Xavier College
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| Xavier College | |
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| Sursum Corda (Lift up your hearts) |
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| Established | 1878 |
| School type | Catholic (Jesuit), Independent |
| Rector | Fr Michael Ryan SJ |
| Principal | Mr Chris McCabe |
| School Captain | Mr Peter Willis |
| Location | Kew, Victoria, Australia |
| Campuses | Three |
| Area | 40 Acres |
| Enrollment | 2000 |
| School colours | Red and Black |
| School song | Sursum Corda |
| Homepage | http://www.xavier.vic.edu.au |
- This article is about the school in Melbourne, Australia. For the group of colleges in India, see St. Xavier's College.
Xavier College is a Jesuit day and boarding school in the Catholic tradition, from pre-prep to VCE. Originally an all boys school, girls can now attend until Year 4. Xavier has three campuses around Melbourne and is considered one of the city's most prestigious and exclusive private schools. The Senior School and one Junior School, Burke Hall, are situated in Kew, while the other Junior School, Kostka Hall, is located in Brighton. One of the oldest private schools in Victoria, Xavier was founded in 1878 by the Society of Jesus, and is part of the international network of Jesuit schools begun in Messina, Sicily in 1548, as well as being a member of the Associated Public Schools of Victoria.
[edit] History
Xavier College's Senior Campus was established in the year 1878 on land known originally as Mornane's Paddock. Formed as a Jesuit school, it was originally named St Francis Xavier's College. Construction continued relentlessly for the early part of the school's life, with the main oval in 1883 and the West Wing and Great Hall, in 1890. [1]
In 1900, Xavier replaced St Patrick's College in East Melbourne, as the sole Catholic school in what was, at that stage, a six-membered Associated Public Schools.
In 1921, Xavier acquired Studley Hall, a gift from T M Burke, which was to be used as a junior school and, consequently, was named Burke Hall in his honour. In 1926, Burke's wife provided funding for a construction of a chapel in memory her deceased brother. The Burke Hall campus was later extended with the donation of an adjacent mansion from the estate of John Wren following his death.
Whilst this was occurring, a Memorial Chapel on the Senior Campus was constructed in memory of Old Xaverians killed in World War I. In 1937, the Kostka Hall Junior campus was opened in Brighton.
In 2002, a co-educational Early Years Centre was opened on the Burke Hall campus which runs to grade four. A similar facility opened at Kostka Hall campus in 2005. Xavier, however, remains a boys-only institution from Years 5 to 12, with boys migrating to the Senior campus in Kew for years 9 to 12. [2]
In addition to these three main campuses, Xavier owns: Buxton, a camping site near Marysville; a rowing shed on the banks of the Yarra River; and an oval at Yarra Park.
Its sister schools include St Ignatius' College, Riverview, St Aloysius' College and Loyola College, Mount Druitt in Sydney and Saint Ignatius' College, Adelaide in Athelstone.
[edit] House System
Students at the Senior School are grouped into eight houses, which form the basis of homeroom, tutorial groups, pastoral care and extra curricular activity throughout their time at Xavier. The houses are named after famous Jesuits, or other influential people in the Catholic system, and are as follows: Bellarmine (sky blue), Cheshire (brown), Claver (pink/maroon), Gonzaga (blue), Ignatius (red), Mannix (yellow), Ricci (black), Spinola (green).
The influence of a student's House is present throughout his time at Xavier due to a variety of sporting events and school activities. Each year, students participate in a Summer Sports Carnival, a Winter Sports Carnival, an Athletics Carnival and a Swimming Sports Day, with the title of champion house awarded based upon points accumulated on these four days. Points are allocated for participation as much as for success.
[edit] Reputation
Xavier's final year cohort consistently achieve outstanding results in the VCE, with about 50% of the year level generally finishing in the top 10% of the state (achieving an ENTER of 90 or above). Xavier's dux is often one of the twenty or so students each year who achieve the maximum ENTER score of 99.95.
