LEADERSHIP ADDRESSDear Parents and Carers,
Being new to the Xavier Catholic College community, I can honestly report that my first impressions have been wonderful. I knew Xavier College only by its reputation as a young school which had already developed a tradition of excellence in all facets of schooling life. The campus is impressive and everyone I have met in Hervey Bay has referred to the College as a great school. But that is only a small part of the story of my first impressions. The friendliness of staff, students and parents and the great spirit of welcome have been quite overwhelming. It underlines for me that Xavier College is much more than a school. I have been welcomed into the ‘Xavier family’. It is good to know that regardless of your location, when you walk into a Catholic School people come first.
My wife, Clare, and three of our four children made the trek up from Adelaide in time to enjoy an Hervey Bay new year. My son has already completed his studies and is working in Emerald. After the helter-skelter busyness of unpacking we had a few days to explore this beautiful city. Each experience reinforced to us that the decision to return to Queensland was the right one. Clare is a Maryborough girl, so catching up with old friends has been a real homecoming for her.
My previous postings were as Principal of Rostrevor College, Adelaide, and as Principal of St Brendan’s College, Yeppoon. While the location, topography and demographics of Rostrevor, St Brendan’s and Xavier may be very different, it is clear already that the hopes and aspirations of these communities have much in common. Students, parents, staff and past students of these communities’ desire excellence in education, respect for the dignity and contribution of every individual, a firm yet compassionate approach to discipline and a spirit of faith and service to underpin all endeavours. In short we desire the students of Xavier College to grow to maturity as ‘young women and men of faith and learning’.
Xavier College has everything that is needed to provide the foundations for a successful life. But, I am convinced that it offers something of even greater importance: the foundations for a significant life. The College has already developed a proud record of producing graduates who have achieved great success in their chosen fields of endeavour and, no doubt, will continue to do so for generations to come. But, success in these terms is only a small fraction of the Xavier legacy. Be they Doctors, Lawyers, Engineers, Business Leaders, Social Workers or Tradespeople, I believe the graduates of this College are inspired by a faith-filled purpose to make a difference to the world. For some this may come through major contributions to establishing equity and justice in our nation and beyond our borders. For others it is simply being actively involved in the local community and conducting their affairs in an ethical manner. This is the kind of significant life to which I refer and Xavier’s greatest legacy. Through the provision of a well-rounded education, and in partnership with parents, the young people of this College will continue the tradition of being ‘women and men for others’.
I wish to congratulate the academic achievers of 2016. With 80.6% of graduates achieving an OP of between 1 and 15, the College should be proud of its continued to commitment to academic excellence. Additionally, we are proud of the 28.7% of students who completed VET Certificates. It serves to illustrate the multiple pathways to success available to students at this College.
Communication is critical to the success of any school. We work in partnership with parents to advance each child’s education. Always feel confident to contact your child’s teachers if you have any concerns or need advice. Likewise, I am always available to parents and students so please never hesitate to ring, email or make an appointment to see me.
God Bless
Simon Dash
Principal
Introducing Russell Davey
My name is Russell Davey and I will be the Head of
School (Junior/Middle Years) from 2017 onwards. I am very excited to be joining Xavier College and consider myself fortunate to be given the opportunity to live and work in Hervey Bay. Growing up in the Central Queensland town of Rockhampton I am very familiar with the many benefits of becoming part of a regional community and I look forward to exploring the Fraser Coast with my wife and young family. I have thoroughly enjoyed my first couple of weeks at Xavier College and have been overwhelmed by the friendliness of all involved with the school. Students, staff and parents across the community have gone out of their way to make my family and I feel welcome. My wife, Jen and our two children, Ben & Zoe (5 month old twins) have just about settled into our new home and are starting to get our bearings around town. I will not say that moving with two young children is easy but we are very glad to have made the move and look forward to building our new life here in Hervey Bay.
Before taking up the role at Xavier I was in a position of leadership at Emmaus College in Jimboomba. This was also a P-12 School so I am very familiar with the opportunity for students to form a lasting relationship with a school community. The ongoing relationship with parents across the thirteen years of their child’s schooling is a key aspect of a P-12 college and is one of the cornerstones of the Catholic education available at Xavier College. As I mentioned to staff at our first meeting, it a great responsibility to undertake the education and care of a child. Ensuring we cater for each individual child’s needs socially, emotionally, physically and academically is paramount. I look forward to continuing this partnership with you as the year progresses.
It has been a wonderful start to the year in the Junior Years. The P-5 students have returned to the school year, full of stories from their holidays and ready for learning in their new class. I have been particularly impressed by their genuine enthusiasm for learning and their willingness to welcome new members of their community with open arms. They are a wonderful group of students who are a credit to both the college and you as their parents. I would also like to make mention of the staff and thank them for genuine enthusiasm and ongoing professionalism. They have been very patient with the “new guy” who is still learning the ropes. It has been a pleasure to work with them during our preparation for the school year and I can assure you that your students are well cared for each and every day.
I am always available for contact via email or phone and would encourage you to make an appointment to see me should you wish to discuss an issue in person. I hope to meet many of you over the coming weeks and look forward to getting to know the both the parent and extended community of Xavier.
