Xavier School

This article is about the school in Manila. For similarly named educational institutions, see List of schools named after Francis Xavier.
Xavier School
光启学校 (Chinese)
Motto Luceat Lux (Latin)
Let your light shine!
Established June 6, 1956
Type Private, College Preparatory School
Affiliation Roman Catholic (Jesuit)
Affiliations JBEC, EDSOR
President Fr. Aristotle C. Dy, S.J.
Principal Jane C. Cacacho
High School
Aimee A. Apolinario
Grade School
Arlene T. Choo
XS Nuvali
Location San Juan City, Metro Manila,  Philippines
Campus 7.5-ha. Greenhills campus
Colors Blue      and      Gold
Athletics MMTLBA, PAYA, FASAAPS, BEST Passarelle
Nickname Golden Stallions
Mascot Hoofy
Former name Kuang Chi School
Alma Mater Song "Luceat Lux"
Website www.xs.edu.ph

Xavier School (Abbreviation: XS; simplified Chinese: 光启学校; traditional Chinese: 光啓學校; pinyin: Guāngqĭ Xúexìao; Hokkien: Kông Khē Hák Hàu), is school located at 64 Xavier Street, Greenhills, San Juan, Metro Manila, Philippines. It is a private Catholic college preparatory school for boys run by the Society of Jesus' Philippine Province. Its K-12 curriculum includes a mandatory Chinese language program. It also offers the IB Diploma Program in Grades 11 and 12 to selected students.

Founded in 1956 as Kuang Chi School by a group of Jesuits expelled from China, Kuang Chi School opened its doors on June 6 of that year. Kuang Chi School was named after Paul Hsü Kuangchi, Minister of Rites during the Ming Dynasty. Xavier School currently bears the name of St. Francis Xavier, a Christian missionary and co-founder of the Society of Jesus. The school has recently concluded celebrating its Golden Jubilee. Former and current students include sons and grandsons of industrialists and politicians.

It is one of the few basic education institutions in the Philippines to receive a 7-year accreditation, the longest possible period,[1] and one of the only three institutions, besides De La Salle University and Ateneo de Manila University, to receive the Level III accreditation[2] for both the Grade School and the High School unit by the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities. In January 2010, Xavier School was granted International Baccalaureate (IB) World School status.[3]

After serving for 12 years, Fr. Johnny Go, S.J. from the Xavier School class of 1979 ended his presidency of the school. He was the first alumnus to serve as school president.

The current School President or School Director is Fr. Aristotle C. Dy, S.J. Fr. Dy, who is an alumnus of Xavier School from the class of 1989. He is only the second alumnus to hold the presidency.

History

Many Jesuit missionaries who were obliged to leave China in 1949 found a new home and mission in the overseas Chinese community of the Philippines. To facilitate their evangelization of the Chinese community, the Jesuits decided to set up a school in downtown Manila. Begging for donations by going door-to-door in Chinatown, Fr. Jean Desautels, S.J., a French-Canadian Jesuit who was part of the China mission, worked with Basilio King and Ambrose Chiu, two Chinese businessmen, both Ateneo de Manila alumni, who wanted to help set up an Ateneo de Chino.

At 3:30 pm on December 15, 1955, Fr. Desautels closed the deal and purchased the land, an hour and a half before the 5:00 pm deadline agreed by Fr. Desautels and the seller of the land. Eventually, the group of Jesuits led by the late Frs. Jean Desautels, Louis Papilla, and Cornelius Pineau founded Xavier School (Kuang Chi).[4]

In 1956, in a converted warehouse in Echague, Manila, the school opened its doors to its initial batch of students – 170 children of Chinese immigrants in the Philippines. The school was named after St. Francis Xavier, one of the first leaders of Jesuit missions in China, which was pursued but unwillingly left unfinished by the school’s Jesuit founders. The school was also named after Paul Hsü Kuangchi (Pinyin: Xŭ Guāngqĭ; Simplified Chinese: 徐光启; Traditional Chinese: 徐光啓), a 16th-century Chinese nobleman and high court official who converted to Christianity and supported its spread in China.

