Think back to 1986. Nazareth College began. It rose from the collaboration of four parish primary schools. These were St Elizabeth’s, St Gerard’s, St Justin’s and St Simon’s. There was a need for a local Catholic college. Nazareth College was formed to serve these parishes. Most students here graduated from those schools.
Nazareth College is now an independent Roman Catholic school. It is co-educational. The secondary day school sits in Noble Park North. This is a suburb southeast of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Today the college serves about 800 students. These students are in Years 7 through 12.
Nazareth College has a Middle School and a Senior School. Middle School includes Years 7 to 9. Senior School covers Years 10 to 12. Middle School students study core subjects. These include English, Science, Maths, Arts, Technology and a language. In Year 9, students choose subjects. They can study Italian or Japanese. They can also choose other subjects. Senior School focuses on VCE or VCAL completion. VCE is academic. VCAL is trade-oriented.
Nazareth College students don’t take the International Baccalaureate. Instead, senior students study for the Victorian Certificate of Education. This is achieved after Year 12. Gifted students can accelerate their studies. They can take a Year 11 subject in Year 10. Monash University offers a bursary. The top Year 11 student receives it. It helps pay for Year 12 studies.
The college has several houses. Each house has a color, motto, charity, and patron. The houses are Chisholm, Knox, MacKillop, McAuley, Mannix and McCormack. Chisholm is gold and supports the Caroline Chisholm Society. Knox is purple and supports the Melbourne Overseas Mission. MacKillop is red and supports the Mary MacKillop Foundation. McAuley is blue and supports the St Vincent de Paul Society. Mannix is green. It supports the Melbourne Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office. McCormack is white and supports PLAN.
Nazareth College fosters student leadership. Students can become Class Captains or SRC members. This is for Years 7 to 11. They can become House Captains in Years 8, 10 and 12. Year 9 students can become Middle School Captains. Year 12 students have many leadership roles. These include Student Representative Council. There are also House Captain, Arts Captain and College Captain positions.
Nazareth College has an international student program. It attracts students from China, Japan and Vietnam. The school hosts students from overseas. It has been running its International Education Program for over 25 years. The College also offers an exceptional Bridging English course. This is for students for whom English is not the first language.
The Nazareth College crest symbolizes unity. It has three motifs. The Cross represents faith. It is a Jerusalem cross. The Book symbolizes knowledge and wisdom. The Path symbolizes life’s journey. The college colors are red, blue, white and gold. Blue means truth. Red means love. White means purity. Gold means wisdom.
Nazareth College is a vibrant learning center. It offers accelerated learning and applied learning courses. It has sports, social, academic and musical activities. The College has introduced Soccer and Basketball Schools of Excellence. Nazareth College nurtures a culture of Faith, Wisdom and Knowledge. Young people gain the skills to contribute to their communities.