Aims and principles of the College

To be a Christian community of adults and young people working and living in mutual respect and harmony within an open, secure and happy atmosphere.

To provide a climate where the gospel is known, lived and loved so that students may be nurtured in Christian faith and their commitment to Jesus Christ.

To help students recognise a vocation in life and to encourage them to work towards it.

To help students recognise their academic ability and to accept responsibility for its development.

To maintain a curriculum aimed at the acquisition of values and the discovery of truth.

To provide a learning environment commensurate with individual abilities and interests.

To help students acquire a sensitivity to the views, lifestyles and beliefs of others.

To encourage responsibility and leadership in both teachers and students

Our School is:

Catholic

we aim therefore to educate in an environment where Catholic values are known and experienced.

Reverence will be shown for the Christian values we uphold and in our treatment of each other.

Religious Education is integral to the life of the College.

The Chapel is a place of worship and special reference.

A caring community :

we aim therefore to education in a secure and happy environment of mutual respect and harmony.

All members of the College community will be addressed with respect and courtesy.

Tolerance will be shown for the views and opinions of others.

The well-being of all members of the community will be promoted.

Appearance and behaviour should always reflect positively on both the individual and the College as a whole.

Respect will be shown for College property, the environment and for each other's belongings.

A place of learning:

we aim therefore to educate in an environment which provides

sound academic standards and enables students to achieve at a level commensurate with their individual abilities.

A commitment to learning underpins the College curriculum.

Behaviour will allow teachers to teach and students to learn.

An appropriate working atmosphere will be maintained at all times.

Work will be done in a thoughtful and careful manner.

The 'Salesian' contribution

DON BOSCO

John Bosco was born August 16, 1815 in the farming hamlet of Becchi to the East of Turin, Italy. The times were politically unstable, cities were overcrowded and the young were most vulnerable in these situations. John Bosco had it in mind from a very early age that he would dedicate his life to helping young people in the harsh conditions of city life.

John was ordained in June, 1841 ("Don" is the Italian equivalent of "Father" in English, as used in addressing Catholic priests, hence, Don Bosco). By December of that same year, he had begun his work for the poor youth of the city of Turin. He met the viciousness of their lives with a strong gentleness and when he eventually founded a religious congregation to do this work for the young people, he gave them the patronage of St. Francis of Sales, the saint of gentleness. They came to be known as 'Salesians'!

Don Bosco died in 1888, and by that time he had established the Salesian Society all over the world working for needy youth.

PREVENTIVE SYSTEM

In the midst of a wide array of educational theories, it is possible to find theories which propose a new, original solution to the problems of young people. Such is the case of Don Bosco's "Preventive System".

Don Bosco contrasted this approach with what he called the "Repressive System" of dealing with those who broke the rules. He saw his own as the system of how to prevent the rules being broken. In his own words, this system "is based entirely on reason, religion and kindness".

The most telling element in this system is the kindness that describes the relationship between the educator and the student. Don Bosco would say that one must make himself loved before he can make himself feared. Educators should enjoy themselves with their students, should like what they like in an effort to enter this world.

Another element of the Preventive System is reason: it means giving attention to the common sense aspects of human relationships. It involves the ability to understand the young and to dialogue and communicate with them.

An effect of establishing a relationship of friendship and love between educator and student should be a real religious influence. The Salesian education believes that faith in Jesus Christ and his "Good News" is basic to an understanding of life, its purpose and meaning.

In a Salesian school, the religious influence should always be pleasant in a natural, friendly way. The goal of teachers, administrators, students and their parents in a Salesian school, is to form a true Christian community, a community of love. Don Bosco called this friendly, community spirit the "family spirit".

SALESIAN ASSISTANCE

In contradistinction to the term "assistant" in education today, Don Bosco used it to describe the role of the teacher when he or she was not actually teaching in the classroom. The Salesian tradition of "assistance" requires the friendly and active presence of the educator whenever the students are gathered in any place and for any activity.

A brief history of the College

Brenock Park

The land on which the College is built was originally named Brenock Park. Michael Brenock bought the land, and on retirement, handed it over to the Ferntree Gully Parish.

Fr. Colin Miller

The suggestion of a Catholic Secondary Boys' School for the parish came from the then parish priest, Fr. Colin Miller. It was, however, the desire of the Diocesan authorities that the project be extended into a regional school to serve a wider area.

The Salesians

The Salesians of St. John Bosco accepted the invitation to staff the school, and in February, 1965, the school opened with an enrolment of 110 pupils.

The College Crest

The message on the College crest is .....

"Agite quae didicistis"

which means .....

"Put into practice those things which you have learned"

The symbols of the College crest represent the following:

Star - Our Lady

Mountains - The Dandenong Ranges

Stream - Stream of Grace