The History of All Saints College – St Mary's Campus, Maitland.

In 1867, eight Dominican Sisters completed an eighty-day journey by sailing boat from Ireland to arrive in Maitland to take over St John’s Primary School. Less than five months later, they opened St Mary's School for boarders and day pupils, one of the first girls’ secondary schools in NSW outside the Sydney area. St Mary’s was, therefore, the first Dominican foundation in Australia, and the first of many Dominican schools in the eastern states, a fact which has inspired a proud school tradition and a warm affection for the site.

Dominican education is intended to prepare students for an independent life, not only by ensuring an access to knowledge, but especially by leading them to an intelligent exercise of freedom and responsibility. Part of that education has always included and emphasis on culture: appreciation of worthy ideals, love of the beautiful and refinement of taste.

The school motto has been the traditional Dominican VERITAS, which implies not only a love of truth in all its forms, but a wholeness and an integrity in being true to oneself.

A Dominican sister held the role of principalship until 1994. While the future of St Mary’s is in the hands of lay administration, the traditions that have been part of St Mary’s will continue to guide the future directions of education at St Mary’s. Those traditions which foster a love not only of learning but of all that is good in our world will continue to prepare young people to be an influence for good in our society. 

A New Identity

In September 1990, after allowing a period of time for comments on a proposed restructuring of the Catholic Secondary Schools of the Maitland Region, Bishop Leo Clarke announced that the three schools would become co-educational, and united under the banner of All Saints College.  St Joseph’s and St Peter’s were to be Years 7-10 and St Mary’s Years 11-12.

The name, “All Saints”, was not only chosen to encompass the three patrons of the existing schools, but also to seek the protection and patronage of all the saints of the Church.  The patronal Feast of the College is the 1^st of November – the same date on which Bishop Murray took possession of the newly established Diocese of Maitland, and of St John’s Church as his Cathedral, in 1866.

It is a Catholic, co-educational College conducted under the auspices of The Catholic Schools Office, Newcastle.

The Emblem

The emblem features a combination of the monogram – an M and an inverted V in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary – of the Sisters of St Joseph; the counter-change fleury cross of the Dominicans; and the crossed keys of St Peter’s.  It has been placed within a circle to indicate the unity to which the College community aspires.

The motto is INTEGRITY, signifying the rectitude and honesty which must characterise those who own and live the College Mission Statement.

Mission Statement

All Saints College is a faith community, an integral part of the Church’s mission and a sign of God’s Love for all people.  It is a place of learning where students, staff, parents and families are respected in their uniqueness, and in their right to participate actively in the life of the College community.

Empowered by the Holy Spirit, All Saints College:

·        follows Jesus in discipleship and fidelity to his Gospel.

·       espouses the teaching; tradition and practice of the Catholic Church.

·        encourages a spirit of freedom and responsibility.

·        promotes integrity, justice and excellence.

Religious Education

Religious Education, in its broadest sense, is the foundation and the distinguishing feature of life at St Mary's Campus.  It is our hope that this be apparent in two ways:  in the formal curriculum and in the atmosphere, the sense of community and friendship and solidarity, that pervades College life.  The former is most easily recognized in daily Tutor Group prayer, in opportunities for worship and the expression of one's faith in Christ, in the classroom where Religious Studies is pursued by all students and in the special events such as retreats, seminar days and guest speakers.  Ironically, the latter is most easily recognized by visitors who sense that which distinguishes St Mary's from other places of learning.

The religious nature of St Mary's Campus, All Saints College, has implications for the students, families and staff who are St Mary's.  These are encompassed in our motto `Integrity' which demands that there be mutuality between home and school life and the values espoused in each situation.  This is an issue to which students - and parents - need to give due consideration, particularly at the senior level.

The Retreat opportunities offered at St Mary's - and indeed across the College - are a feature of the formal Religious Education Programme.  In addition to the compulsory Year 12 Retreat, which enjoys a sound reputation, a voluntary Year 11 Retreat was initiated in Year 11 in 1995.  This has become a fixture on the calendar.

A feature of morning roll call is a structured prayer roster by which every Tutor Group has the opportunity a number of times throughout the year to meet in the College Chapel for a short prayer service.  This, along with our weekly Mass/Liturgy of the Word offers members of the College community opportunities to reflect on their faith and relationship with God.

It is the hope of this community that as you begin your association with St Mary's you will commit yourself wholeheartedly to the values and traditions it represents.  What you gain from your time here will be directly proportionate to your generosity and your integrity.