Avila College

Avila College is a Roman Catholic day school for girls which is located in the Melbourne suburb of Mount Waverley. The school was established in 1965 by the Presentation Sisters who accepted an invitation from the parishes in the Waverley area to establish a Catholic Girls' College.[1] The school identifies Saint Teresa of Avila as its patron saint, from whom the Latin motto 'Filiae Ecclesiae' (Daughters of the Church) is derived.

For the university in Kansas City formerly known as Avila College, see Avila University.

Avila College
Location
Mount Waverley
,
Victoria

Australia
Information
TypeIndependent, single-sex, day school
MottoLatin: Ecclesiae Filia
(Daughters of the Church)
DenominationRoman Catholic
Established1965
PrincipalMichelle Cotter
Employees170
Years7-12
Enrolment1400 (2017)
Colour(s)     
Maroon, navy blue and white
Websitewww.avilacollege.vic.edu.au

History

Avila College commenced in 1965 in temporary classrooms on the grounds of St Leonard's Catholic Primary School, Glen Waverley.[2] The college was established by the parishes of Mount Waverley, Glen Waverley, Syndal, Mulgrave and Jordanville who invited the Presentation Sisters to administer a Catholic college to provide for families in the area.

From an initial enrolment of 110 girls in Forms 1 and 2 – or years 7 and 8 – the college has grown to become one of the larger Catholic secondary schools for girls in the state with an enrolment of about 1100 students, and 150 staff.

Avila moved to its current location in Charles Street, Mount Waverley, in 1966.[2]

Principals

Sister Patricia Carroll was the founding principal of the college.

College principals:

  • Sr. Patricia Carroll dec. (1965–1970)
  • Sr. Raymonde Taylor (1971–1973)
  • Sr. Josepha Dunlop (1974–1979)
  • Patricia Ryan (1980–1986)
  • Maureen Thompson (1987–1995)
  • Filomena Salvatore dec. (1995–2005)
  • Liz Gleeson (2006–2010)
  • Louise Gunther (2011–2016)
  • Michelle Cotter (2017–present)

Extra-curricular activities

The college offers extra-curricular programs which aim to develop lifelong skills and leadership qualities, as well as to connect with other students and contribute towards the overall College and wider communities. The choices include social justice, reconciliation and conservation groups, music ensembles, a book club, public speaking and debating, and immersion trips to the Santa Teresa community in Central Australia and overseas.

Avila has a maths club that is managed by a group of students. It aims to nurture and hone their mathematical and logistics skills and offer an insight about how society is going to be post-high school, and is considered by some to truly be one of the most innovative and highly-recommended groups in Avila College, courtesy of the ingenuity of the group of students who run it.

The school also has a brother school, Mazenod College, with which they collaborate on events. This means that the girls also have the opportunity to work and interact with boys of the same age.

Notable Alumnae

See also

References
  1. "Avila College - Home". www.avila.vic.edu.au. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  2. "Our Heritage and Tradition – Avila College". www.avila.vic.edu.au. Retrieved 14 October 2022.

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