REVEALED: New Coast school chooses a name

THE Coast’s newest Catholic school will take its name from values of morality, being a good neighbour and having gentleness of heart.

Good Samaritan Catholic College is scheduled to open within the Parklakes II estate at Bli Bli in 2019 and expected to eventually have 1500 students from Prep to Year 12.

It has been named to embrace the Benedictine tradition of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan.

The sisters have had an association with the Coast since 1925 when they opened St Joseph’s Primary School in Nambour.

Nambour Parish Priest Father Graham Gatehouse said the Good Samaritan story would be an inspiring one for future students.

“The Good Samaritan parable is one of morality, of being a good neighbour and having gentleness of heart,” Fr Gatehouse said.

“Unlike naming a school for a saint from a distant time and place, the name is relatable for primary and secondary students and honours the great work on the coast since the early 20th Century undertaken by ‘Good Sams’.

“Within the Archdiocese of Brisbane there are many schools, both primary and secondary, that have a Good Samaritan heritage, or base their ethos on that of St Benedict.

“Not only will the college have strong ties to our other Sunshine Coast Catholic schools, the opportunity is there to link with the Sisters’ ministry schools in Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, Broken Bay and Wollongong.”

A Brisbane Catholic Education spokeswoman said the new school’s steering committee would use the name to help develop house names, educational philosophies, uniforms and enrolment procedures.

She said expressions-of-interest would be opened shortly and information sessions would be held for those interested in enrolling their children in Good Samaritan Catholic College.

Sunshine Coast Daily – 14 November 2017 – Stuart Cumming