From the Pen of the Principal  

Dear Parents and Caregivers 

Next Friday, 20^th November, our Year 12's will finish their schooling days at Xavier Catholic College with a final assembly. In the lead up, we will also hold a special ceremony at the Brolga Theatre in Maryborough on the Wednesday evening just for the Year 12's and their parents.

Graduation is a very special time and an important rite of passage for our graduating students.  Our Seniors have been fine leaders throughout 2020 and have been generous with their time, particularly with the younger students at the school.  I wish them well for the future and hope that they continue to represent the values of the College as they move into a new phase of their lives.

Of all cohorts, they have faced some incredible challenges this year due to the COVID-19 crisis. So many things had to be cancelled or truncated that, in a normal year, would have been highlights for our Senior Class. They have also faced other challenges, the most notable being: 1) they were the first class of Year 7's into Secondary and the first class to undertake the new QCE, the ATAR system and the return to external exams.

I have never come across a more resilient group of young people who take all the changes and disruptions in their stride and showed good humour throughout. We were blessed that the right student leaders were chosen for the right time. We should all be grateful for the way our Senior class has handled the year and maintained Xavier Catholic College's high standards. Well done!

Graduation is a very special day for our community as we farewell the Year 12's of 2020.  As a community of faith, we hope that the values instilled in them by their parents and during their time at the school will guide them in the next phase of their life.

Throughout this year we have been working to articulate our Values Statement. Through the input of the entire community we have named the following five:

Our Xavier Values – Inspired by G.R.A.C.E.

Grace is a gift from God which is given freely from infinite love and cannot be earned.

Grace enables people to regenerate, to find holiness, to be inspired to do good and to be strong enough to face life's challenges and resist temptations.

Gratitude: Our school appreciates the gifts of God's grace that come to us each day and offers thanks to others and to God for these blessings.

Respect: Our school recognises that respect is the basis of all relationships and seeks to work in an atmosphere of mutual trust where everyone's contribution is valued.

Acceptance: Our school welcomes difference and accepts each person for who they are, appreciating the uniqueness of their feelings, thoughts, opinions and identity.

Compassion: Our school stands in solidarity with all who suffer, offering comfort and support with an attitude of joyful service.

Education: Our school is a community of learners where the quest for knowledge and truth, enlightened by faith, is desired by all.

I asked our graduates to be proud of their time at the College and to live by these values. For if they carry these virtues in their hearts, they will be truly blessed and make a mighty difference to our world.

God bless

Simon Dash

Principal

Upcoming Dates

Banking News

The last day to order banking rewards for eligible students will be the 20th of November to make sure that it arrives in time before the Christmas holidays.​

From the Head of School – Secondary: Ms Tameika Grist

Last week, our Year 7 – 11s participated in an Awards Assembly, which recognised the effort, commitment, study, sporting and cultural achievements of students in these grades. Whilst, I imagine it was not so exciting to watch it via a live-stream, we do thank those families that tuned in for the event on Facebook; the number of students receiving recognition for their efforts was wonderful to see and testament to the hard work, determination and grit that has been required of all our students at all grade levels, in this challenging year.

Our hope is that all students will aspire to improve, aspire to be involved, to give their best and be proud when they look back over any given year, knowing they have been involved, been committed and can be proud of all they have achieved.

Coming Up in the Senior School

Wednesday 18 November: Year 12 Graduation Evening – Brolga Theatre, 5 Walker St, Maryborough (7:00pm start with the intention of finishing by approximately 9:00pm) Year 12s and their parents only. Live Streamed for the wider community.

Thursday 19 November: Year 12 Pastoral Day and Excursion

Monday 23 November: A Year 7, 2021 Parent Information evening – Information has been emailed home regarding registering for this event.

Friday 27 November: Orientation Day - All 2021 Year 7s

Friday 27 November: Last day of school for Year 10 and 11s

Tuesday 1 – Thursday 3 December:  Year 7 – 9 Alternative Programs

Thursday 3 December: Final day of school for Year 7-9 students.

Friday 4 December: Supervision will be offered to any Prep-Year 9 student who chooses to attend from 8:45am-12:00pm. Please notify the school if you intend to send your child during this short time block.​

Nude Food November

Xavier is getting involved with the Nude Food movement! Why? Because it reduces waste going to landfill which is far better for the environment, it keeps the school tidy and it reduces costs to our school and to parents.

Although Nude Food may seem challenging, it's not impossible. Here are a few simple tips to help your child get involved in the challenge:

Pack

• ​​Snacks in reusable containers

• Drinks in reusable bottles

• A reusable lunchbox

Avoid

• Lunches packed in single-use plastic, such as plastic bags, cling wrap or foil

• Disposable cutlery

• Pre-packaged lunches and single serve items

Tips to achieve a Nude Lunchbox

• Bake homemade treats, and storing in reusable containers

• Buy snacks from bulk food stores or the bulk buy sections of supermarkets

• Shop in bulk, either at bulk food stores, or buy big packets of snacks and divide them into containers. For example, one family sized bag of chips is better than a dozen single serve packets!