Kind regards,
Russell Davey
Head of School (Junior/Middle Years)
News from the Senior School
We have had a great start to the new school year by our incoming year 7 students as well as the twenty students who joined Xavier Catholic College across years 6 and 8 to 12. The College has established many processes that allowed these students to make a smooth transition into the College ensuring that they are feeling part of our close knit community.
Our senior students, led by College Captains and Vice Captains, met before the official start to the year to discuss their contribution to the College over the year and plan how they would enthuse students for the upcoming Xavier Swimming Carnival. We look forward to seeing many family members and friends at this Carnival on Friday 3rd Feb from 9.30am
Next week we will hold our Annual House Liturgies- a chance to come together to meet PC teachers, share afternoon tea and gather in prayer. Two houses will meet on the same night at different venues in the College grounds, as follows:
- Buthu and Dirum Tuesday 7th Feb
- Kondari and Narwari Wednesday 8th Feb
- Both evening commence at 5.30pm
iPad deployment to all Year 7 students
This will occur on Thursday 9th Feb at their “Boot Camp” - which is a day where students are taken through all aspects of their device and are provided with the opportunity to ensure it is ready for learning. Before the students are issued with their devices, there is an expectation that parents will attend the Parent Information Session. These will be held on the following dates
• Monday 6th Feb 7pm to 8pm
• Wednesday 8th Feb 9am to 10am
This Information session is aimed at supporting your son/daughter to make the best possible use of this device. You will learn of our expectations, as well as how you can support the use of the device to enrich your child’s learning experience at home.
UPCOMING EVENTS
03/02/2017 Yr7-12 Swimming Carnival
07/02/2017 Buthu and Dirum House Liturgy
08/02/2017 Kondari and Narwari House Liturgy
08/02/2017 Hervey Bay District Cluster 1 Trials
15/02/2017 Opening Mass
Welcome back to another wonderful year here at Xavier Catholic College.
Thought for the month…
Caring for others brings us closer to God, so for the times caring for our families and reaching out to other vulnerable persons seems like a big burden or a chore we need to remember Jesus’ broader picture..
Care & Concern Committee.
This is a group of parents who provide new families with a welcome under the guidance of the College Campus Minister and are available to be contacted about questions in relation to parental information about the happenings at the College. Examples of these might include:
- Does my child have swimming today?
- How can I find the tuckshop menu?
- Can you assist me with what the procedures are for when my child is absent?
- Who should I talk to if I am concerned about school fees?
- Is it Photo Day and do they have to wear their formal uniform?
At all times we encourage you to explore the parent portal or to talk to your child’s classroom teacher or Pastoral Care teacher about any questions that you may have as your first point of contact. The committee provides a food freezer for times when families are in need, the birth of a new child or whenever things get tough as well as a welcome cuppa on the first day of school each year. Each House has parent contacts and they range from P-12. If you wish to contact any one of our parent contacts, their details will be published each term in the College Newsletter. We are in need of parent contacts in our P-6 area, so if you would like to nominate yourself or to ask further information of what is involved please do not hesitate to contact Carmel Donnelly (Campus Minister). Carmel can be contacted during school hours on 4197 1165. Confidentiality is utmost for our committee and any information shared with our parent contacts will not be passed on unless you so desire it.
Prayers please
Over the holidays many in our community lost loved ones. I ask you to please pray for all within our community so that they may continue to feel the love of Christ through your thoughts and prayers.
Blessings
Carmel Donnelly cjdonnelly@bne.catholic.edu.au
Campus Minister
Mathematics Tutoring
Xavier staff offer free additional weekly Maths tutoring. Below is the staff roster, which commences in week 3.
France Study Tour – Parent Information Evening.
Our information evening for our 2017 France Study Tour will be held next Thursday evening, February 10, beginning at 6.30 pm in the Language Centre. This meeting will focus on discussing final arrangements for our forthcoming excursion. Packing lists and other essential information will be distributed at this event. Hope to see you all there.
Loretta Swann
Director-Humanities/Arts/LOTE
Family School Fees Accounts
We are currently in the process of setting up the school fees billing run for Term 1, 2017. We anticipate the statements for Term 1 will be forwarded to parents by email on Friday 10 February. The email will come from SHERFinance@bne.catholic.edu.au. Payment will be due on 24 February 2017.
If your email address has changed or you didn’t receive your account by email in 2016, please provide your new contact details to the College Office.
Qkr!
Did you know you can use the Qkr! Application to order and pay for student Tuckshop orders or pay for school events. Simply download the app and start using now.
When you start school for the new year, you will need to ensure your children’s details such as Class / Grade and Year level are correct. All instructions for the use of Qkr! are available on the School Shops page on our Parent Portal under the Tuckshop section.
Youth needed to represent
If you are aged between 12 and 25 and are passionate about the Fraser Coast region - the Youth Ambassador Program could be a great fit for you.
Initiated by Council in 2015, the program is designed to allow young people to work closely with Council staff to ensure that local youth are supported, acknowledged and contribute to the current and future development of the Fraser Coast.