Sport is compulsory and encouraged at Xavier. The School has a proud and successful history in many sports - particularly Australian rules football. Some students have been drafted and gone on to play professionally (see below). Xavier has won the most football premierships of any APS school, including winning four times in a row from 2000; the Old Xaverians Football Club has also been very successful in the VAFA, winning eight premierships in the last decade alone. Xavier students are encouraged not just to play, but also to watch their fellow classmates in their endeavors, especially the Firsts teams of each sport. At major APS sporting events such as the Head of the River, Xavier always has a large cheer squad. This squad has been known to use Mr Men books, traditional chants, and even the Bible to inspire their teammates. Xavier College's sporting participation has grown in recent years to include a wider variey of sports. Its soccer program, for instance, has grown to encompass four year nine teams, three year ten teams, and six senior teams, and has produced notable soccer players such as former Socceroo Paul Trimboli.
In keeping with the Ignatian tradition of being a 'man for others', Xavier encourages community service amongst its students, and a minimum amount is compulsory. Each Friday evening Xavier students volunteer their time at a tutoring school in the Housing Commission flats in Richmond, where many residents are recent migrants or refugees. Year 11 students must furthermore complete an additional 35 hours while on a week-long community service placement. Finally, the Maytime fair is held every year to raise money for the Jesuit Mission in India. This event raises around $200,000 each year.[3]
Xavier has an extensive program of creative arts, annually holding a play and musical (in conjunction with local girls schools), and an arts festival. In 2006, these two items were Oliver and Macbeth. The school also fosters a large music program, with a wide variety of bands, ensembles and orchestras to play in. Many bands have won awards in competitions such as the Melbourne School's Bands Festival, and the A Cappella group in local Eistedfodds.
This extra-curricular activity is a core part of the Jesuit philosophy of 'teaching the whole person'.
[edit] Pastoral Care
Pastoral Care is a dimension of "cura personalis" (concern for the individual) that enables the seeds of religious faith and commitment to grow in each individual by enabling each one to recognise and respond to the message of divine love, then responding to this discovery through a commitment to service within the community.
Pastoral Care refers to the total care of the student. It is a term used to describe both an attitude and a process and is based on a belief in the dignity of the person. We aim to nurture in our students a growing awareness of a personal God and developing a relationship with Him.
[edit] Spirituality
Religious Education is an integral part of all courses from EYC to Year 12. It has clear academic goals, and is integrated with the pastoral and service programs. A basic hope throughout is that students gain an opportunity to make an informed decision about their faith. In Year 11, the VCE subject, Religion and Society (Ethics) is taught, while in Year 12, students have a choice between the VCE subject Texts and Traditions, or an internal course.
[edit] Faith in Service
This programme is all about "Men & Women for Others", a cornerstone of Jesuit philosophy, where we encourage our students to involve themselves in practical Christianity.
[edit] Academics
Xavier aims to offer a curriculum of considerable breadth in the first years of school and to defer specialisation. The course of studies offered in Years 5 to 10 reflects the educational policy of encouraging students to have a broad, cognitive education. Students are then prepared for the alternative courses offered in the VCE.
At every level a student's academic progress is monitored, firstly by his and her Year Co-ordinator and more specifically by his tutor and house room teacher.
[edit] Special Education Gifted/Talented
Specialist teachers are available for small group tutoring. There is an advanced programme for selected students from Year 7 culminating in first year university mathematics in Year 12. Students are encouraged to take a Unit 3 and 4 level subject when in Year 11.
[edit] Co-Curricular
Sport, Music, Drama and Debating provide the main avenues for co-curricular activities. Students may also join a specific interest group such as the Chess Club. Outdoor Education is compulsory in Years 5 to 9. Students and teachers spend up to one week at the College Outdoor Education Centre at Buxton, or an alternative venue, where they are given expert instruction in a variety of activities.
