Gleeson College is a Catholic secondary school in Golden Grove, South Australia. The college is named after the late Emeritus Archbishop of Adelaide, James William Gleeson and the motto "With one heart" derives from his serving for 10 years (1971–1981) on the Pontifical Council Cor Unum (that is "One Heart").
The campus comprises three secondary schools, Gleeson, Golden Grove High School (State) and Pedare Christian College (Anglican / Uniting Church) linked by a central common resource area. Year 11 and 12 students are able to study at the other schools. This campus was visited by Federal Labor Leader Kevin Rudd immediately after his announcement of the current Labor education policy of creating shared facilities at close-together state, Catholic, and/or independent schools. This policy may have been encouraged by the success of the Golden Grove Secondary Campus.
Campus
Located in the Golden Grove area, Gleeson College encompasses a variety of academic buildings that house classrooms, laboratories, libraries, administrative offices, and faculty rooms. These buildings serve as the primary spaces where students attend classes and engage in academic activities. Additionally, the campus has sports facilities, including a gymnasium, soccer pitch, and basketball/netball courts, catering to physical education classes, sports teams, and extracurricular activities.
In 2004, considerable building work took place, enlarging the Thomas Library into the former administrator's office (which was moved to its current location as mentioned above), enlarging the multimedia room (which is now just an ordinary computer room), and adding a room used for lectures and presentations.
It was intended that from the Year 2000, Gleeson would be an 8-12 school that maintained an enrolment close to 650 students. As of 2006, the enrolment number is close to 700 students, a limit imposed by the Catholic Education Office, which limits the size of schools to prevent excessive competition between neighboring Schools.
The college has three computer rooms in the school itself, as well as access to approximately seven rooms in Shared Facilities, and computers in all ordinary classrooms.
The new Micah Centre opened in 2020, purpose-designed Senior Learning Centre, a two-story facility, which features eight modern learning areas.
One Plus Learning
The Shared Learning principle allows students to participate in courses that may involve students from all three schools (Gleeson College, Pedare College, and Golden Grove High). These courses are categorized as either 'Shared Learning VET' or 'Shared Learning SACE.' The courses are hosted by the most suitable teacher from the campus.
One+ also offers additional shared facilities and resources, including an Electronics Trade Training Centre, Science Labs, Design and Technology Centre, Music suite for recording and production, ICT and Multimedia Studios, Commercial training kitchen and dining room, Visual Arts Studio, three gyms, and a Performing Arts theatre.
Motto
The motto of Gleeson College is Cor Unum, which is Latin for "With One Heart".
House system
Curriculum
The curriculum at Gleeson Colleges includes religious education, music, dance, drama, and visual arts, English, humanities and social sciences, mathematics, science, and technologies.
World Football Program
The World Football Specialist Program offers an opportunity for students who are interested in playing World Football. The program caters to both boys and girls.
Links to schools in Japan
Gleeson College has hosted numerous long-term study exchanges for Japanese students from Kyoto Bunkyo High School, Kogakuin Junior High School, and Osaka Seiko High School. During their visits, these student groups engage in intensive English classes, along with regular academic subjects.
Notable alumni
Carla Dziwoki (2000), Queensland Firebirds netball player
Nadia Mapunda (2006), Adelaide Thunderbirds netball player
Matthew Mullen (2006), Adelaide City football player
Ryan McGowan (2007), Dundee United football player
Daniel Mullen (2007), Newcastle United Jets football player
Craig Goodwin (2009), Adelaide United football player
Bradden Inman (2009), Crewe Alexandra football player
Dylan McGowan (2009), Adelaide United football player
Sean Roberts (2010), 2014 Commonwealth Games Representative Athletics 100m Sprint Jordan Elsey (2010), Adelaide United football player Jack Graham (2014), Richmond Football Club Australian rules football player Tahlia Borg (2020), Teenage Joans lead vocalist and drummer