LEADERSHIP ADDRESS

Years 4-12 Sports Assembly
Last Thursday saw our Annual Sports Awards Assembly held in JPAC. It was great to see the high number of students who had taken the opportunity to be involved in our extensive Sporting program. Also pleasing was the high number of students who had represented the College, district and region across a range of sports.  We must also recognise the many hours that our dedicated staff put in to the coaching and offereing training sessions to develop the skills of our students and make them so competitive in the field.



World Teachers’ Day
Last Friday afternoon the staff of Xavier were joined by the staff from Star of the Sea to celebrate World teachers’ Day. It was a great afternoon of sharing and networking and a great way to continue to develop the relationship between our two schools. A special thanks must go to many of our wonderful support staff who took the time to decorate our area and assist in making it a lovely afternoon.

A Celebration over Nine Years
At our Senior Celebration Evening last week the College celebrated a major milestone when we recognised our students who began their journey at Xavier in the first intake of year 3 in 2007. It was wonderful to see that 17 of the students who began in 2007 were part of our current Year 12 graduating class. We welcomed back Mr. Lawrie Knott, who was the Foundation head of Junior School, who thrilled the students with a “Roll Call’.


Lawrie also took the opportunity to thank outgoing Principal, Kerry Swann, for his fore sight in developing the Junior school in 2007, many years before it was planned by Brisbane Catholic Education.

Prep Parent Information Evening
Next Tuesday, 8 Nov, we will be holding a parent information evening in Campion Theatre starting at 7pm. Our prep teachers and support staff will be providing parents with information about making the beginning of Prep as smooth a transition as possible for our Kindy students next year. This will be followed by a transition morning for students on Friday, 25 Nov to have a ‘taste’ of Prep.

John Laing Award for Professional Development
The annual John Laing Awards for Professional Development acknowledge principals in every state and territory who demonstrate outstanding leadership in providing professional learning in schools.
They celebrate the contribution of school leaders who have undertaken, and supported the professional learning of teachers and other school leaders.



Junior Swimming Carnival
Swimming Carnival champions will be announced on assembly and will feature in next week's newsletter. See some of the action directly on our College Facebook page here.

UPCOMING EVENTS
4/11                 Yr 6-12 Choir Tricare Nursinghome visit
8/11                 Prep Parent Information Evening
9/11- 11/11    Year 5 Camp - Yandina
9/11                 Board Meeting
11/11              Zone Swimming Carnival (10-12 years)
14/11              Immunisations: Yr 7&8 HPV3
14/11              Year 12s Final Week

FROM THE APRES

ALL SAINTS DAY AND ALL SOULS DAY
One of the most beautiful and consoling doctrines of the Catholic Church is what we call the “communion of Saints.” This is the Church’s teaching that there is an unbreakable bond between the Church on earth, and all the saints in heaven.
Each year on November 1st, we honour not only canonized Saints, but all the saints i.e. all those who have gone before us to share God’s eternal happiness in heaven….
On November 2nd, the Church celebrates All Soul’s Day, when we pray for our relatives, friends and others who have passed from this life. The Church teaches that the dead may profit from our prayers as they pass through purgatory.
This practice of praying for the dead is mentioned in the pre-Christian book of Maccabees (2 Mac 12.43-46). We do not know precisely how our prayers help …. But we pray with faith, believing in God’s goodness and in the mystery of eternity….We do not pray for those who have died in order to persuade God to be more merciful. Rather, God inspires us to pray so that we might share in the salvation of each other.
(© At Home with God’s People, Brisbane Archdiocese)

VOCATIONS TEAM VISITS XAVIER
Last week Fr Morgan and his vocations team spoke with our year 11 & 12 students asking them to become aware that they are called and to see ways that they can live out their life that reflects their gifts.  Quo Vadis, “Where are you going?”  A question he left pondering to our year 12’s as they begin to finish off their time here with us at Xavier, discerning their legacy…

 

