User:Karenlingho/Mount Saint Joseph, Milperra

Mount Saint Joseph, Milperra (commonly MSJ) is an independent Catholic girls’ (Year 7 to 12) school located in Milperra, New South Wales in Australia. Founded in 1960, the school is based on the values and spirit of Mary MacKillop. It is established under the auspices of the Sisters of St Joseph, and administered through the Board of Directors.

History
Mount St Joseph’s first Principal, Sister Geraldine, tells the story of the school’s foundation as one of responding to the needs of Catholic education in the western suburbs. Young women and men who had completed their teacher education tended to come from the more established eastern, northern and inner city suburbs and were not keen to travel to the newly established areas in the western suburbs.

In 1959 Father Landers (Panania) and Father Carr (Revesby) accompanied Mother Leone Ryan, the Superior of the Sisters of St Joseph, in search of a suitable site for a new girls’ high school. At this time the population of the area was increasing rapidly and the parishes were unable to meet the costs of building such a school. The search ended with the purchase of the land on which the school now stands. The land was classified as Green Belt, so permission had to be sought and duly granted from the councils concerned. A school was built and in 1960, girls from the surrounding parish schools began their secondary education at Milperra. Since then, the Congregation of the Sisters of St Joseph has provided the necessary support for the ongoing development of the school.

On April 20th, 1989, the Mount St Joseph School Board was instituted following the incorporation of the school as Mount Saint Joseph Milperra Ltd.

Induimini Arma Lucis
MSJ's school motto, "Induimini Arma Lucis", translates as "Put on the Armour of Light".

The symbolism of armour used in the motto and the school badge is based on a passage from St Paul's letter to the Ephesians:


 * "Rely on God's armour...
 * truth round your waist and
 * integrity for a breastplate...
 * wearing for shoes ... the eagerness to spread the gospel of peace
 * carrying the shield of faith...
 * accepting salvation as your helmet...
 * and receiving the word of God as a sword."

Academics
MSJ offers a range of curriculum choices ranging from UAI level HSC courses, through to VET courses supported by the National Training Framework.

Courses offered in years 7 - 10

 * Religious Education
 * English
 * Mathematics Advanced, Intermediate, Standard
 * Science
 * HSIE (Geography & History)
 * Careers Education
 * Ceramics
 * Commerce
 * Computing Studies
 * Dance
 * Drama
 * Design & Technology
 * French
 * Food Technology
 * Italian
 * Music
 * Pastoral Care
 * Photography
 * Personal Development, Health & Physical Education
 * Physical Activity and Sports Studies
 * Textiles and Design
 * Visual Arts
 * Wood Technics

Courses offered in years 11 - 12

 * Studies of Religion 1U, 2U
 * Catholic Studies 1U (Non UAI) (BEC)
 * English - Standard 2U, Advanced 2U, Extension 1 1U, Extension 2 1U, Fundamentals 1U
 * Ancient History 2U
 * Business Studies 2U
 * Business Services
 * Biology 2U
 * Ceramics 1U (Non UAI) (BEC)
 * Community & Family Studies 2U
 * Computer Applications 2U
 * Chemistry 2U
 * Dance 2U
 * Drama 2U
 * Design & Technology 2U
 * Earth & Environmental Science 2U
 * Economics 2U
 * Exploring Early Childhood 1U & 2U (Non UAI) (BEC)
 * French - Continuers 2U, Beginners 2U
 * Food Technology 2U
 * Geography 2U
 * Hospitality Operations 2U
 * History Extension 1U
 * Industrial Technology Multimedia 2U (B)
 * Industrial Technology Timber 2U (B)
 * Information Technology 2U
 * Information Processes & Technology 2U
 * Italian - Beginners 2U, Continuers 2U
 * Legal Studies 2U
 * Mathematics - Extension 1 1U, Extension 2 1U, 2U, General 2U
 * Modern History 2U
 * Music Course 1 2U
 * Personal Development, Health, Physical Education 2U
 * Physics 2U
 * Photography, Video & Digital Imaging 1U & 2U (Non UAI) (BEC)
 * Society & Culture 2U
 * Software Design & Development 2U
 * Sport, Lifestyle & Recreation 1U (Non UAI) (BEC)
 * Science 2U
 * Textiles and Design 2U
 * Visual Arts 2U