It has been wonderful to have all our students back at school and in the classroom full time this week. While we have now resumed full time face to face teaching the health and safety of our staff and students remains of utmost importance and we continue to have special provisions in place.
We have increased the numbers of cleaners and they are doing a great job completing regular and thorough cleans of the entire school. Classrooms are also equipped with cleaning supplies to allow for desks and chairs to be wiped down after class. Currently we are not holding school assemblies or other large gatherings. Staff and students continue to be reminded to practise good hygiene including regularly washing hands and using correct coughing etiquette, social distancing is also being maintained between staff and between staff and students. We also request parents keep their child at home if they are unwell or showing symptoms of being unwell. If a child presents at school and is unwell their parent will be asked to come and collect them. The Xavier Leadership Team is keeping a close eye on the situation and continues to take advice from the NSW Government and the Catholic Education Diocese of Wagga Wagga (CEDWW).
This week saw the start of National Reconciliation Week. The theme for this week is 'In this together'. National Reconciliation Week runs from 27 May to 3 June and is a time for all of us to learn about and celebrate our shared histories, cultures and achievements. The dates of National Reconciliation Week are the same every year because the first and last days of this week commemorate two significant events in our country's history. The successful 1967 referendum held on 27 May saw changes to the Australian Constitution to empower the Australian Government to make laws in respect of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to help address inequalities. On 3 June 1992 the High Court of Australia recognised that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people had rights to the land and that these rights existed before British arrival. You may know this as the Mabo decision.
After a long wait, this week we were very pleased to receive news that Mark Edwards OMI has been appointed as the sixth Bishop of the Diocese of Wagga Wagga. I welcome Bishop Edwards to our Diocese and wish him well in his new position.
We also said thank you and farewell to Mr Don Hillam who finished up at Xavier this week. Don originally moved to Albury to enjoy his retirement, however we were fortunate enough Don agreed to join us at Xavier this year to teach music. Thank you Don and we wish you well.
Friday 5 June 2020 had originally been scheduled as a pupil free day for students to allow for staff to attend a professional development day. Given current restrictions this professional development day is not going ahead. Therefore Friday 5 June is a normal school day and students are expected to attend school.
Please also remember that from Monday 1 June students are required to wear full winter uniform.
Finally just a reminder we are continuing to take enrolments for Year 7 2021. If you or anyone you know is interested in enrolling their child in Year 7 at Xavier next year please contact the office for an enrolment application.
Key Dates
Thursday 28 May - Thursday 4 June Year 11 Assessment Period
Monday 1 June Students required to wear winter uniform from this date.
Monday 8 June Queen's Birthday public holiday