Being a Jesuit school helped establish the school’s reputation. In 1960, Xavier School transferred to a 7-hectare property in Greenhills, San Juan, then only an area of rice fields and grasslands. Within a decade, the outlying areas became home to many Xavier families. The campus is a complex of 12 buildings housing over 4,000 students from Nursery to High School.

Xavier has been educating Chinese Filipinos from the very beginning. Part of its mission is evangelizing the local Chinese and promoting their integration into Philippine society.

Unlike other Chinese schools in the Philippines, Xavier School was established as an all-boys school, a Catholic school with an English curriculum that integrated Chinese studies. Through its Grant-in-Aid program, the school offers financially challenged but otherwise qualified students the opportunity of a Xavier education.

Organization and Administration

Presidents and Rectors of
Xavier School
Fr. Jean Desautels, S.J., 1956–1966
Fr. Ismael Zuloaga, S.J., 1966–1985
Fr. Alberto Ampil, S.J., 1985–1991
Fr. Rodolfo Eugene Moran, S.J., 1991–2001
Fr. Johnny Go, S.J., 2001 – 2013
Fr. Aristotle Dy, S.J., 2013 – present

The school is composed of two units: Grade School Unit 1 (Kindergarten to Grade 2), Grade School Unit 2 (Grades 3 to 6), and High School (Grades 7 to 12). Each of the units in the Grade School is led by an Assistant Principal, who reports to the Grade School Principal. The High School is led by the High School Principal, assisted by the Assistant Principal for Academics and the Assistant Principal for Formation. Both the Grade School and High School Principals report to the School President.

Other top-level administrators reporting directly to the School President are the Personnel Officer and the School Treasurer.

Board of Trustees

Officers

Jesuits

Academics

Admission

Admission to Xavier School is very competitive. Generally, students enter Xavier as kindergarten students. Boys may also try to be part of the student population as high school freshmen (Grade 7), by taking the Xavier High School Entrance Examination. Transfer students are also accepted but the requirements are high.[5]

The Xavier Education has two important elements: Personal Formation and Academic Formation.[6]

The Xavier School Song

The official Xavier School Song was composed by Dolores Avelino. The history of the song may be found in Fr. Santos Mena, S.J.'s book, "Luceat Lux." Lyrics and an MP3 version of the song may be found on the Xavier School website.[7]

In 2002, X-Squad, the school's cheering team, came up with the Xavier Rap. Xavier Rap is the school song in rap format and people can dance to the beat. In the same year, a violin and acoustic guitar version were produced as well. These two instrumental versions provide an atmosphere for reflection—a common Jesuit trait and activity—derived from the Examen.

Activities

XS students on a field trip
Dance X
CAdT

Xavier School has activity groups, including Christian life communities (Companions, Crusaders, Youth Christian Life Community), student governments (Student Councils), SIGs (Debate Team, Song Writers Guild), publications (Hoofprint, Stallion), performance groups (Glee Club, Stage FX, Dance X), and club sport teams. Likas Gilas in the High School and SIKLAB in the Grade School provides alternative classes for the students to explore their interests in a short span of time. Citizen Advancement Training (CAdT) is a unique disciplining experience for graduating high school students.

During the 3rd quarter, Grades 8, 10, and 12 students undergo the Synthesis Quarter, with the choice of having the local Flexible Curriculum, or, embarking on an adventure with the Xavier China Experience (XCE). The Flexible Curriculum, also known as the Flexi, clusters subjects that are usually separate to make learning more integrated. A select number of students may opt for the XCE which offers a more intensive (Mandarin) Chinese component, as they spend their 3rd quarter in Fujian (Grade 8), Yunnan (Grade 10), or Beijing/Shanghai (Grade 12). The XCE is a requirement for high school graduation.

Recollections and retreats are treasured moments in the life of a Xaverian. In Grade 6, one has the "Persons are Gifts" recollection. In Grade 7, Bukas Palad (Open Hands), which features a Mother and Son recollection. In Grade 8, Ignite. Grade 9 students go on a trip to the Bilibid prison, and have a recollection the day after. The Grade 10 have the Fire and Wind recollection, and the juniors have the Days With The Lord Program. In his senior year, he joins the SM Immersion, which allows him to experience working as a supermarket bagger for a number of days, and joins the Pathfinding retreat.

On February 18, 2008, the school had a Tree Planting activity that took place in Caliraya Lake, Laguna.