As part of the program, Youth Ambassadors represent the young people of the region at a number of different events such as Australia Day awards, youth forums, and Council meetings, as well as organise and participate in other youth events and activities.
Participants can gain valuable experience, opportunities to network and satisfaction from working with peers to implement youth-driven initiatives.
Nominations are now open for the 2017 program.
Further information and an application form is available from
Australia Day Awards
Congratulations Xavier graduate, Patrick Donnelly on recieving the Fraser Coast Junior Citizen Of The Year award at the Australia Day celebrations. Xavier Catholic College foundation principal Mr Kerry Swann was also acknowledged with the Mayoral Commendation award. "On behalf of the entire community I congratulate the recipients," Fraser Coast Mayor Chris Loft said.
"We, as a community, owe them so much for the time and effort they put into their groups and the events they stage. They ensure that the Fraser Coast is such a happy and Family-Friendly community."
Sporting News
What a start it has been for XCC Sport in 2017.
Wide Bay Sportsperson of the Year
Todd Baldwin, current Year 12 student, has been awarded the Wide Bay Sportsperson of the Year for 2016. Last year Todd represented Wide Bay for Triathlon, Cross-Country and Athletics and in his preferred sport of Triathlon, Todd represented QLD at the National Titles. Todd works hard in training and is deserved of his successes. Congratulations Todd, we are very proud.
Xavier Alumni, Beth Mooney named player of Women’s Big Bash League 2017 - extract below from cricket.com.au
Xavier graduate and now Brisbane Heat star claimed the honour following an amazing season.
"Beth Mooney's blistering form with the bat this summer has seen her crowned the Rebel Women's Big Bash player of the tournament.
Mooney plundered 482 runs for the Brisbane Heat during WBBL|02, at an average of 43.81 including five half-centuries and with an incredible strike rate of 115.58.
Mooney finished five votes clear of the Hobart Hurricanes' New Zealand import Amy Satterthwaite (29 votes), while emerging Sydney Sixers youngster Ashleigh Gardner (26 votes), Melbourne Stars captain Meg Lanning (24 votes) and Sixers wicketkeeper-batsman Alyssa Healy also featured in the top five.
Read more about Beth's amazing success here.
Years 7-12 Xavier Swimming Carnival
This will be held on Friday 3rd February at the Hervey Bay Aquatic Centre. Students are required to be at the pool by 8:40am for roll marking. Limited buses will run from Xavier to the pool (and return in afternoon) for those students who require this service. Students are required to wear sun-safe clothing within their House’s chosen theme and to remember hydration on the day. Students will have restricted and periodical access to the canteen facilities at the pool and so it is encouraged that students bring their own lunch. A small BBQ offering sausage and bread will be run on the day to help fundraise for our Rugby League Confraternity team. Our 12 year olds in Year 7 will attend the day and will be invited to participate in participation, novelty and relay events. Parents and Family are very welcome to attend this event. Below is an estimated schedule of events for the day:
Hervey Bay District Cluster Trials 1:
Trials for the Hervey Bay School Teams for the following sports: Cricket, Softball, Touch, Squash, Tennis and Volleyball will be occurring Wednesday the 8th February. Students have received an email with details of how to nominate through moodle.
Friday Afternoon Sport
Year 7 & 8’s have selected their sports for this term’s Friday Afternoon Sport. Students must remember to bring hat and water bottle to their chosen sport.
I sincerely wish all students at Xavier the very best in their school sporting pursuits in 2017.
Nathan Milne
Head of Sport 7-12
Rotary Movie Premiere Fundraiser
HIDDEN FIGURE
S is the incredible untold story of 3 brilliant African-American women working at NASA, who served as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history: the launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit, a stunning achievement that restored the nation’s confidence, turned around the Space Race, and galvanised the world. The visionary trio crossed all gender and race lines to inspire generations to dream big.
Sunday 5th February, 2pm
Hervey Bay Cinemas Cost: $15.00
Tickets available from:
Banana Bender Beach: 419 Esplanade
Mary Ryan’s Bookshop: 5/15 Central Ave
Scooters & Mobility: 2/42 Torquay Road
Call/SMS Heather: 0400 553 295
Oztag Season Sign On
Online registrations are now open for the 2017 Autumn Season for juniors and seniors.You can register as an individual, or if starting a team, can create your team name for other players to sign into and then email a completed team registration sheet to herveybay@oztag.com A manual sign on will also take place on Wednesday the 1st February at Fraser Coast Mariners Rugby Union fields at the Walkers Rd Sport Complex at Urangan from 4pm until 5.30 for juniors and 5.30 until 7pm for seniors.
We want you and your friends to be a part of the friendly Oztag family, so "Come And Get Tagged, You'll Love It" Get all of the info at
www.herveybayoztag.com or call Glenn on 0414893840 for any other question
Hervey Bay Basketball Sign On
Online registrations are now open for the 2017, Term 1 and 2, Summer Season. Divisions exist in U11, U13, U15, U17, Mixed Social, Women’s, Men’s B and Men’s A. Fixtures commence 08/02/2017 so go to
www.herveybaybasketball.com.au to register.