Our Facilities
Reception
Located in the College's Middles Years Building, Reception is the place to pay fees, submit enrolment, resolve enquiries and meet the Principal, Mr Darren Atkinson.
Middle Years
Completed in 2014, the Middle Years Building is the a good example of the College’s classroom teaching philosophy of flexibility and visibility. Housing over 600 students in Years 7 and 8, the Middle Years Building provides spaces for students to be engaged in traditional classroom activities, collaborative groups, outdoor classes and teams. The building is beautifully finished, with ample circulation space, natural light throughout and a 150-seat lecture theatre.
Wurundjeri Trade Training Centre
Located upstairs in Senior Years, the Wurundjeri Trade Training Centre and Café N9ne is a source of pride for Aquinas students and staff. Not only does it offer high quality VET training in hospitality and restaurant nights, but it operates as a café for community patronage four days a week, staffed by Year 9 students who develop a range of skills in hospitality, collaboration, creativity as well as literacy and numeracy while working in this space.
International Forum
In the heart of the old part of Aquinas and reminding all Aquinas students of their place in the world, the International Forum is the city square of the College, providing undercover space for large number of students surrounded by all the important everyday services a student might require; Canteen, Staffroom, ARC, Youth and Family Centre and the Gymnasium.
Dominic Arts Centre
The Dominic Arts and Media Centre is the Visual Arts hub of Aquinas. It was in this building that the principle of visibility was first successful and became part of the College’s Learning plan. The centre is the home of Visual Art, Media, Visual Communication and Design.
Mahon Theatre
The Mahon Theatre is the College’s major performing arts venue and the home to significant Performing Arts and year level events. The Theatre annually hosts the Senior and Junior Musicals, the Senior Play, weekly Year level assemblies, Band nights, musical ensemble performances, Easter liturgies, Drama ensemble performances and a wide range of parent nights. VET students train in music industry skills in the theatre spaces. The Mahon Theatre seats 300 and is available for hire for community use.
Mary MacKillop Chapel
The Mary MacKillop Chapel is a beautiful, modern representation of our shared Catholic Identity. The Chapel hosts masses, liturgies, planning activities and liturgical singing practice, as well as Religious Education classes and social justice activities. It is decorated with a range of religious and traditional iconography that illustrates students’ interest and concern with indigenous people, justice in the world and their own faith and spiritual lives.
Gymnasium & Sports Precinct
The Gymnasium has two indoor basketball/netball courts, a weights room and a circuit training room as part of the sporting resources the College is able to provide. Outdoor spaces include tennis, netball and basketball courts, football, cricket and soccer fields. Aquinas is involved in organised competitions in the Eastern Independent Schools of Melbourne in every year level, as well as swimming, athletics and cross country carnivals. The gymnasium and surrounding sports areas are available for hire.
Music
Music is significant in the curricular and co-curricular life of Aquinas. Students can learn an instrument at the College, be a member of a rock, symphonic or jazz band, join the choir, participate in the Senior or Junior Musical and study music to VCE and Music Industry as part of the VET program.
O'Driscoll Room
The O’Driscoll Centre is a large multi-purpose space suitable for dance, PE Health activities such as self defence, yoga and table tennis and it can host a meeting or function with 180 attendees. This facility is available for hire.
The Aquinas Resource Centre (ARC)
The Aquinas Resource Centre (ARC) operates as both a physical and virtual resource, facilitating access to information any time anywhere in order to support the College curriculum. The ARC fosters independent learning and supports access to knowledge through reading and research skills and ICT. The ARC is the official media centre of the College, responsible for publications, information screens, graphic design and posters to enhance the learning environment. It also houses the College Archives.
Staff Centre
Aquinas is proud of its well-qualified, dedicated staff who collaborate to develop engaging, productive learning activities for students. Staff Professional Learning is a feature of the College’s work. Teachers use their expertise to train colleagues and staff professional knowledge is very well developed. Teaching staff at Aquinas have authentic input into the teaching and learning environment.
Science Precinct
Science has its own precinct in the College, where students are able to use modern resources in all science areas; Physics, Chemistry and Biology, as well as Environmental, Human Movement, Sports Science and Psychology.
Senior Years
The Senior Years Building is a modernised space for more than 800 students from Year 10-12. This building is designed to be a transition from school to the world of work or higher study. It is a building with light, visible classrooms, spaces for students to work independently and social spaces both inside and out. In the Senior Years building students are offered an extensive curriculum, mentored closely by a nominated teacher and given the chance to light up and be on fire in VCE, VET and VCAL subjects.
Technology Centre
As a comprehensive college catering for all needs Aquinas offers hands on programs as well as academics. The Technology Centre offers Design and Technology (in both wood and glass), Systems Technology, Food Technology and Information Technology for all students leading to VCE and VET offerings in Building and Construction, Plumbing, Hospitality and Music Industry.
Year 9 Campus
The Year 9 Campus is separate from the Senior and Middle Years building. This is because Year 9 is the transition year, with experiential activities to foster engagement and develop independence and creativity, such as the City Experience, Café N9ne, the Special Experience Block.