ALTER SERVERS GATHERING
Who: All current altar servers and those who are interested in joining this important ministry.  (Servers need to have received the First Eucharist and are preferably in Yr 4 and above).
When:    Wednesday 9 November from 4.00 to 6.00pm
Where:   St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Pialba
Why:     
•    To meet Father Regimon
•    To review current practices associated with altar serving
•    To instruct in new practices
•    To thank you for your service during 2016
•    To confirm details regarding 2017 involvement
What we will provide:  Pizza and a drink.
What you need to bring: Your smiling face.
RSPV: Please contact the Parish Office on herveybay@bne.catholic.net.au or by phone on 4124 3334 OR Mrs Mead by email jomead@bigpond.net.au or by phone on 0403 871531.

CAREER INFORMATION
If you are interested in studying at the University of Sunshine Coast, there is an opportunity to attend a ‘Meet USC Fraser Coast’ to find out more about your study options.

Dates: Thursday 10 November 2016
Time: Drop in any time between 1pm and 4pm (note tour times)
Location: University of the Sunshine Coast, Fraser Coast campus

At Meet USC you can:
•    Chat about your preferred degree
•    Take a campus tour
•    Talk to staff about how to apply, fees and scholarships
•    Attend our special presentation ‘What to Expect Next’
•    Want to make sport your career? Discover the many career opportunities at the ‘Make sport your career’ talk.

If you have already chosen USC as your university and need some assistance, please go to Student Central for all the support and advice you may need.  Further information including registering for the above opportunity can be found at on the USQ website here.

Annie Sexton
Guidance Counsellor (8-12)

MS SWIM-ATHON
Xavier parent Justine Linderberg, is participating in this year's MS Swimathon on Sunday 27 November. This is the first time the event is being held in Hervey Bay and should then become an annual event.  It is a fun packed day, with lots of novelty things to keep swimmers having fun.
This is a wonderful opportunity for Xavier to participate and support the wider community. To date Justines team has raised $1700. To help, donate to her Team by clicking the link below, or alternatively join her team or even create your own and swim.

                   CLICK TO SPONSOR                                                CLICK TO JOIN


FRENCH STUDENTS - Lycée Saint Joseph, Avignon.
As part of our international exchange programme, Xavier has established a sister school connection with another Jesuit school, Saint Joseph’s in Avignon, in the south of France. As many of you are aware, our students were very warmly received by the staff and students from this school last April during our 2015 French tour. Two weeks ago saw the long awaited arrival of a group of 35 students and 3 teachers from Lycée Saint Joseph.  All students were billeted with host families from our Xavier community providing them with a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the language and culture of our region. The students and staff were also discovering the attractions of the Fraser Coast with visits to Maryborough, Fraser Island, Bundaberg, have been attending classes with their host brothers and sisters and have had a range of relevant and interesting cultural activities organised for them.
Many, many thanks to our host families for their kind generosity in hosting our billets and for often going out of their way to provide unique and memorable experiences for them. I’m sure our French visitors will return home with many fond memories of the time they have spent here and of the friendships they have formed.

Loretta Swann- HOD- Humanities/Arts/LOTE




XAVIER STUDENTS RETURN TO SHARE THEIR STORIES
A big thank you to Mitch Collins and Ben Tudman for their inspirational visit today. It is never easy to return to your school and then talk to students about life but Ben and Mitch did so very courageously and we loved it.  They gave their time freely to listen, talk and share their life happenings to all who came near.  We wish them all the best and look forward to seeing them once more as they progress in life.






TUCKSHOP ASSISTANT
Applications are invited for the following part-time fixed term position commencing Tuesday 24 January 2017 for 12 hours per week, Wednesday to Friday from 7.30am to 11.30am.  This position will be a Term Time position with no work required during the school holidays.

To apply, please visit the BCE Employment page at www.bne.catholic.edu.au - (Job Ref. 09436_10/16) to complete an online application. Hardcopy applications will not be accepted. Applications close 3.00 pm Friday 11 November 2016.