School's golden jubilee

St Agnes Catholic High School is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

The Catholic high school was founded by the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary in February 1962 and has come a long way since.

In its first year, the school opened with 29 female students and three teaching nuns.

Today, the school is a co-educational community with more than 700 students, 50 teaching staff and 20 non-teaching staff.

Principal of St Agnes Catholic High School Peter Brogan said the school community had changed considerably since its opening.

"The high school was originally an all-girls school. In 1979, the school went from being an all-girls to a co-educational school," Mr Brogan said.

"The way we teach students has also changed. We are now using the latest technology to promote education and learning.

"We also aim to teach students life skills during class which they can use later in life."

To celebrate the high school's golden jubilee, a mass was held on Friday, October 13, for past and present staff and students, as well as parents.

On Sunday, October 14, the high school welcomed past staff, students, families and community to see how the school had developed and meet with old school friends.

During the celebrations, a time capsule which had been buried 25 years ago was opened.

"We found old music magazines, a video, newspaper articles from back then, work by students and letters," Mr Brogan said.

"We are still uncovering lots more."

The school is planning another time capsule to be buried later this year.

"I think we would add newspaper articles, maybe a used mobile phone and student work," he said.

"We will talk to students throughout the week to discuss what they would like to add to the time capsule."

He said the demand for students to attend the high school had increased since its opening.

"We are continually growing," he said.

"We have more than 37 different cultures at the school and that reflects the multicultural community of the area. At St Agnes we place a strong emphasis on being a community and on students being part of the community. I think that's one of the strengths of the school."

Education has also changed over the years.

Teachers at St Agnes promote students' learning with a personalised electronic portfolio.

Mr Brogan said the electronic portfolios allowed students to have ownership of their work.

"It allows students to keep copies of their work which they have completed over the year," he said.

"When they go to interviews or see parents, they can show samples of their work. It demonstrates what they are capable of."

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