[edit] Communications
Computer literacy skills are taught from EYC to 6. Computer laboratories and class sets of laptops are used to ensure that all students gain the necessary skills. Burke & Kostka Hall use Macs, whilst the Senior Campus (except Media, who use Macs) uses Windows PCs. In Years 10, 11 and 12, all students have their own notebook computer which is used in most classes, with the introdcution of the laptop program extending to Year 9 in 2005. All campuses have WiFi networks. The school also has a permanent radio link connection to the Internet.
[edit] Sport and Health and Physical Education
Health and Physical Education classes are compulsory for all students in EYC to Year 10 and may be taken as a VCE. subject in Years 11 and 12. This programme is complemented by a wide range of sporting activities including football, cricket, basketball, rugby, soccer, tennis, athletics, hockey, rowing, swimming, volleyball, cross country, lawn bowls, badminton, sailing and martial arts.
[edit] Music
Class music is compulsory to the end of Year 8. Every student in Year 5 must learn a musical instrument for a small charge to parents. Practical tuition is available for any orchestral and band instrument, piano, classical and modern guitar. There are many orchestras, bands, chamber groups and choirs operating at various levels in the school.
On the 6th of December, 2006 Xavier College's Wind Ensemble went on the school's first international music tour. They toured around the USA stopping in LA, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Columbus, Toledo and Chicago. The tour concluded on the 21st of December with the band arriving back in Melbourne on the 23rd. It was a major success with the band receiving standing ovations at almost all its performances. They were also able to meet the conductor, Brant Karrick, of a work that was comissioned for the trip entitled 'Companions on a Journey', the school's theme for 2006. The success of this trip will hopefully allow for more musical tours for various groups in the school's music program.
[edit] Theatre Arts
Media and Drama are compulsory in Year 7 and 8 and are offered as electives through to Year 12. Theatre Studies is introduced at Year 10 and is offered as a VCE. subject. These studies cater for the interests of many talented students.
[edit] The Maytime Fair
The Maytime Fair is held annually on the first Saturday in May at Xavier College to raise funds for the work of the Jesuit Mission. The Fair is supported by a vast array of friends and benefactors connected with schools, parishes and other communities in Victoria and beyond.
The most recent Fair was aided by Genazzano FCJ College, Ruyton, Sacre Coeur and MLC. These schools, along with Xavier College, provided student-run stalls such as "Go Nuts for Donuts", a Fairy Tent and face-painting amongst other things to raise over $5000 for the Jesuit Missions.
Every stall and attraction at the Maytime Fair donates 100% of its profit for the work of Jesuit Mission (except for the few stalls and attractions that are hired in for the day). The Maytime Fair consistently contributes over $135,000 each year for vital work in the developing world - including India, Cambodia, East Timor and Myanmar. The 2007 fair next year will be the 57th Maytime Fair.
The Maytime Fair is the oldest school fair in the Southern Hemisphere and is the oldest as well as the largest one of its kind in Australia. It provides an opportunity for students of the area to catch up and give money to a cause worth giving to.
[edit] Notable Alumni: 'Old Xaverians'
Former students of the school are known as Old Xaverians. They now automatically become members of the Old Xaverians Association however this has not always been the case. See List of notable Old Xaverians.
[edit] Books
- Xavier- A Centenary Portrait Greg Dening (1978) The Old Xaverians' Association. ISBN 0-9595926-0-1
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.xavier.vic.edu.au/AboutXavier/history.htm
- ^ http://www.cecv.melb.catholic.edu.au/schools/schoolinfo.asp?searchfor=E1040
- ^ http://www.xavier.vic.edu.au/events/maytime.htm
[edit] External links
- Xavier College website
- Old Xaverian Football Club website
- Old Xaverian Soccer Club website
- Jesuit Mission Australia
- Characteristics of Jesuit Education in Australia - Mission, Governance and Directions Fr. Mark Raper SJ (Provincial), April 2006.
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