St. Norbert College (Perth)

St Norbert College is a private Catholic secondary school in Queens Park, Perth, Western Australia. Founded in 1965 by Fr Peter O’Reilly O Praem, Fr John Reynolds O Praem, Norbertine priests and educators, the school was named after Saint Norbert of Xanten. In 1976, the college became coeducational and currently enrolls about 890 students.HistoryIn 1959, Fr John Reynolds O Praem and Fr Stephen Cooney O Praem travelled to Western Australia from Kilnacrott in Ireland. The original intention was to establish a boys’ boarding school in York. This did not eventuate but the Norbertines have maintained a presence in the York parish until the present date.In 1964, Archbishop Prendiville invited the Norbertine Canons to establish a boys’ school in Queens Park. St Norbert College was officially blessed by the Rt. Rev. F C Colwell O Praem, Abbot of Kilnacrott, on 7 February 1965. In that year, less than thirty students were enrolled in one Year 6 class.The College expanded by one class each year until 1971 when the first students entered for the Leaving Certificate examinations. By this time, enrolments in Lower Secondary necessitated double streaming of classes. The College only enrolled boys until 1976, when girls were enrolled in Year 8. The College eventually eliminated lower grades, enrolling Year 8 through 12, with the neighbouring St Joseph's Primary School enrolling Year 1 through 7.