Gavin Dykes, Principal

Earlier this afternoon I was so pleased to receive advice that all of our staff and students who reside in Victoria will be able to return to school on Monday 31 May.

I am really looking forward to having everyone back at Xavier next week!

There are some requirements that we must all follow and they were posted on Compass this afternoon.

I kindly ask everyone to take some time to read these to ensure we all comply with the requirements.

These requirements will be in place until 11.59pm on 3 June.  

On the weekend we celebrated the feast of Pentecost. It is considered to be the feast which also recognises the birth of the Christian Church.

At the feast of Pentecost, the Spirit descends upon the Apostles.  It’s the same Spirit who first rushed like a wind over the formed void of the deep at the beginning of creation.

The same spirit instils in all of us the inspiration to be faith filled followers of Jesus. 

Thursday 27 May saw the start of National Reconciliation Week. This is a time for all of us to learn and celebrate our shared histories, cultures and achievements. The theme for this week is More than a word. Reconciliation takes Action. Each year National Reconciliation Week runs from 27 May to 3 June. These dates stay the same each year, as the first and last day of the week recognise two significant events in our country's history. The successful 1967 referendum held on 27 May saw changes to the Australian Constitution that empowered 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 handed down the Mabo decision which recognised that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people had rights to the land and that these rights existed before British arrival. On Monday next week Xavier will come together for a smoking ceremony to celebrate and recognise the importance of National Reconciliation Week. More details about this are included below.

As part of National Careers Week, we held our inaugural Xavier Careers Expo on Tuesday 18 May. Mrs Terri-Anne Scott did a wonderful job coordinating the expo which saw over 30 businesses and organisations come together at Xavier. Our students gained a lot of valuable insight into the exciting opportunities and pathways that are available to them in our local community once they finish school. Events like our Careers Expo really highlight the strength of our Xavier community. The enthusiasm and support we received from our families, friends and past students for the expo was really appreciated by all of our staff and students.

A short video of our Career’s Expo is included below.

Finally, I want to kindly remind you of the dangers of under age drinking. This includes the damages to health, the increase in risk taking behaviour, and poor decision making. 

To watch a SchoolTV video on this important issue CLICK HERE

Have a great weekend and I look forward to everyone being back at school on Monday.

Year 11 & 12 Parent / Teacher Interviews

Tuesday 8th June 

4pm - 6.30pm  

Bookings are now open and will close at 12pm on Monday 7th June. 

Booking link can be found on COMPASS.

This week we were fortunate enough to gather as a whole school community for an assembly. Carrying on with our theme of “Call it Out”, the assembly focused on promoting behaviours which are uplifting of others and calling out those that are degrading or harmful of others. 

Our School Captains, Ebony and Isaac led the assembly and gave an insightful address on the positive behaviours they have seen and experienced in our School and how this made them feel. We were also able to celebrate many wonderful achievements of our students from a wide variety of settings. Mr Williams presented our Athletics and Cross Country Age Champions from earlier in the year, as well as highlighting a range of team and individual successes across a huge number of sports. Mrs Scott took the opportunity to recognise a number of students who have excelled in the various Careers activities which have been organised this year, most notably at the recent Careers Expo. We are truly lucky to have so many students excelling in such an array of different activities and opportunities. All students are encouraged to take whatever opportunities present themselves throughout the schooling year.

We were very privileged to hear from Ashleigh Moore and Alexander Brigden who both performed on the keyboard. Ashleigh played “Jessica’s Song”, whilst Alexander performed “The River Flows in You”. Both students are performing these songs as a part of their HSC Music course and did an exceptional job in front of the whole School.

The theme of “Call it Out” will continue throughout the year in encouraging and empowering our students in all of their daily interactions.

National Reconciliation Week
Smoking Ceremony
Monday at 1:15pm

Reconciliation Australia’s theme for 2021, More than a word. Reconciliation takes action, urges the reconciliation movement towards braver and more impactful action.

Reconciliation is a journey for all Australians – as individuals, families, communities, organisations and importantly as a nation. At the heart of this journey are relationships between the broader Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

To our new supporters, please remember the importance of privileging and amplifying First Nations’ voices as you add your voice to calls for reconciliation and justice.

We all have a role to play when it comes to reconciliation, and in playing our part we collectively build relationships and communities that value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories, cultures, and futures.

2021 marks twenty years of Reconciliation Australia and almost three decades of Australia’s formal reconciliation process.

Just a reminder that Year 7 Enrolments for 2022 are closing soon.

It's easy to complete as we have a brand new Online Enrolment Portal.

Just create a profile then click through the steps to submit your application.

For more details or to find the link to apply, visit the Xavier High School website www.xhsww.catholic.edu.au

TO WATCH: CLICK HERE

With the advent of the internet, smart phones and tablets, there is now a whole new digital dimension added to traditional schoolyard bullying. There was once a time when bullying victims were given some respite outside of school hours, but sadly these days, online bullying can occur 24/7. In today’s world, teaching your child about online and cyber safety, is as important as learning to swim or cross the road!

Cyberbullying can be identified as being the repeated behaviour by an aggressor with the intent to harm or embarrass. Technology enables these aggressors to share information widely and quickly, making this form of bullying extremely dangerous and harmful. However, the answer is not to shun the internet nor social media. Instead, parents are encouraged to embrace it and instil a family internet policy to protect their children without limiting the freedom to learn, explore and communicate online.

In this edition of SchoolTV, parents are provided with useful guidelines and advice on how to minimise the risks. