Christ the King, North Rocks

History

THE FOUNDING OF CHRIST THE KING PARISH PRIMARY SCHOOL, NORTH ROCKS

MOTTO: 'VICTORY THROUGH FAITH'

Father Eric Burton established the parish of North Rocks and immediately set out to provide the parishioners with their own school.

Up until 1973 the area where Christ the King School stands today was an empty space covered with blackberry bushes and was a dumping ground for rubbish.

Father Burton approached congregations of religious teachers to provide Sisters for the proposed school, but had little response until the congregation of the Holy Faith Sisters agreed to provide teaching nuns. The congregation had schools in New Zealand and Canberra. They sent two nuns, Sister Elizabeth from New Zealand and Sister Catherine from Ireland.

The school officially began on 31st January 1973 at St Gerard's Hall, Carlingford. The two Sisters with 29 pupils, K - 2, commenced school that day with very little equipment, but a lot of enthusiasm. Sr Catherine, as principal, and Father Burton, worked tirelessly to realise the Parish's vision. Building was delayed and it was not until 12th November 1973 that the pupils were able to move into the first building constructed on the site - the Infants building. Cardinal James Freeman opened and blessed the building together with the present hall.

By 1974 two lay teachers had joined Sr Catherine and Sr Elizabeth, Mrs Patricia Taylor and Mrs Maree Salkeld. The school grew and in 1975 the Primary building was completed and blessed by Bishop Clancy on June 8.

The founding principal, Sr Catherine Maddock was responsible for the school's unique culture and strength for twenty-one years. The motto 'Victory Through Faith' introduced by Sr Catherine and derived from a mandate of the Congregation's founder, Margaret Aylward, still drives the school today. Father Burton, Sr Catherine and Sr Elizabeth turned the blackberry patch into a very modern and well equipped school - a 'Victory Through Faith'.

In 1994 the first lay principal, Mr Ted Langford was appointed to the school. Mr Langford built on the foundations laid by Sr Catherine and the parish continued to develop the school resources and embarked on a further building programme. Mr Langford's principalship continued for seven years until the year 2000.

Term 4, 2000, and the school began a new era with the appointment of its third and now existing principal, Mr Tony Calabria.

The year 2000 became for Christ the King School the busiest of years. Fr Burton celebrated 50 years of priesthood; the school farewelled principal, Mr Langford and welcomed Mr Calabria; the Olympics and the Jubilee. The school also experienced the restrictions brought about by a building program, but with the refurbished administration and new library to be completed in December 2000, the school will have an outstanding school's facility to enhance the children's learning.