| St Bernard's College | |
| Motto: | Latin: Discere et Agere |
| Motto Translation: | To Learn and To Do |
| Type: | Independent secondary school |
| Slogan: | Achieving Excellence by Learning and Doing |
| Fees: | $6,390–$8,888 |
| Principal: | Dr Michael Davies |
| Address: | 41 Rosehill Road |
| Zipcode: | 3040 |
| Country: | Australia |
| Coordinates: | -37.7503°N 144.8822°W |
| Enrolment: | 1,361 |
| Years: | 7–12 |
| Trust: | Edmund Rice Education Australia |
St Bernard's College is an independent Catholic secondary school for boys, located in the Melbourne suburb of Essendon West, Victoria, Australia. The college is named after its patron saint, Bernard of Clairvaux, and is a member of the Associated Catholic Colleges. It is also part of Edmund Rice Education Australia, a series of schools that focus on teaching the pupils in the tradition of Edmund Rice.
St Bernard's College traces its origins to the establishment of St Monica's at Moonee Ponds in 1917, by Brothers C. O'Keefe and T. Quinn. Students at this school were taken from Grade III to Intermediate (Year 10).
In 1940, during the war period, not only were the students sent away to help in Ireland, the school was also extended to take the Leaving Certificate (Year 11), and this necessitated the building of the first St Bernard's on the Strand Moonee Ponds, with Brother Cregan as the first Headmaster.[1]
In the mid-1950s, Brother Brendan Murphy organised the purchase of the West Essendon property. While initially used as sporting grounds, building work began at this site in the mid-1960s. Since then, the site has developed with all classes being located at West Essendon by 1995, at which time the Moonee Ponds site was sold. In 2001, the college set up its Santa Monica campus on the Great Ocean Road near Lorne. This campus is most notably used by year 9 students where they live, study, and undertake outdoor education for four-week periods as part of the standard curriculum.[2]
St Bernard's College offers its senior students the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE).
| 2012 | 95 | 32 | 10.4 | 284 | |
| 2013 | 98 | 32 | 11 | 297 | |
| 2014 | 109 | 32 | 8.7 | 304 | |
| 2015 | 95 | 32 | 10.5 | 384 | |
| 2016 | 97 | 32 | 10.2 | 367 | |
| 2017 | 139 | 31 | 8 | 314 | |
| 2018 | 130 | 31 | 8.8 | 327 | |
| 2019 | 172 | 30 | 7.5 | 339 | |
| 2020 | 181 | 30 | 6 | 320 | |
| 2021 | 201 | 30 | 5.3 | 299 | |
| 2022 | 146 | 31 | 6.3 | 302 | |
| 2023 | 198 | 30 | 6.5 | 347 |
St Bernard's is a member of the Associated Catholic Colleges and competes against twelve other schools in sporting fixtures and carnivals. Students play week-end sport with the Old Collegians. St Bernards is particularly successful in Australian Rules Football, winning the Herald Sun Shield in 2017 and 2018. A number of boys from these sides have been drafted into the AFL like Noah Balta to Richmond, Xavier O'Halloran to Greater Western Sydney, (in the first round of the AFL draft) and Lachlan Sholl to Adelaide.
St Bernards had a record twelve straight Athletic championship wins from 2003 to 2014, under the coaching of Gerard Brown, a teacher with years of experience in the role as head coach of the Athletics squad and Cross Country team.[4] [5] [6]
St Bernard's has won the following ACC premierships.[7]
The college has musical productions and music programs. It has combined with St Columba's College, to stage shows annually.
St Bernard's College productions in conjunction with St Columba's College have been recognised by the prestigious Music Theatre Guild of Victoria, a not-for-profit organisation for the ongoing support, encouragement and development of non-professional music theatre in the state of Victoria.
2023 – "Little Shop of Horrors"
2016 – "The Boy From Oz"
2013 – "Once Upon A Mattress"
2012 – "Jekyll and Hyde"
2010 – "The Wiz"
The students are involved in electing their student leaders every year. A nomination from a student or from their peers is verified by the staff and senior leadership team. Staff will then endorse students from Year 11, and for specific leadership roles for Year 12 students.
The senior leadership team will then review the potential candidates based on student and staff endorsement and select the Year 11 and Year 12 members of the Student Council. The Year 12 portion of the Student Council is composed of eight council members, five House Captains, five Portfolio Captains (Arts, Sports, Ministry, Wellbeing and Academic) and the College Captain.
Year 12 Student Council members who wish to undertake House, Portfolio, or the College Captain role must undertake an interview with the Senior Leadership Team, who will decide the student for the position. The Student Council helps facilitates many important events throughout the college such as the college's Feast Day and various assemblies throughout the year.