St Cecilia’s has a 77-year history marked by the tradition of a rigorous academic curriculum, within a Catholic setting and permeated in a culture where love, care, kindness and community focus prevail. We are proud and privileged to be part of St Cecilia’s in the 3rd millennium and pleased to pass on the history, traditions and culture of our fine Catholic school.

The school and parish patroness is St Cecilia. St Cecilia spent her short life as a dedicated follower of Jesus and displayed qualities of leadership, courage, integrity and gentleness. At St Cecilia’s school today, these characteristics are encouraged through the way we speak to one another and through our actions. St Cecilia is also remembered as the patroness of Music.

St Cecilia’s school is part of the Catholic Parish of St Cecilia’s, Balgowlah. The Parish was founded in 1929 with Father Edmund Bond as the first priest.

On Sunday, November 14, 1929, the St Cecilia’s School/Church building was opened by Archbishop Sheehan. This building is now the parish hall, tuckshop and a newly renovated classroom. The school was opened in 1930 by the Sisters of the Good Samaritan. They established a convent in Seaview Street and opened the school in the new building. From this time, the last duty on a Friday each week was to convert the school back to a church for Sunday Mass.

Our school crest, worn with pride on our hats and uniforms, is a present day reminder of the tremendous work done at St Cecilia’s by the Good Samaritan Sisters. The Open Book of the Scriptures with the Cross resting on it symbolises work. The Olive branch above the book symbolises peace. The Latin inscription means ‘in all things may God be glorified’. We use this as our school motto today - a rich reminder of our sense of history and story.

Those of us and our families who are already part of the St Cecilia’s family are proud of our history and know that we are part of the on-going story for St Cecilia’s parish and school. We welcome those who are new to our Catholic community and invite you all to take forward the culture and traditions to be part of the school and parish community, to work and study hard, to be attentive to one another and to glorify God in all that you do.