Athletics

The school athletics programs are part of a selection of co-curricular activities available to its students. Xavier School fields over thirty teams in twelve sports. Students are not required to take part in organized athletics, but many do. In 2005, XS had 488 athletes who competed in tournaments and leagues in different age-groups in one level or another. The teams are selected on a competitive basis.

Xavier School considers commitment as the theme of its athletics program. The biggest, and maybe the only, incentive of XS student-athletes in making a commitment is the privilege of carrying the school flag in interscholastic athletic competitions. In the same way, the school is committed in supporting its student-athletes, as stated by the school's athletics program coordinator.[8]

Athletics are not only available to Xavier students. They also extend to the larger Xavier School community. Every year, a fun run is held whereby students, faculty and staff, parents, alumni and friends participate in a marathon around the Greenhills area, in friendly competition for the top prize. Everyone, including the public, may use Xavier School's sports facilities upon obtaining permission to do so from the school.

Mascot

The mascot is a golden stallion.[9]

The stallion is a popular image used in Chinese culture.

In the school year 2002 to 2003, Hoofy, the official caricature of the school mascot, was created. It was designed by David Gonzales of the class of 2005.[10]

A life-size model of Hoofy goes around campus and is available for performance at special events.

Service

Part of Xavier School's programs is social service. Nursery students begin with interactions with household help, seventh-graders help their younger brothers with their bags as well as interact with kids in Boystown, a facility which houses youths in need. High school sophomores are sent to "do work" in Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City with other people, and seniors are sent as baggers in a supermarket.

In December 2004, super typhoon Yoyong (international code name: Nanmadol) struck the province of Quezon. A member of the Xavier High School faculty initiated Sagip Pasko 2004: Donate-A-Can Project.[11] Sagip Pasko which means "save Christmas" was spearheaded by Grade School and High School Student Councils, Stallion (the official high school student publication), Metamorphosis (the high school yearbook organization), and the XS Youth Christian Life Community. During the Christmas break, volunteers from the student body organized themselves and headed towards major supermarkets and malls to solicit donations from shoppers. Locations included Robinson's Galleria Supermarket, Unimart, SM Megamall's Supermarket, and Rustan's Supermarket in Shangri-La EDSA. After eight hours of volunteer work and literal begging, the students went home to Xavier with two coasters and four vans full of donations from shoppers. These were then brought to the victims in Quezon.[12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]

In February 2006, a super typhoon hit the Philippines hitting Southern Leyte and triggering landslides. Richard Uy and Brian Ong, high school seniors then, initiated Xavier Project DoTA: Donate to Aid.[20] Through internal coordinations with the Student Councils and major organizations within the school, Uy and Ong had booths were set up to receive donations in cash and in kind. Student volunteers spent their recess and lunch hours soliciting and helping sort the donations. Some also stayed overtime after class to do that. Externally, Richard and Brian coordinated with the National Disaster Coordinating Council, Philippine National Red Cross and the Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan of the Philippine Province of the Society of Jesus. So far, their project has garnered close to half-a-million pesos, all in a very short span of time.[21]

Campus

The school campus in Greenhills houses buildings in its 7-hectare lot, including the Fr. Eugene Moran S.J. Early Education (EED) Building, the Fr. Rafael Cortina S.J. Sports Center, the High School building, the Grade School buildings, the Xavier School-Angelo King Multi-purpose Center, the Jesuit Residence and the Central Administration building.

Sports facilities on campus include a swimming pool, a deep pool with diving facilities, covered courts, a wooden court, a wall climbing facility, badminton courts, two football fields, a driving range, a quadrangle, an oval track, a basketball stadium, and workout gyms.

Among the facilities is the Fr. Rafael Cortina, S.J. Sports center, which was inaugurated on June 9. 2006. Among its amenities are a multi-purpose gym with three basketball courts and a stage for school events, table tennis facilities, an open shower area, a swimming pool, a sepak takraw venue, badminton courts, two basketball stadiums with bleacher seating for 1,400, a 2-lane rubber-matted track oval, exercise rooms, an air-conditioned hall for meetings and other activities, a workout gym, a badminton court, a tennis court, and parking facilities. The Center was designed by alumnus Jonathan O. Gan of the class of 1984 and was built over two years under the supervision of Fr. Santos Mena, S.J.

