All its students are expected to complete seven IGCSE exams (Cambridge University) in year 10 and receive an International Baccalaureate diploma in their last year at school. The college is located in the area of San Isidro. It was founded by the Irish Christian Brothers who still provide staff. The motto of the college is "Fight the Good Fight" (in Latin: Certa Bonum Certamen) which is taken from St. Paul's first letter to Timothy in which Paul writes "fight the good fight of faith to win for yourself eternal life" (Timothy 6:12)." The Christian Brothers seek to educate men with the vision of his founder, Edmund Ignatius Rice (1762–1844). "Honesty, loyalty, solidarity, and deep moral values; give them the strength to fight for good causes, with honor and moral integrity". The college is an important centre for Rugby union in Argentina and Club Newman has close connections with it.[1]
According to the newspaper Perfil, the college's bilingual and Catholic education, as well as its high tuition and monthly fees, has made it an elite school since its foundation and it remained as of 2015 one of the most expensive private schools in Argentina.[2]
Origins
The college was founded in 1948 as the result of many years' effort by the Irish immigrant community in Argentina to obtain a pastoral and education ministry from the Irish Catholic Church. The Passionists had arrived in the mid-19th century and one of their priests, Father Fahy, who had established a boys’ school in 1860, suggested then that the Christian Brothers should take it over. However, this request was refused by the order because they were concentrating their efforts in the United States and, later, in Australia and New Zealand, where much greater numbers of Irish people had migrated. In 1946, Father Dominic Moore, provincial of the Passionist Order, visited the Superior of the Christian Brothers in Dublin, and once again promoted a new foundation in Argentina. His request was accepted, and in November 1947, Brothers Joseph Ignatius Doorley (founder of various schools in USA) and Cornelius O’Reilly arrived in Buenos Aires. Father Moore found a suitable building in Belgrano 1548 and the new school was named after Cardinal Newman. Colegio Cardenal Newman was opened on the Belgrano site on 29 March 1948. The national education programme in Spanish was followed during the morning, allowing the afternoons to be devoted to English. Brother Alphonsus L. Pakenham was the first Rector. He presided over a community of 7 brothers, 8 lay teachers, and 148 students, 27 of whom were boarders. In 1949 the roll increased to 200 boys and there "would have been more had there been more vacancies".[3] The Christian Brothers encouraged the playing of Rugby Union[4] and so began a great tradition at the college which led also to the founding of Club Newman in 1975.[3]
Development
In 1971 the college changed its location to San Isidro.[5] The ample campus included large classrooms, spaces for extracurricular activities and sports. The school continues to promote rugby union and to value its connection with Club Newman. The membership of that club consists mostly of alumni of the school and their families.[6] Although traditionally a boys' school, the college decided in 2021 to become co-educational over time.[7]
There have been complaints by former pupils of significant sexual abuse at the college.[8][9]
Eugenio Cesar Aleman, (born in 1953 in Buenos Aires), also known as Chapete; drummer of the pop group Los Helicópteros. He is also an architect
Guillermo Carlos Cazenave, (born September 18, 1955 in Buenos Aires) musician and writer resident in Europe for more than four decades; also a journalist, specialized in many different musical styles
Donald Clifton McCluskey, (born July 9, 1946 in Buenos Aires), popularly known as Donald. Pop and ballad singer, who achieved fame in the 1960s and 1970s. He is also a lawyer
Francisco Prati, (born in 1953 in Buenos Aires), first drummer of the famous folk-pop group Sui Generis. He is also an architect
Alberto B. Bianchi (born Buenos Aires, 1954), Argentinian legal scholar; constitutionalist
Media
Carlos José (Bebe) Contepomi, known by his alias "Bebe" (Buenos Aires, September 28, 1970), Argentine journalist, writer and media presenter, specialising in popular music
All schools are located within the city of Buenos Aires unless noted; Schools marked with asterisks (*) do not appear on the ZfAlist of German schools.
