Notre Dame College, Shepparton


Notre Dame College is a dual-campus independent Roman Catholic co-educational secondary day school located in Shepparton, Victoria, Australia. The college is situated on two campuses: Knight Street Campus, that houses students in Year 7, 8, and 10–12; and the Emmaus Campus, on Grace Road, North Shepparton, that houses students in Year 9 and also the McAuley Champagnat Programme for students who struggle to learn in a normal classroom environment. The college is located within in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst.

History

The College initially opened in on 24 February 1901 as Sacred Heart Convent - later Sacred Heart College, a school for girls. A boys' school, St Colman's College, was also built on Knight Street. Sacred Heart was established by the Sisters of Mercy, whilst St Colmans was established by the Marist Brothers.
The two schools merged in 1984 after a two-decade period of expansion and increased enrolments in both Colleges. The new amalgamated school was named Notre Dame College, with the literal French meaning of "Our Lady". The campus of St Colman's became known as "South Side" and is the Junior Campus where years 7 to 8 attend. This is also home to the Mercy Centennial Stadium and the original Monastery. The original Sacred Heart campus is known as "North Side" and is home to students from year 10 to year 12, as well as the administration building, a chapel, the Ursula Frayne Library and the Bishop Noel Daly centre. In 2009 there was a new campus unveiled known as the Emmaus Campus. It is a community for the year 9 students only. The current principals is John Cortese.
The year 2001 celebrated the centenary of the establishment of the Sisters of Mercy in Shepparton. This was celebrated through the unveiling of the Mercy Centennial Stadium.

Affiliations

In 1987, Notre Dame College became the sister school of Notre Dame of Marbel University in Koronodal, in the Philippines.

Houses

Notre Dame College operates a house system comprising six houses, changing from the original four in 2004. The six houses are:
HouseColourNamesake
CraneRedBishop Martin Crane
JenningsBlueSister Gabrielle Jennings, the Congregational Leader of the Sisters of Mercy in 1984
KennedyGreenFather Reverend Michael Kennedy, the First Parish Priest of the St. Brendan's Parish
MacKillopGoldMother Mary MacKillop, the first Australian saint
McGannOrangeBrother Bernard McGann, the first principal of St. Colman's College
MungovanPurpleMother Augustine Mungovan, the founder of Sacred Heart College in Shepparton

Curriculum

School curriculum

The main areas of study at Notre Dame College are:
Italian and Japanese are the two languages taught at the school. In Year 7 and 8 students undertake study in a number of compulsory areas. From Year 9 to Year 10, study revolves around a number of core subjects, as well as electives chosen by the students. There is also a program, the Nova Program, on offer to Year 10 students aimed at those who may otherwise want to leave school. This provides a pathway for students to apprenticeships, the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning, Vocational Education and Training and other employment opportunities.
During Year 11 and 12, there are three pathways available to students:
The School hosts a Careers Day for Year 10 students, which is attended by over 1,500 students.

