St Leo's Catholic College

{{more citations needed|date=February 2010|Music=St Leo's Catholic College performs exceptionally in Music and has a variety of ensembles, such as Choirs, Band Ensembles and Dance Ensembles. The college an annual school musical and the 2019 one was "Happy Days".}}

{{Infobox school

| name = St Leo's Catholic College

| logo =

| image = (1)St_Leos_Catholic_College_Wahroonga.jpg

| image_size = 250px

| caption =

| motto = {{langx|la|Lex Dei In Corde}}

| motto_translation = God's Law In The Heart

| established = {{start date and age|1956}}

| founder = Congregation of Christian Brothers

| type = Independent systemic secondary day school

| educational_authority = New South Wales Department of Education

| religion = Catholicism

| denomination = Congregation of Christian Brothers (1956–1983)

| patron = Leo the Great

| principal = Anthony Gleeson

| location = 16 Woolcott Avenue

| city = Wahroonga, Upper North Shore,
Sydney

| state = New South Wales

| country = Australia

| coordinates = {{Coord|-33.715535|151.105356|display=inline,title|format=dms|region:AU-NSW_type:edu}}

| campus_type = Suburban

| oversight = Diocese of Broken Bay

| gender = {{ubl|Boys (1955–1982)|Co-educational (since 1983)}}

| enrolment = 800

| enrolment_as_of = 2019

| years = 7–12

| colours = Purple and gold {{color box|purple}}{{color box|Gold}}

| homepage = {{URL|www.stleos.nsw.edu.au}}

| affiliations =

}}

St Leo's Catholic College is a Catholic systemic secondary day school for boys and girls, located in the Upper North Shore suburb of Wahroonga in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Situated in the Diocese of Broken Bay, the high school currently has approximately 1000 students from Year 7 to Year 12.

The school's patron saint is Leo the Great, one of the early Popes of the Catholic Church.

History

The college was founded by the Congregation of Christian Brothers on 25 April 1955 for the education of boys of Sydney's 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.{{Cite web|title=Our College – History|url=https://stleos.nsw.edu.au/history/|access-date=2020-07-20|website=St Leo's Catholic College|language=en-US}}

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.

In the 1982, 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 a $25 million building works program that included 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 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.

In 2020, the College introduced new academic and sports uniforms for both junior and senior students, with a three-year transition period for the new uniform.{{Cite web|title=Future Students – Uniform Information|url=https://stleos.nsw.edu.au/uniform-information/|access-date=2020-07-20|website=St Leo's Catholic College|language=en-US}}

Campus and facilities

St Leo's is located on {{convert|6|ha|acre|0|spell=on}} in the Upper North Shore suburb of Wahroonga and, in 2020, completed a $25 million building upgrade. Facilities include:{{Cite web|title=Our College – Facilities|url=https://stleos.nsw.edu.au/facilities/|access-date=2020-07-20|website=St Leo's Catholic College|language=en-US}}

the new Mary MacKillop Centre for Creative and Performing Arts, Design, Technology and Hospitality, which includes a theatre, art facilities, kitchens, woodworking shops, and large meeting 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
a Chapel
two full-sized sports ovals and three outdoor basketball courts
two large shaded outdoor recreational areas
an Aquinas Resource Centre (LIBRARY) including a library, study hubs, open learning areas, student cafe, and outdoor meeting area
a canteen.

House system

Each student is allocated to one of the eight College houses. Each house has a brother and or sister house which combine for certain occasions. The houses have been named in honour of Saints and other influential faith leaders:{{Cite web|title=Discover St Leo's – House System|url=https://stleos.nsw.edu.au/pastoral-care/discover-st-leos-pastoral-care-and-well-being-house-system/|access-date=2020-07-20|website=St Leo's Catholic College|language=en-US}}