Pocket gardens are now along the corridors. Two statues have been added to the campus scenery – one of Kuang Chi, a replica of one found in Xujiahui in Shanghai, and a larger-than-life sculpture of St Ignatius of Loyola, reminiscent of that in Santa Clara University.

In 1999, the official Jesuit Residence was transferred to the fourth floor of the MPC and the former Jesuit Residence, still known as the Jesuit Residence building (or JR), was converted to classrooms for high school seniors, as well as a faculty room for High 4 faculty. Most recently, the High 4 classrooms were transferred back to the High School building, while the Information Technology Center was transferred to the JR building.

Xavier School Nuvali

Opened in June 2012, Xavier School Nuvali in Laguna is a 15-hectare campus that aims to have at least 25% of its students as scholars. It offers a flexible coeducational school, where boys and girls study together for selected subjects and grade levels, and separately in others.

Community

Xavier School's community consists of its students, faculty, staff, an active Alumni Association of Xavier School , the Xavier School Parents Auxiliary,[22] and the friends of Xavier School.

Awards

Notable alumni

Further reading

See also

References

  1. ↑ PAASCU website
  2. ↑ TOWARDS 21st-CENTURY LEARNING AND CHARACTER FORMATION. "Xavier School » TOWARDS 21st-CENTURY LEARNING AND CHARACTER FORMATION". Xavier School. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  3. ↑ Xavier School. "Xavier School: Now An Authorized IB World School". Xavier School. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  4. ↑ Martin Gomez. "Mena, S.J. Santos. "December 15, 1955". Luceat Lux: The Story of Xavier School. 2005". Xavier School. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Acceptance rates for Kindergarten, Freshmen and Transfer Students." Testing and Research Center, Xavier School, 2005
  6. ↑ Martin Gomez. "The Xavier Education". Xavier School. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  7. ↑ http://web.xs.edu.ph/static/About%20Xavier/schoolsong.php Xavier School Song
  8. ↑ a message from the Athletics Coordinator 2006
  9. ↑ Martin Gomez. "Golden Stallion – The School Mascot". Xavier School. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  10. ↑ Gomez, Peter Martin. "Xavier School Institutional Identity Book", 2005.
  11. ↑ "Sagip Pasko Goods Drive, 2004". Xavier School. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  12. ↑ Martin Gomez (December 16, 2004). "Lamotan, Alphonse. "Reaching Out… Getting High", 2004". Xavier School. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  13. ↑ Martin Gomez (December 16, 2004). "Co Ting Keh, Lance. "Can you spare a can?", 2004". Xavier School. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  14. ↑ Martin Gomez (December 16, 2004). "Go, Laurence. "Hamon sa mga Xaverians", 2004". Xavier School. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  15. ↑ Martin Gomez (December 14, 2004). "Siy III, Robert. "Saving Christmas", 2004". Xavier School. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  16. ↑ Martin Gomez (December 14, 2004). "Ong, Brian. "Pasko Nanaman", 2004". Xavier School. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  17. ↑ Martin Gomez (December 16, 2004). "King, Harvey. "Yoyong's Tidings", 2004". Xavier School. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  18. ↑ Martin Gomez (December 14, 2004). "Li, Raymund. "Sagip Pasko: Pagtugon sa Panahon, Pagbuo ng Tradisyon", 2004". Xavier School. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  19. ↑ Martin Gomez (December 16, 2004). "Lee, Conrad. "Blow Against the Wind", 2004". Xavier School. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  20. ↑ Martin Gomez. ""Xavier Project DOTA", 2006". Xavier School. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  21. ↑ Uy, Richard. "Report on Xavier Project DoTA", 2006
  22. ↑ Martin Gomez. "XAVIER SCHOOL Parents' Bulletin Online". Xavier School. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  23. ↑ "Dancing nerds – Inquirer.net, Philippine News for Filipinos". Opinion.inquirer.net. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  24. ↑ Martin Gomez. "Xavier School – Xaverians Bag Awards Left and Right". Xavier School. Retrieved October 17, 2011.

External links

Coordinates: 14°36′15″N 121°02′25″E / 14.604166°N 121.040347°E