LEADERSHIP ADDRESS

This week, we have been saying our Farewells to the Year 12 cohort, as they begin to embark on the next stage of their lives. Throughout the week, they have undertaken a series of Personal Safety and Development
sessions and retreat experiences.

Tuesday, the Year 12s enjoyed the annual “Big Day Out” at Rainbow Beach with perfect weather. This is a great opportunity for students to socialise in an informal way one last time. This was such a great start to a jam packed week of activities for our, about to graduate 12s.

Wednesday, students rose early to catch the barge to Kingfisher Bay for their final retreat. And we look forward to hearing stories on their return.

We wish our students all the best in their future endeavours, and trust they will stay safe during their graduation celebrations. Congratulations.

Kerry Swann and Brian Forbes Recognised

Last Saturday night, Kerry Swann and Brian Forbes, attended the Brisbane Catholic Education, Leadership Dinner at which they were acknowledged for their work in Catholic Schools, given their pending retirement. Thank you again, for your immeasuarable contribution to the formation of Xavier and other schools in the region. 

Upcoming Events

16/11/2016    P&F Meeting

17/11/2016    Prep-3 Elders Swimming Lessons
17/11/2016    Yr 12 House Farewells
17/11/2016    Yr 12 Mass Practice
17/11/2016    Yr 12 Graduation Mass and Dinner
18/11/2016    P-12 Assembly (Yr 12 Farewell)
25/11/2016    Yr 11 Exam Block
22/11/2016    Middle School Celebration Evening
30/11/2016    11 Marine/MAP Vanuatu Cultural Excursion
25/11/2016    Year 10 & 11 Last day of school
25/11/2016    Prep Orientation Day
25/11/2016    Yr 3-6 Choir Stocklands Performance
29/11/2016    Yr 11 Ignatian Student Leaders Conference
29/11/2016    Junior Christmas Spirit Night
30/11/2016    P-9 Last Day of School
30/11/2016    P-9 Mass celebrating Feast of St Francis Xavier

FROM THE APRES

Remembrance Day

School Captains Eloise Rossetto and Bailey Kilpatrick represented Xavier at the Remembrance Day ceremony at Freedom Park last Friday, 11 November. Back at school, the rest of the Xavier Community paused during their lunch break to observe a minutes’ silence and honour those who gave their lives in order that we may live in peace and freedom. 

Upcoming dates of events that have a liturgical focus. You may like to add these to your calendar: 

• 17th November – Year 12 Graduation Mass to be held at St Joseph’s Church, Pialba at 6pm. Students are to wear formal uniform.
• 18th November – Year 12 Final Assembly & Liturgy. All students P-12 attend.  Parents and family members are welcome to attend. 9am start.
• 22nd November - Middle School Celebration Evening
• 29th November – Junior School Spirit Night. Parents and family members are welcome to attend.
• 30th November – End of Year Mass for P-9 students (incorporating the St Francis Xavier Feast Day) Mass to be held in Goa at 9.30am. Parents and family members are welcome to attend.
  

2017 School Fees
The 2017 Schedule of Fees and Levies is now available.
A school fees information pack will be emailed to all families and will be available on the Parent Portal and the College Website. Reminder: Payment plans with a January 2017 start date must be received for processing by 2 December 2016.

Congratulations to our Senior Language Students!
Each year our Senior French students participate in a competition run by the Australian Council for Educational research which tests their skills in Listening and Reading in French. We have traditionally performed extremely well in these competitions and this year is no exception. 

Year 10 students completed Certificate 1 in this competition being tested in two skills for the first time – Listening and Reading. Credits were achieved by the following students:

• Alex Pronk, Hayley Westendorp, Jack Buckley, Joshua Horwath, Kirra Buckley, Lysha Skene, and Michael Windle.

Distinctions were achieved by the students listed below:

• Grace Lunn, Hayden Kubler, Poorna Jayasinghe, and Raemah Krause.

The following students achieved a Distinction in Reading and a High Distinction in Listening.

• Christina Baumann, Julia Sullivan, and Mathew Maag.

Year 11 students completed Certificate 2 being tested in two skills-Reading and Listening. The students below received Credits at this level.

• Kyla McLaughlan and Naomi Shanahan.

The following students achieved Distinctions and High Distinctions in at least one skill.

• Hayley Boonstra - a Distinction in Reading, Ruby Mogor – a Distinction in Listening and Reading, and Charlotte Boyd – a Distinction in Listening and a High Distinction in Reading.

Our year 12 students completed Level 3 of this competition with 7 students gaining a Credit and 1 with Distinctions. Credit goes to:

• Patrick Donnelly, Georgia Louth, Jade Williams, Sophie Kluck, Georgia Sainsbury, Breanna Scott, and Jasmine Csetoth

Distinction

• Alexandra Maag.

A hearty congratulations to all of our talented students.
Loretta Swann – Director – Humanities/Arts/LOTE

 

SVDP Christmas Appeal
We are counting down now and eagerly awaiting your donations of gifts for our local families.  If you need help with gift ideas, check out the list below. Please bring in all donations as soon as you can.  Thank you.

Gift Ideas (Don’t forget to label with appropriate Age and Gender)

Boys        

• Lego, Balls (eg. Soccer, Tennis, AFL, rugby), Toy cars (eg. Hot Wheels, Matchbox, Super Blast, Robo Wheels, car packs, remote control)

Girls

• Bags, Dolls, Hair Stuff, Picnic sets, Makeup sets, Jewellery Sets

Unisex

• Books, Dress Ups, Puzzles and Board games, Art and craft packs (eg. stationery, art pencils and paints, sketch books, coloured paper)

District Swimming Carnvial
Congratulations to our Xavier swimmers who last Friday competed in the 9-12 years District Swimming Carnival. Xavier claimed the Overall school trophy, by just 7 points, with several of our students winning and placing throughout the day. Well done.

Paralympian visit
On Friday afternoon Paralympian Gold medallist, Katie Kelly who was visiting Hervey Bay to compete in the Hervey Bay 100 Triathlon weekend spoke to our Year 4’s and Year 8’s and a number of Year 7’s and 9’s. Katie spoke to the students about her experiences in Rio, as well as key life skills of persistence, consistency and getting out of your comfort zone. 

Wide Bay Triathlon Trials
On Saturday 10 Xavier students competed at the Wide Bay Triathlon Trials, with some outstanding results.

Senior Boys

• Todd Baldwin – 1st
• Jeremy Hinton – 2nd

Senior Girls

• Kayla Munson – 1st
• Leilani Coster – 7th
  

Intermediate Girls

• Piper Hinton – 2nd

Intermediate Boys

• Lachie Armstrong- 3rd 

Junior Girls

• Chantelle McCarthy - 5th
  

Junior Boys

• Col Curry – 1st
• Toby Powers- 2nd
• Harry King 3rd
  

Many of these students will go onto represent Wide Bay at the State Triathlon Championships early next year.

Changes to Child Protection and Family Support

The Queensland Government is building a new child protection and family support system that meets the needs of children and families, now and in the future. For this system to be effective and efficient, it requires a rigorous, contemporary legislative framework. Stage two of the public consultation to review the Act will run from October to December 2016. Go to www.qld.gov.au/childprotectionactreview for more information about the redesign of the Child Protection Act 1999.