Founded in 1888, Marist College North Shore is a medium-size high school for boys located in North Sydney enrolling a maximum number of 720 students. The College provides a comprehensive quality education in a nurturing Marist Community founded on enduring Catholic values, which prepares boys for an adult life of responsibility and commitment. It attracts students from a wide area of Sydney but primarily from the Lower North Shore, from Lane Cove across to Manly.
Facilities: The school facilities include an impressive hall/gymnasium, function rooms, creative arts, performing arts, science labs and technology centres. In December 2007 a brand new $5 million facility named the Coyle Centre was opened, housing state-of-the-art commercial kitchens for the teaching of hospitality, with additional food technology classrooms; a new Library and resource centre, multi-media classrooms, computer study rooms and a series of additional classrooms. Every year the College produces and stages a musical production. There is an annual camp for Years 7 and 9 with retreats for Years 11 and 12.
Subjects Years 7 and 8: Religious Education, English, Mathematics, Science, Geography, History, Design and Technology (incorporating Food Technology), Italian, Visual Arts, HSIE, Music, PD/Health/PE.
Electives Years 9 and 10: Religious Education, English, Mathematics, Science, Geography, History and PD/Health/PE are compulsory subjects. Students select two electives from Drama, Music, Visual Arts, Italian, Computing Studies, Commerce, Graphics Technology, Industrial Technology, Information and Software Technology, Elective History, Elective Geography, Elective PD/Health/PE, and Food Technology.
Electives Years 11 and 12: Compulsory subjects are Studies of Religion or Catholic Studies, Standard English or Advanced English. The following subjects are currently offered as electives — Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Business Studies, Geography, Drama, Economics, English Extension (in Year 12 this can be followed by English Extension 2), Fundamentals of English, Ancient History, Modern History (History Extension possible in Year 12), Industrial Technology, Mathematics, General Mathematics, Legal Studies, Mathematics Extension 1 (in Year 12 Mathematics Extension 2 is possible), Music 1, PD/Health/PE, Photography, Video and Digital Imaging, Hospitality, IPT, Software Design and Development, Construction, Sport, Lifestyle and Recreation Studies, Society and Culture and Visual Arts. Students are able to study language electives through The Open High School in Years 9 to 12. TAFE courses are available in Years 11 and 12.
Sport: Tennis, basketball, sailboarding, soccer, volleyball, rugby league, rugby union, cricket, squash, swimming, touch football, athletics, golf, water polo, indoor rock climbing.
Extracurricular activities: Debating, drama, public speaking, music tuition, college concert and band, college musical production, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme, Cadets
Welfare and personal development: Marist College North Shore has a strong tradition of sound Christian values whereby each individual is seen as important and is treated with respect. Emphasis is placed on the total education of the student — spiritual, academic, emotional and physical. Discipline is exercised in a caring and concerned environment as part of the pastoral care program. This program includes a student council and peer support structure. The discipline policy is published and is available on request.
Special features: The average class size is 25 in the Junior School and 20 in the Senior School. More than 90 per cent of students complete Year 12, with a large percentage going on to tertiary or further study. Students receive consistent advice on the most suitable courses of study.
From the School: 2010 saw the first year of the formalised Gifted and Talented Program run at the College, with students immersing themselves in workshops, studies and competitions. These activities included Creative Writing competitions, Science workshops and competitions, Mathematics Enrichment Challenges run by the Australian Mathematics Trust, the Westpac Australian Maths Competition and the ‘Maths on Minds’ competition, run by the Catholic Education Office in Sydney.
2011 will see the opening and operation of the newly designed and constructed on-site students’ Lifestyle and Fitness Centre, incorporating a fully equipped gymnasium, a large PDHPE teaching and learning area and dedicated offices for the PE staff.
Famous ex-students: Brian Bury, Guy Leech, Justice Brian Sully, Air Marshal David Evans, Ken Irvine, Mike Munro, Matt Shirvington, Mitchell Pearce.