From the Pen of the Principal
Dear Parents and Caregivers
Well we’ve back over a week now and have the majority of our students working from home. What has been pleasing is the level of academic engagement. Teachers are reporting that nearly all students are logging into to the live sessions and that work is being submitted on time.
Our on-site delivery has improved as we iron out the best way to manage student without giving them an unfair advantage, but by the same token, not creating a disadvantage for them. We know this is going to last a few more weeks until the Queensland Government announces its decision on how schools will operate for the remainder of the Term. Thanks for your patience and the encouragement you give your children to persevere in an online world that, until recently was foreign to most. The learning curve has been steep, but our staff and students have been mastering it better than we could have predicted.
I want to thank all those who participated in our Anzac Day commemoration. It was brilliant to see so many people take to their driveways on Saturday morning and stand in solidarity with all who have defended our country across the many theatres of conflict. A special thanks to Mr McDonald, Mrs Brennan, Mrs Donnelly and, of course, to our digital wiz kid, Mr Ninnes.
The following is an extract from the talk I presented on the school’s Anzac Video. It captures much of my sentiments on the importance and legacy of our Anzacs.
When I visited the battlefields of the Somme in France, I saw the indelible mark left by our soldiers. At Villers-Bretonneux there is a message painted on the wall of their school ‘Do Not Forget Australia.’ Nearby at the Australian Corps Memorial there is a quote carved in the stone from the French Prime Minister spoken in July 1918. The words speak volumes of the Anzac Spirit. It reads:
“When the Australians came to France, the French people expected a great deal of you… We knew you would fight a real fight, but we did not know that from the very beginning you would astonish the whole continent….
I shall go back tomorrow and say to my countrymen: I have seen the Australians. I have looked in their faces. I know that these men will fight alongside of us again until the cause for which we are all fighting is safe for us and for our children.”
The price of peace and liberty has been a high one for our young nation. While we cannot gather as a community this year, it is important for us to continue to remember all who made the ultimate sacrifice and those who continue to be affected by the scars of conflict, loss and grief. Lest we Forget.
Calendar of Events
4 May
| Labour Day Public Holiday
|
6-8 May
| Mothers Day Gift Stall pick-up |
10 May
| Mothers Day
|
From the Head of School – Primary: Mr Russell Davey
From the Head of School – Secondary: Ms Tameika Grist
Uniform Shop News
Wearco have advised that until all students have returned to school the Uniform Shop Opening hours will be as per the table below. We apologise for any inconvenience. Online orders are still available for home delivery. https://www.wearitto.com.au/schools/xavier-catholic-college
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday |
| 7:30am - 10:30am | 7:30am – 10:30am | 7:30am – 10:30am | 7:30am – 10:00am
|
From the P-6 Guidance Counsellor
For parents, carers and students
SOCIAL isolation has become part of a new normal for Australians, which has brought new challenges and hardships, but that still has not stopped people from sharing gifts and giving of themselves to others.
The Brisbane archdiocese has launched a campaign calling on people to share the word about just those gifts – or Small Blessings – with the wider community to inspire more and more. Brisbane Archbishop Mark Coleridge said stories of Small Blessings needed to be told because they “tell a story that’s more powerful than any virus”. As part of the Archdiocese of Brisbane I also encourage you to take part in this campaign by offering your stories of the small blessings you have received.
The site invites people to write a blessing of 150 characters or less to share with the community. Share your Small Blessings at www.smallblessings.com.au and the Archdiocese of Brisbane will share them to inspire others.
Adapting to online learning
Everyone has been affected by COVID-19 in their unique ways, but teaching and learning continues. We thank all parties involved in maintaining a sense of normality. Teachers for the delivery of content online and through compiling home study packs. Parents for checking and maintaining study environments and their children’s engagement. And of course to the students for sustaining your motivation and work habits. Keep up the great work everyone.
Anzac Day – Light Up The Dawn
Despite the health crisis restrictions on parades, our community came out in droves to participate in the driveway ‘Light Up The Dawn’ service. We also had a number of activities embedded in our curriculum and small liturgies classes. Thank you to all who participated.
Maths Pathway – Year 7 & 8 Growth Gurus
Each fortnight we will be recognising the students who have mastered six or more new mathematical concepts for the cycle. These students have achieved rocket status for their growth rate. With disruptions caused at the end of term we are happy to share our high achievers for Cycle 3 & Cycle 4.
In 2020, the QLD All Schools touch competition was to be the World All Schools with many visiting international teams making the trip to Brisbane in October to compete. Obviously, the competition has now been scaled back to its original QLD schools format. At this stage, the competition is set to go ahead as scheduled in October. It will run from Wednesday 7th October to Sunday 11th October. 13’s and 15’s teams play from Wednesday to Saturday (finals on Saturday) and Open teams play from Friday to Sunday (finals on Sunday afternoon).
As mentioned, the status of the event is presently still ‘active’. Any decision to abandon the event due to the pandemic will be made on advice from QLD government and associated health officials.
Xavier has 6 teams entered for this competition (13’s Boys and Girls, 15’s Boys and Girls, Open Boys and Girls). If restrictions are lifted and training for touch football is an allowed activity, training would begin in Term 3. Most teams would require a trial.
To assist in our planning for this potential event, can you please email Mr Nathan Milne (nmilne@bne.catholic.edu.au) if you would prefer your child to NOT participate in this event this year. This will allow us to determine whether our teams are viable for the event this year.
HPE Remote Learning – GETTING ACTIVE AT HOME
Students in Years 7-10 have been completing their learning in HPE through OneNote and video team meetings with their teachers. Teachers have reported a very high level of engagement and completion of set tasks. A weekly task for all students in Years 7-10 HPE are 2 forty-five minute fitness sessions; designed to replace the usual practical components of the subject. Students are required to design their own sessions, record them in a journal on their onenote notebook and complete them in their usual HPE lessons throughout the week. Guidelines for session design are provided for students. The benefits of being physically active can have on learning are well documented and are even more so important in this current online learning environment. To be brief, some of the positive impacts that physical activity can have on the brain and learning include:
The flow of oxygen to the brain is increased
The number of brain neurotransmitters is increased, which assists students’ ability to focus, concentrate, learn, remember and handle stress
The number of brain-derived neurotrophins is increased, which assures the survival of neurons in areas of the brain that are responsible for learning, memory and higher thinking.
We encourage all students (Years 7-12) to take some time to be physically active throughout their days of learning remotely.
Community Notices
