and personal requirements
excellent recreational facilities including a swimming pool, tennis courts, indoor sports/activities centre
use of study and computer rooms and the College Library
Weekly activities are prepared and organized by the Recreation Coordinator who also supports the residential Student Representative Committee. This committee is responsible for the six student groups that operate within each house.
There are two full-time live in Boarding Supervisors in each residence. Part-time staff assists from Thursday to Monday. A full-time Registered Nurse is available each day at the College Health Centre. She tends the daily medical needs of the girls and coordinates doctor’s visits, immunizations and all other health requirements. The full-time Recreation Coordinator is responsible for out of school activities
TERTIARY PATHWAYS
Entrance to all universities and TAFE Colleges with a unique pathway into the University of Southern Queensland….credit can be gained by completing certain programs whilst at school
School based traineeships also available
Additional subjects can be gained through Distance Education
The St Ursula’s Career and Transition programme includes some components which are fully integrated into the curriculum offering as well as a variety of additional features including:
Regular focussed forums and workshops for students in years 10, 11 and 12
Individualised Learning Pathways Plans which are continuously revised and updated
Tutorials for senior students who are responsive to need including input on time management, identification of career goal
COMPETITION PARTICIPATION
- National English, Mathematics, Science competitions
- Catholic Colleges Music Festival
- Debating and Public Speaking
- Visual Art Competition
- Mooting Competition
- Titration Competition
- Choral Eisteddfods
SPECIAL ACTIVITIES
The College has an afternoon of activities each week including sport, service and cultural options.
Service options are offered to encourage students to develop an appreciation of the value of supporting service organisations in the community.
Cultural activities include drama, music, dance, relaxation, Pilates, yoga, porcelain doll making, chess and Latin dancing
A range of clubs and service groups operate throughout the year and attract volunteers from all age groups. These include:
St Ursula’s Environmental Action Group
Liturgy Committee
Amnesty International
Interact
SCHOOL FACILITIES
Extensive classrooms which are well maintained and equipped to provide the best learning facilities
Five well equipped Science Laboratories
The College has a dedicated dance room with a sprung floor
The College is networked and has an optic fibre backbone which supports the computer system. There are four large computer rooms, two mini laboratories linked to classrooms and a computerised Graphics Department
The Resource Centre is the hub of the College and houses over 33,000 books, an extensive electronic and video collection and a fully computerised text and book hire distribution programme
A Media studio with an established darkroom, video editing suites, sound studios and a laboratory of Emac computers
The Salo Centre is a multi-purpose centre which houses the Drama, Music and Health and Physical Education Departments.
Home Economics rooms which include the latest technology for the production of food and clothing
Hospitality students utilise the College’s Commercial Kitchen facilities to obtain their industry experience for their studies
Four tennis courts available to students which are also marked for basketball and netball
25m outdoor swimming pool used for swimming training, water polo and recreation
SPORT
St Ursula ’s is involved in a strong inter-school competition as well as providing for recreational sports. There is a sport available to suit every student such as swimming, Water Polo, Equestrian, to name a few. |
