Kincoppal School

Kincoppal traces its origins to the establishment of two schools. The first, the Convent of the Sacred Heart, Rose Bay, was founded in 1882. The other, named Kincoppal was established at Elizabeth Bay in 1909. In 1971 these two schools were amalgamated on the Convent of the Sacred Heart campus and became known as Kincoppal-Rose Bay, School of the Sacred Heart.[3]

In 1882, five religious from the Society of the Sacred Heart travelled from England on SS Orient to establish a school of the Sacred Heart in Sydney. They selected the residence of Claremont on the Vaucluse, New South Wales peninsula, to begin their task of offering students the educational vision of St. Madeleine Sophie Barat, the founder of their Society.

The original building, leased in 1882 and later purchased by the Society of the Sacred Heart, was a private home, built in 1851. The first permanent school building, completed in 1888, was the five-level central facade. The Chapel, by the architect John Horbury Hunt, was begun in 1897 and completed in 1900. Buildings were gradually added to meet the needs of school, community and novitiate. The secondary school was solely a boarding school until the 1960s, when day students were admitted.

The primary day school was located in the main school building until 1951 when an adjoining property, was purchased. The building was set up as a primary school and named Barat-Burn. This building was demolished and replaced with the present Junior school in 1966.

In 1982 the school celebrated the centenary of its foundation and the arrival of the first religious in Australia. To commemorate the occasion Sister Leila Barlow wrote and published "Living Stones", a book reviewing the spirit, tradition and events of the school's first hundred years. In 2007, the school celebrated 125 years of Cor Unum.

The school's name derives from John Hughes's 'Kincoppal' property at Elizabeth Bay, named after a rock in Sydney Harbour that from a certain viewing position looks like a horse's head.[8] ('Kincoppal' means 'Horse's Head' in Gaeilge (Irish), the anglicisation of 'ceann' (head) and 'capall' (horse).)

Today, Kincoppal comprises a fully co-educational Junior School P-6 for day students, and a Senior School for girls 7-12, with both day and boarding students attending from metropolitan, rural and international destinations.

Kincoppal-Rose Bay is situated on a single campus in suburban Rose Bay, overlooking Sydney Harbour. The school features a mix of 19th century and modern buildings, gardens and fields.

Convent of the Sacred Heart, c. 1930s

As of 2007 facilities of the school included:

• Boarding school Accommodating up to 150 students from Years 7 to 12. Provides dormitory-style accommodation with bed/study cubicles for junior boarders and bed-study rooms which accommodate one or several students for senior boarders. Sheldon House, completed in 1998, provides accommodation for Year 12 students.[2]
• Chapel A central part of the school and regarded as one of the finest works of famous Architect, John Horbury Hunt. Used by students, staff and the School community for Masses, feast days, weddings and special occasions such as the Vale Mass and the Procession of the Lanterns.[9]
• Harbour Terrace Located above the school library, this flat roof area has uninterrupted views down Sydney Harbour. Used by students during lunch and recess breaks, and is also the venue for the Vale (graduation) Luncheon.[10]
• Hughes Centre Used for assemblies, school productions, concerts, examinations and special events. Equipped with an auditorium seating approximately 550 in theatre-style, stage, backstage area, audio/visual system, lighting, heating, grand piano and risers.[11]
• Junior School Learning Centre Incorporating the Junior School Library, an IT Centre and a drop-in independent learning area with access to IT and print resources.[12]
• Mary Agnes O'Neil Library Opened 1998. Features separate floors for fiction and research, computer and printing facilities and two seminar rooms.[13]
• McGuinness Centre A gymnasium with a fully sprung floor.[14]
• Maureen Tudehope Centre A multi-purpose centre comprising an auditorium, stage, basketball court, heated indoor pool, fitness centre, dance studio and change room facilities. Used for sporting and recreational activities, whole school assemblies and other special events.
• Performing Arts Centre Refurbished in 1998. Used by both Junior and Senior students for orchestral and choral rehearsals and performances.[15]
• Santas' Field A sports field for Junior school students.[14]
• Sheldon Swimming Pool A 25-metre outdoor pool, situated on the harbour side of the School.[14]
• Sports Field Including 5 tennis courts and a large, flat area for competitive track and field events.[14]

There are four primary houses at Kincoppal Rose Bay, all with aboriginal names. Each year separate junior school and high school carnivals are held for both swimming and athletics, and all students compete for their house. There are house captains in both the junior school and high school, who arrange cheers for the students to participate in. At the carnivals, there is a spirited cup (for house cheers) and a points cup (for the winner of the most sports at the carnival). In house colours, students also participate in inter-house singing competitions.

• Tangara - (Blue and white) Meaning 'To go', the mascot for Tangara is the beetle.
• Arakoola -(Green and gold) The mascot for this team is the frog; the name means to be in front
• Murramai- (Red and green) The mascot for this team is a rabbit, the name is an indigenous word for a crayfish.
• Kungala- (Black and gold) The mascot for this team is a tiger, and the name means to shout and listen.

The boarding school has three primary houses, each named after a significant contributor to the Society of the Sacred Heart. Throughout the school year, inter-house competitions are undertaken, where all girls wear their house shirt. During the first term, an 'In-Weekend' is held, during which all boarders must stay in the boarding house. The first competition takes place here with a trivia night for all boarders from years 7-12, with house points awarded, and a trophy for the winning house at the end of the year.

• Duchesne (blue) – St. Rose Philippine Duchesne took the order to the United States.
• Barat (green) – St. Madeleine Sophie Barat founded the society.
• Stuart (red) – Janet Erskine Stuart, fifth Superior General of the Society of the Sacred Heart, wrote The Education of Catholic Girls.

Kincoppal-Rose Bay has been used as a set for a number of films including Looking for Alibrandi and Our Lips Are Sealed. The school has also featured in numerous television series', including "Spirited" and "Spyforce".

• Samantha Armytage, journalist and Seven Network news presenter[16]
• Morgan Griffin, Australian actress, graduated in 2009
• Peggy Kelman OBE, Australian pioneer aviator
• Paulette McDonagh, Phyllis McDonagh and Paulette McDonagh early Australian film makers who were educated as weekly boarders at the Convent of the Sacred Heart, Elizabeth Bay[17]
• Princess Michael of Kent (born Baroness Marie Christine Anna Agnes Hedwig Ida von Reibnitz), a member of the British Royal Family and an author
• Angela Punch-McGregor, actress
• Helen de Guerry Simpson, Australian novelist (also attended Abbotsleigh)[18]
• Lucy Hughes Turnbull, wife of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull; former Lord Mayor of Sydney (2003-2004); company director; writer (also attended Frensham School)[19]
• Jacinta Tynan, Journalist and Sky News anchor
• Gai Waterhouse, horse trainer, businessperson and former actress[20]
• Nikki Gemmell-author

• List of Catholic schools in New South Wales
• List of boarding schools in Australia
• Network of Sacred Heart Schools

• Barlow, L. 1982. Living Stones: Convent of the Sacred Heart, Rose Bay 1882-1982. Kincoppal-Rose Bay School, Rose Bay, NSW. ISBN 0-9593096-0-8.
• Frost, P. 1973. The Kincoppal Story. Sydney.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sacred Heart Convent, Vaucluse.

• Kincoppal-Rose Bay website