St Michael's College was founded by the De La Salle Brothers in 1954. Classes began at Beverley with 29 boys. Due to the great efforts of the Catholic families in the Western region of Adelaide, the College rapidly expanded. By 1965, the enrolment was 780 boys and in 1967, a Senior School was developed on Lawrie Street at Henley Beach.

Since 2002, the Beverley Campus has catered for Years R-7 and the Henley Campus for Years 8-12. St Michael's has worked in close partnership with the Sacred Heart Fathers (M.S.C.'s) throughout its history and they continue to act as Chaplains to the College. Our current enrolment is nearly 1,200 students.

The formal Lasallian education story began in 1680 when John Baptist De La Salle and a group of schoolmasters associated to conduct schools for the young sons of the poor and working class families of his home city, Rheims, France. Rather than establish short-term solutions for the problems of these troubled and troublesome young people, De La Salle established schools to provide a long-term solution. There are now 912 Lasallian schools in eighty countries, with 785,000 students and 63,000 staff. St Michael's is one such school, which derives its direction, strength and inspiration from the Lasallian ideal.

John Baptist De La Salle was born at Rheims in 1651. The son of a wealthy city magistrate, the boy was well educated at home, in school, and later at the University of Rheims and Sorbonne in Paris, where he prepared himself for ordination to the priesthood in 1678.

An introduction to an enthusiastic lay teacher, Adrian Nyel, was an influence in turning John Baptist's mind to the work of education for the poor boys of his native city; a challenge which few were willing to undertake in 17th century France.

In 1680, on June 24, the Feast of his Patron St John the Baptist, De La Salle took the first school masters, who were later to be known as '"Brothers", into his family home for meals. One year following, he took them into his home to live. (So it is that 1980 marked the third centenary of the work of the De La Salle Brothers.) Such a move was considered very unusual, something which led members of his own family to think he was 'crazy'!

In 1684, a great famine struck France. John Baptist responded with typical generosity and zeal by giving his wealth to the poor. By this time there were seven functioning primary schools in Rheims and neighbouring towns which catered for boys, but especially for those less able to normally afford an education.

The Founder died in 1719, but his institute continued to develop, and in 1725 it received Papal approval. By 1789, there were 1,000 Brothers working in 100 schools in France. Today it numbers about 10,000 members working in more than 80 countries offering an education which is characterised by: Christian values, holistic development of students and a genuine concern for the poor. Among his many enduring legacies are the existence of Catholic Teacher Training Institutions and an expectation that the Brothers of the Christian Schools prepare young people to be active members in all areas of society.

John Baptist De La Salle was canonised in 1900, and in 1950 Pope Pius XII named him Patron of Teachers.

Lasallian Educational Principles

Certain principles have been important to Lasallian education from its very beginning.

• The curriculum was planned, overtly religious, inclusive, student centred, practical, and contemporary and was to form the basis of effective citizenship.

• The religious ethos of the school was not to reside outside the activities of the school day, but to be integrated into the curriculum and every aspect of school life.

• That searching for meaning in life and development of a prayerful, reflective mind was an important student outcome.

• Staff were to examine their own behaviour before challenging that of students.

• Example was to be the most effective teaching aide.

These stated principles and others contained in Lasallian writing are essential elements of a Lasallian school. Our website aims to illustrate their contemporary application at St Michael's.