Aquinas College
Anzac Road
Menai NSW 2234
Phone: (02) 9543 0188
Fax: (02) 9541 0398
About Aquinas
Full Name: Aquinas College Menai
Location: Menai
School Motto:"Enlivened By The Spirit"
Brief History:
- The school opened in 1993 with only 7 teachers and 47 students!
- The Design and Technology building opened in 1994 and the inaugural Envirowalk took place
- The oval opened in 1995
- The Library opened in 1996 and was blessed along with the Technology and Science blocks
- in 1997 local bushfires meant some students and teachers had to stay until four thirty and then were evacuated to Bangor Primary and stayed 'till After Eight!
- In 1998 The first Year 12 Grade graduated!
- In 1999 Miss Donovan joined as the college principal but a Year 10 student called Leanne sadly passed away. A garden was dedicated to her
- In 2000 the Creative and Performing Arts block opened and Aquinas participated in Jubilee 2000
- In 2001 Aquinas became the second largest Catholic school in the Sutherland shire!
- In 2002 Three students represented the school at the international gathering of young Catholics in Toronto, Canada called World Youth Day
- In 2003 on the 29th of May Archbishop George Pell visited Aquinas
- In 2004 The Construction of the John Paul 2 hall began and was finished 2 years later
- In 2005 One student represented the school at the international gathering of young Catholics in Cologne, Germany called World Youth Day.
- 2 years later A large number of Aquinas staff and students attended the welcoming of the World Youth Day Cross and Icon at Darling Harbour on July 1st.
- In 2008 280 Aquinas staff and students were registered pilgrims for World Youth Day Sydney 08! Sadly Mrs Falconer, an art teacher, passed away – an artwork was made in her memory, outside the Art rooms.
- In 2009 Construction of the oval seating began
- In 2010 The Para Pavilion was opened and blessed
- In 2011 Mister Corcoran joined as the new college principal!
Thomas Aquinas was born in 1225- Saint Thomas Aquinas' Family Castle was in the northern part of the kingdom of Sicily and his father and brothers were either soldiers or civil officials for Frederick II
- In 1231 his parents gave him a Benedictine Abbey hoping that he would choose that lifestyle
- At the monastery his school years taught him about grammar and religious life. He couldn't master calligraphy so was known for his "Bad Writing"
- When Thomas was 14, he was sent to a Benedictine house until 1244. However, during this time he was introduced to the Aristotelian way of life
- In that same year, Thomas separated from the Benedictine way of life and turned to the Dominican lifestyle. In April, he even became a Dominican Friar!
- His mother was not happy at all about his choice, so much that she sent his brother to "capture" him and force him back to the family castle
- In June 1245, his mother accepted that Thomas wouldn't become a Benedictine abbot and let him return to the Dominican Friars
- By 1252, Thomas was ordained a priest and his teacher recommended him as a candidate for the doctorate in Paris
- Pope Alexander ordered Thomas to receive a license to teach even though he was very young. In 1257 the university granted him the honour of teaching in the name of God.
- Two years later he was called to Rome to write in the Papal Court and to teach lecture. It was from 1259-1273 when his most remarkable work (The Summa Theologica) was written. This contained information about the Scriptures, the Sacraments, Creation and Catholic creedal beliefs e.g. the Incarnation
- In 1274 Thomas sadly passed away
- He was canonized by Pope John XXII on 18 July, 1323.
Key People in The School Community:
1. Mr. Corcoran: Aquinas School Principal, after Jane Donovan and Peter Turner
2. Mr. Roberts: Year 7 Co-ordinator
3. BJ & Brooke: 2011 Aquinas School Captains
4. Mr. Gough: Assistant/Vice-Principal
Rules & Expectations of Students:
Our Schools House Patrons:
Nano Nagle:
- Nano Nagle was born in 1718 in Ireland and was the founder of the Presentation Sisters. Nano was learned in Paris but came back after the passing of both her parents and Sister Ann. Nano went back to Paris and entered a convent. Some women Nano worked with started the Presentation Sisters 21 years after Nano's death. She was known to be the first woman to set up a religous group for poor people in Ireland. Nano sadly passed away from tuberculosis at 65.
Edmund Rice:
Edmund Rice was born in Ireland and moved to Waterford where he was apprenticed by his uncle. Edmund eventually succeded his uncle and became a wealthy business man. He married in 1785 and had a daughter but his wife died 4 years later. Seeing the lack of Christian education in Waterford Edmund started his work and developed the Christian Brothers and the Presentation Brothers in 1802. Edmund led the Brothers for numerous years before passing away in Waterford, 1844
Mary Mackillop:
Mary was born in 1842 and was the eldest of eight children. Mary wanted to help the poor, and met Fr Julian Tenison Woods who was concerned about the shortage of Catholic Education in SA. In 1866 Mary opened a school out of renovated stables. In 1867 Mary became the first sister and Mother Superior of the Sisters of St. Joseph. Mary passed away in 1909 and stands as a great example of courage and trust.
St. John De La Salle:
St John De La Salle was born in 1651 to a wealthy with beliefs that young people were important. In 1680 John invited young men to join him in devoting themselves to teaching young Christian people. In 1719, on his death, there werer 100 Brothers in France. He was canonized in 1900 and became the Universal Patron Saint of Teachers in 1950.