School Productions

Notre Dame is critically acclaimed for their musical productions. Many Notre Dame graduates have gone on to professional careers in the performing arts.
From 2005–2014, Notre Dame staged two productions annually. In addition to the whole school production, a junior production was performed by Year 7-9 students from 2005–2009. From 2009–2011, these Year 7–9 productions were replaced with a Year 9 production.
YearProductionDirectorMusical DirectorVocal CoachChoreographerTrainee
1986The Wizard of OzKaren EwartKaren EwartUnknownKathy Kyriakou
1987GodspellKaren EwartKaren EwartUnknownUnknown
1988Oliver!Kierin MurphyUnknownUnknownUnknown
1989Sweet CharityKierin MurphyKaryn JoyceUnknownUnknown
1990AnnieKierin MurphyUnknownUnknownUnknown
1991My Fair LadyKierin MurphyDevina McClureDevina McClureAmanda Rae
1992Fiddler on the RoofKierin MurphyDevina McClureDevina McClureUnknown
1993JoanKierin MurphyDevina McClureDevina McClureUnknown
1994The Pirates of PenzanceKierin MurphyDevina McClureDevina McClureUnknown
1995Peter PanErika GibsonJulie LeoUnknownUnknown
1996Anything GoesKierin MurphyTrish BaggsTrish BaggsJessica Enes
Julie Leo
1997Sweet CharityKierin MurphyJulie LeoJulie LeoLibbie Cunneen
1998Man of La ManchaKierin MurphyNeroli Cochrane
Julie Leo		Neroli CochraneLibbie Cunneen
1999West Side StoryKierin MurphyJulie LeoJulie LeoLibbie Cunneen
Cassie Milner
2000JoanKierin MurphyNeroli CochraneNeroli CochraneDanelle Cooney
Olivia Fontana
Cassie Milner
Maree Quinn
2001GodspellKierin MurphyNeroli CochraneNeroli CochraneDanelle Cooney
2002FameKierin MurphyNeroli CochraneNeroli CochraneDanelle Cooney
2003Into The WoodsKierin MurphyNeroli CochraneNeroli CochraneKathie Duqueman
Kierin Murphy
2004CabaretKierin MurphyNeroli CochraneRyan Black
Neroli Cochrane		Meg Cooney
Connie Daniel
Kate Lancaster
Shane Price
2005Bye Bye BirdieKierin MurphyNeroli CochraneNeroli CochraneConnie Daniel
Dayna Tinline
2005Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor DreamcoatKierin MurphyRyan BlackRyan BlackDayna Tinline
2006Beauty and the BeastKierin MurphyNeroli CochraneNeroli CochraneConnie Daniel
2006The Wizard of OzKierin MurphyRyan BlackRyan BlackUnknown
2007ChicagoKierin MurphyNeroli CochraneNeroli CochraneEmma Daniel
Jen Scandolera		Clare Stevenson
2007Aladdin JrKierin MurphyRyan BlackRyan BlackUnknownClare Stevenson
2008PippinKierin MurphyNeroli CochraneNeroli Cochrane
Dayna Tinline		Emma Daniel
Jen Scandolera
Dayna Tinline		Jake Warner
2008Mulan Jr.Kierin MurphyRyan BlackRyan BlackDayna TinlineJake Warner
2009SeussicalDayna TinlineJulie LeoNeroli CochraneDayna Tinline
Jen Scandolera		Jamie Lea
2009Little Shop of HorrorsDayna TinlineJason GiulianiRyan BlackKathryn DemaseJamie Lea
2010Les MisérablesDayna TinlineRyan BlackRyan Black
Neroli Cochrane		Dayna TinlineMolly Dyson
2010I Love Rock and RollDayna TinlineJason GiulianiRyan BlackDayna TinlineMolly Dyson
2011Jesus Christ SuperstarDayna TinlineRyan BlackRyan Black
Neroli Cochrane		Dayna TinlineKrista Rumble
2011Little StarsDayna TinlineJason GiulianiDayna TinlineDayna TinlineKrista Rumble
2012The Drowsy ChaperoneDayna TinlineJulie LeoNeroli CochraneDayna Tinline
Sam Coats		Marcus Egan
2012High School Musical JrDayna TinlineJason GiulianiDayna TinlineDayna TinlineMarcus Egan
2013AidaDayna TinlineJulie LeoHelen Janke
Dayna Tinline		Dayna TinlineGeorgie Wolfe
2013Revolution!Dayna TinlineJason GiulianiDayna TinlineDayna TinlineGeorgie Wolfe
2014The Addams FamilyDayna TinlineJulie LeoDayna TinlineDayna Tinline
Natalie Ginnane		Natalie Ginnane
2014Beneath the Southern CrossDayna TinlineJason GiulianiDayna TinlineDayna Tinline
Natalie Ginnane		Natalie Ginnane
2015Anything GoesCasey FogartySusan DixonNeroli CochraneMadi Jenkins
Phoebe Newman		Phoebe Newman
2016Beauty and the BeastCasey FogartySusan DixonNeroli Cochrane
Jane Elshaw
Loretta Shannon		Robert Baxter
Nicola Messer		Nicola Messer
2017Big FishCasey FogartyJason GiulianiNeroli CochraneRobert Baxter
Ruby Shannon		Robbie Maher
2018GodspellCasey FogartyJason GiulianiNeroli CochraneRobert BaxterRobert Baxter
2019School of RockCasey FogartyJason GiulianiNeroli CochraneRobert BaxterKane Wilson
2020Seussical‡Casey FogartyJason GiulianiNeroli CochraneSarah Anderson
Robert Baxter
Tayla Jenkins
Grace Newman		Sarah Anderson

‡ Seussical had been cast and work was well underway before it was cancelled due to the Covid-19 global pandemic.

Graduate Diploma in Education

Notre Dame College offers the year-long Graduate Diploma in Education in conjunction with Australian Catholic University and the Catholic Education Office, Sandhurst.

Notable alumni