• Use fruit and vegetables as snacks

• Remove plastic at home and send the food to school waste free. It's not always realistic to go completely plastic free, but it is better to unwrap snacks at home than at school. Both Coles and Woolworths participate in the REDcycle program, where they accept and recycle soft plastics that otherwise couldn't be processed in the local recycling facility. Simply collect a bag of soft plastics and drop it off to the REDcycle bin inside the store!
  

Xavier is encouraging all students to participate in Nude Food November, and we, and the planet, appreciate your support!​

St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal

This November, the school is running the annual St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal for families in Hervey Bay and the surrounding area. All you have to do is to bring in a gift that is:

• Wrapped in Christmas paper and clearly labelled with boy/girl and age appropriate

• Handed in from the 2/11/20 until 30/11/20. 

• All gifts to be brought in by Monday the 30th November.

The present is not supposed to be big or expensive, however easily affordable. All donations are received with great love and appreciation. Only donate if you can and check with your family first. The gifts are to be handed into the student reception or to your classroom teacher any morning until Monday 30th November. So happy shopping and gift giving.  If you would like to make a monetary donation please go to the website: https://donate.vinnies.org.au/appeals-qld/christmas-appeal-qld

Gift Ideas

Boys

Lego, Balls (eg. Soccer, Tennis, AFL, rugby,)

Toy cars (eg. Hot Wheels, Matchbox, Super Blast, Robo Wheels, car packs, remote control). Hats, T shirts, deodorant,

Girls

Bags, Dolls, Hair Stuff, Picnic sets, Makeup sets, Jewellery, lip gloss

Unisex

Books, Dress Ups, Puzzles and Board games, Art and craft packs (eg. stationery, art pencils and paints, sketch books, coloured paper). Card Games, beach toys, cricket sets, ball games.

*Don't forget to label with appropriate Age and Gender* ​

Maths Pathway – Year 7-9 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. 

 

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Waste to Art Competition Winner

Summer McMahon took out 1st place in the 8 to 11 category of the Waste To Art Competition with her amazing crocodile 'Charlie The Champ'.  Well done Summer!  You did an amazing job and we can't wait to see what you do next year!

From the Guidance Counsellor

The difference between friendship ruptures and bullying

One of our jobs is to help children and young people to interpret events proportionally. It is a tough job to support our children to manage their distress regarding friendship issues, but it is important to keep a balanced mind in responding. There is a distinction between disagreements, arguments or even instances of rudeness or unkindness and bullying. In fact, ruptures in friendships are developmentally normal, and we expect that there will be times that children do speak or act in unkind or nasty ways to their peers or friends. These isolated instances of rudeness or nastiness are not pleasant, but they are not indicative of bullying.

Bullying is mean and hurtful behaviour that is persistent and intentional. It can occur within the context of relationships with peers, or perhaps within friendships. The key terms in the definition of bullying are 'misuse of power' and 'repeated'. Bullying differs from unintentional or infrequent conflict between friends, and requires a different response. The key terms in the definition of what is not bullying is 'between equals' and while conflicts or mean and hurtful behaviour may upset a child tremendously, by labelling the mean behaviour 'bullying' we may be limiting the opportunity offered to children to learn skills to support them in being able to independently resolve conflict.

You can support your child to navigate conflict with friends by assisting them to learn skills in conflict resolution. A helpful approach is to support your child:

• To identify how they feel in response to their friend's behaviour

• To be specific about what the other person has done or said that makes them
  
  feel that way

• To organise a time to speak with their friend about the issue

• To encourage them to make sure that everyone has a time to speak and feel understood; and

• To aim for a win-win solution, so there is an outcome that is fair and which both friends are happy with.

​At any time, others may suddenly come at you head on, or skid out of control and into your lane. The more you practice turning in difficult situations, the more instinctively you will be able to regain control when unexpected things happen.

Tanya Gripske, Guidance Counsellor

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Sports News

Primary Swimming Carnival

We could not have picked a better day to hold our swimming carnival. Friday the 30^th of October was glorious weather which matched the enthusiasm of our swimmers. With an emphasis on participation, all students helped their teams by earning points towards the House Trophy which was awarded to a very convincing Buthu team at the conclusion of the carnival. Our age champions for 2020 are:

9yrs Boys                 Will Moss

9yrs Girls                 Charlie Low

10yrs Boys               Maximus Bowman

10yrs Girls               Aspen Tough

11yrs Boys               Sam Wilson

11yrs Girls               Lucy Wright

12yrs Boys               Jack Ryan and Geoffrey Naughton

12yrs Girls               Kailey Pritchard

Congratulations to all students for their efforts on the day. A big thankyou to the parents that were able to attend to support our students.

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Community Notices

Summer Camp 2021 - Walk on Water

When: 14-17 January, 2021

Where: QCCC Mapleton

Cost: Earlybird (ends Dec 1) $295, Regular $320. Family discounts for two or more siblings.

Are you ready for an unforgettable summer? Four days of huge outdoor games, amazing rallies, 200 new mates and connecting with Jesus.

Registration is now open. For more information and to buy tickets head to www.igniteyouth.com/summercamp​

Positive Partnerships Webinars

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