St Paul’s offers a wide range of opportunities allowing every student to fully engage with the community, to grow and to succeed. From individual sport and recreation activities to representative teams, outdoor education, creative and performing arts, and community service programs we strive to ensure that every student is active and engaged in their education both in and outside of the classroom.
The College’s elective sport program promotes healthy living, respect for others and collaboration whilst our representative sports teams provide opportunities for our students to further develop self-discipline, ambition and humility. The College is affiliated with Catholic Schools NSW Sport providing a supportive pathway to state and national representation.
St Paul’s engages with a range of enrichment programs in science, technology, and commerce that are supported by universities and business, with a strong reputation for success in the creative arts, boasting several finalists in the prestigious Northern Beaches Art Prize and the Bishop’s Prize for Creative and Performing Arts.
We believe that sport is very important for all students. St Paul’s has an enviable sporting reputation. Students are encouraged to attain the highest standards both in their performances on the field and their behaviour on and off the field. The honour of representing the College is passionately pursued by all students.
Students have represented the College in the following sports; touch football, rugby, soccer, cricket, rugby league, basketball, tennis, swimming, surfing and water polo. We also boast state and national representatives in various sports. We hold annual carnivals for athletics, cross country and swimming. St Paul’s is a member of the Diocese of Broken Bay Secondary Schools Sports Association and students can progress to represent NSW and Australian All Schools in a wide variety of sports.
A wide variety of team and recreational sports are on offer. The College has tennis and basketball courts, a five a side soccer field and cricket nets. Students also have access to a fully equipped fitness centre for their PDHPE lessons and for team training. The Waterford Hall also houses additional indoor training facilities.
Most importantly, for many of our families, students at St Paul’s are encouraged to maintain their links with community sporting activities on the weekends. The opportunity exists, for students from St Paul’s to represent their College in a range of sports but maintain the commitment to local clubs with which they have been associated.
For information on College sport, please contact Mr Adam Malcolm, Leader of Sport.
St Paul’s is a member of the Broken Bay Secondary Schools Sports Association (BBSSSA). This association provides students with the opportunity to compete at a representative level as well as a pathway to higher representative honours.
For more information visit BBSSSA or NSW Combined Catholic Colleges Sports Association.
Creative activities are a major part of the curriculum for all students and an important part of the general life of the College. The Creative and Performing Arts department has an excellent reputation for creativity, flair and technological innovation. All students in Stage Four study Visual Arts and are introduced to drawing and painting, sculpture, ceramics, painting and art history. Older students can choose to study Visual Arts where the College has previously produced many award winning works at the HSC level.
Music has been traditionally strong at the College. As a subject, Music follows a similar pattern to Visual Arts, being compulsory in Stage Four and offered as an elective thereafter. Students are given opportunities for composition and performance, while a number of visiting music tutors provide tuition for students wishing to learn an instrument. The College Big Band performs regularly in public and at College functions, and a Liturgical Band performs at Sunday Mass.
St Paul’s offers four different ensembles for your child to be involved in. All students are welcome to join these ensembles except the Senior Jazz Ensemble which is auditioned-based. The following ensembles are:
The College Big Band
The Big Band is our main multi-instrumental ensemble. Students are to provide their own instruments.
The Senior Jazz Ensemble
The Senior Jazz Ensemble is our premier instrumental ensemble. Please note this ensemble is an audition-based ensemble due to the high level of improvisational and performance abilities required. For further information regarding this ensemble please contact the College via email by clicking here.
The College Liturgical Group
The Liturgical Group is an ensemble which was formed for students interested in liturgical praise through music. This ensemble performs at all our school masses throughout the year as well as performing once per month at St Mary’s Church in Manly at Sunday evening mass. For further information regarding the liturgical group please contact the College via email by clicking here.
Every ensemble has a semester charge for two terms of direction. Please note that these costs will be added to your child’s school fees and no refunds will be given if a student withdraws from the ensemble before the end of each semester.
For further details please email the college or call 02 9977 5111.
There are many different opportunities for your child to be involved in the Co-Curricular Music Program here at St Paul’s. We currently offer private lessons for:
Bass Guitar
Guitar
Percussion/Drum Kit
Piano
Saxapone
Trumpet
Lessons are held weekly and in total each student receives ten lessons per term. Specialist music teachers will invoice each student for the term and fees are non-refundable. Availability of lessons will be determined by the number of students enrolling.
Please click here to download the Private Tuition Application Form.
Representing the College on a social justice, cultural or sporting tour is a wonderful experience for many students. These tours provide students with the opportunity to experience overseas travel with their school friends whilst gaining an understanding and appreciation of other cultures. College tours are a regular event on the College calendar. Previous tours have taken students to Cambodia, Japan, England, Wales, France, Italy, USA and New Zealand.
St Paul’s has a compulsory Outdoor Education program of camps for Years 7, 9 and 10 students, organised to develop leadership, independence, personal spirituality and school spirit. The College is also involved with Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
A senior retreat is held in Stage 6 to give the students a dedicated opportunity to reflect on their lives, relationships with God and others, and to prepare them for the future.
