Xavier High School, Albury

Xavier High School, Albury is a Catholic co-educational secondary day school, located in Albury, New South Wales, Australia.

Xavier High School
Location
294 Fallon Street, Albury, New South Wales

Australia
Coordinates36°03′47″S 146°56′04″E
Information
TypeCo-educational secondary day school
MottoThe truth will set you free
Religious affiliation(s)
DenominationRoman Catholic
Patron saint(s)Saint Francis Xavier
Established1983 (1983)[1]
FounderBrother John Henry Thornber, Sister Gwenda Livermore[1]
StatusOpen
Educational authorityNew South Wales Department of Education
PrincipalGavin Dykes[2]
Teaching staff66
Years7-12
Enrolmentc. 900
Colour(s)Green and gold   
Websitexhsww.catholic.edu.au

Xavier High School is a Catholic systemic school that is supported and partially funded by the Catholic School's Office, Diocese of Wagga Wagga, continuing a long history of Catholic education in the region, forming from the amalgamation of St Joseph's College for girls and the Aquinas Boys College in 1983.[1] The school caters for over 900 students from Year 7 to Year 12. The Principal of the school is Gavin Dykes[3] with the school motto reading "The Truth Will Set You Free"- a direct reference to the Gospel of John, verse 8:32.

History and amalgamation

Catholic schooling in the Albury region has experienced a long and successful tradition, dating back to 1868, wherein the Sisters Of Mercy established St Brigid's College on a small block of land owned by St Patrick's Parish, in South Albury. In 1885, Patrician Brothers opened a school for boys in an adjacent block in Olive Street, also owned by St Patrick's Parish. This school for boys was re-inaugurated by the Christian Brothers in 1917, the same year St Brigid's College was redeveloped and renamed, St Joseph's Ladies College.

For the majority of a decade, The Sisters of Mercy and Christian Brothers delivered Catholic-based education to thousands of students across the area. All teaching during this time period was performed by clergy of the Church, linking closely with St Patrick's Parish. In 1959, a northern campus of the Boys College was established in Fallon Street North Albury, the site of the present day Xavier High. This establishment was named Aquinas College. In 1983, the boys and girls schools were amalgamated to create a co-educational system under the name "Xavier High School", named after Saint Francis Xavier. The campuses remained separated until January 2001 wherein the school united to share the redeveloped Northern campus, the site of the present day school.[4]

The school promotes its history to the student body, with many of the 8 Houses within the school named after the aforementioned colleges.[5] Today, the school employs over 60 teaching staff in addition to numerous support staff and several volunteers.[6] Additionally, continual redevelopment of facilities and structural expansion is currently in progress to accommodate the increasing number of enrolled students at the school.[4]

Facilities

Xavier High School has undergone considerable development since its establishment, resulting in a host of educational facilities available for students, including;

  • a 900-seat Arts Centre, complete with elevated stage, stage lighting and audio-booth
  • 3 Visual Arts rooms
  • 3 sound-proof music/tuition rooms assisting in private study, with recording equipment
  • a fully surfaced indoor stadium, catering for a range of indoor sports including basketball and indoor soccer as well as PDHPE practical classes
  • a re-surfaced outdoor soccer/basketball court and access to 3 large sporting ovals.
  • 4 fully equipped science laboratories and laboratory preparation room
  • 6 Computer rooms, offering internet access and a range of software programs
  • a recently constructed library with full range of fictional and non-fictional reference materials, 5 computer bays and seminar room
  • 2 fully equipped Hospitality kitchens
  • modern Industrial Technology workshop, catering for a range of Industrial and VET-based subjects
  • a textiles room
  • a recently refurbished/re-landscaped quadrangle
  • access to a developing wetland and rainwater recycling facility
  • a recently constructed block of 4 classrooms and central computer room
  • 4 recently constructed student locker bays and toilet facilities

Xavier High School is currently undergoing Stage 5 development, which presently includes an expansion of food technology and hospitality facilities to include a full commercial kitchen, construction of general learning spaces, a covered outdoor learning area and new walkways with work expected to be completed by the end of 2012[4]

Houses

Xavier hosts an annual House-Cup competition between the 8 House groups of Xavier High School, with points awarded for House achievement and participation in sporting carnivals and events, fundraising, inter-house trivia and novelty events such as Melbourne Cup Day celebrations. The House-Cup winners for 2010 were Aquinas House, led by House Coordinator Jo Gleeson and House Captain Thomas Freeman and Julia Rossiter.

Each House is briefly described below, outlining of the House leaders for 2010:

  • Aquinas "Enlightenment through learning, faith through understanding". Named after St Thomas Aquinas and Aquinas College, Aquinas is represented by the colour maroon.
  • Clark "Persistence, task completion, fitness, working joyfully". Named after Thelma Clark, the first lay teacher of St Joseph's Ladies College, Clark is represented by the colour gold.
  • Dynan "Gentleness, inner strength, striving for excellence, preserving what is good". Named in honour of Brother Dynan, a pioneer of Aquinas College, Dynan is represented by the colour red.
  • Joseph "Simplicity, Love of work, courage, faith". Traditionally, Joseph is named in honour of Joseph, the father of Jesus Christ, in addition to recognising St Joseph's Ladies College. Joseph is represented by the colour white.
  • Loreto "Holy place- in the way of Mary, loving and thoughtful". Loreto house is named after the village wherein the house of Mary the Mother of Jesus is situated and is represented by the colour blue.
  • MacKillop "Faith Bravery and Strength- forthright and battling adversity". Mackillop is named in honour of Sister Mary MacKillop, who was canonised as the first Saint born in Australia. MacKillop is represented by the colour green
  • McAuley "Working with others, leadership, dignity of all people, courage and compassion". McAuley House is named after Catherine McAuley, founder of the Sisters of Mercy and is represented by the colour purple.
  • Rice "To do, to lead and learn, working for others". Rice House is named after Edmund Rice, advocate for disadvantaged education and inspiration for the Christian Brothers and is represented by the colour orange.

Sports and extra-curricular

In addition to a focus on academia and Catholic education, Xavier High School is represented in a number of sporting activities, including;

  • School based Athletics, Swimming and Cross-country carnivals
  • BISSA level individual and team sports
  • CCC level individual and team sports
  • A range of state-level and national individual and team sports

Sports focused on at Xavier High School primarily include Australian Rules Football, Soccer, Basketball, Swimming, Athletics, Cross-country running, Hockey, Golf, Rugby league, Touch Football and Cricket.

Extra curricular ran at Xavier High School encompass, but are not limited to; Blood Donation through the local Vampire Shield, Rotary Debating, Local "Mock-trials", Musical Performance evenings, Art Exhibitions, Musicals/Stage Productions and involvement in ANZAC day services/supporting Legacy in addition to involvement in cultural events such as the LOTE (Languages other than English) festival.

See also

References
  1. "Brief history of Xavier High School". Xavier High School. 2012. Archived from the original on 2 August 2012. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  2. "Xavier High School Albury - School Executive". Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  3. "Xavier High School Albury - Principals Message". Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  4. "Xavier High School Albury - Timeline". Archived from the original on 2 August 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  5. "Xavier High School Albury - Pastoral". Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  6. "Xavier High School Albury - School Structure". Archived from the original on 2 August 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
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