St Agnes proudly provides 55 Years of Catholic Education in Rooty Hill

St Agnes Rooty Hill

In the early 1960’s the Superior of Our Lady of Consolation Home (OLCH), Sr Cecilia Nancy Collingborn (M.Birin), and the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary General Council began discussions of the need to educate the increasing population of Rooty Hill. This discussion led to the purchase of land on which St Agnes Catholic High School sits. The land and house (Fairholme) was purchased for £17,000 on 13 June 1961.

The first Principal of St Agnes High School, Sister Bertille Hayes (M Marcionille, an Irish-Canadian), planned the opening of the school with Sister Dora Carr, Superior at OLCH. St Agnes High School commenced operating on 6 February 1962 in an original homestead on the land with twenty nine girls as students and teachers Sister Helen Paula and Sister Gabrielle. The school was officially opened and blessed by His Eminence Cardinal Sir Norman Gilroy, Archbishop of Sydney on 2 June 1962.

The vision for St Agnes High School was to create a ‘Christ centred’ learning environment for the young population of Rooty Hill.

In 1965 with close to 300 students, many of who travelled up to 20 miles from Springwood, Warragamba, St Marys, Richmond, Windsor, Plumpton, Horsley Park, Mount Druitt to Rooty Hill, it was clear a building addition would have to be built to accommodate the increasing number of students.

Again, in 1976, it was clear that another addition would have to be built onto the school as Rooty Hill was a growing area for migrating families to settle. The same year, as the administration of the school was handed over to the Archdiocese of Sydney, St Agnes appointed the school's first Lay Principal, Mr Peter May.

St Agnes became co-educational in 1979 which had a profound influence on the school's climate, curriculum and an increasing amount of male staff members.

The Archdiocese of Sydney subdivided into two new dioceses (Parramatta and Broken Bay) in 1986 due to the large population of Catholics (740,000) in the Sydney Diocese. St Agnes High School was within the Parramatta Diocese boundaries.

St Agnes High School moved through different stages of identity, becoming a member of a larger Parramatta Diocesan organisation known as Christ Catholic College (CCC), St Agnes Campus, then to its current identity of St Agnes Catholic High School.

St Agnes may have changed names and structures over the past 55 years but the one concern of the St Agnes community continues to uphold is the guidance of its students in all spheres of human development endeavouring to maintain the Franciscan spirit of simplicity, acceptance of all, as well as a deep personal love of Jesus. Indeed the handing on of these values has a very important part in the life of the students as the strength of the school lies in the openness, the joy for life, the friendliness and optimism of all who pass through it.

As the St Agnes motto depicts, To Truth through Love, truth is seen as the truth and beauty of the Gospel and the truth and beauty of all knowledge. Students continue to be nurtured to fulfilment in these through the membership of, and participation in, a loving faith community. The future power of the school lies within the students and teachers, in their sincerity, will for life, and hope.

Written By

St Agnes Catholic High School Rooty Hill
www.stagnesrootyhill.catholic.edu.au

17 Jun 2026
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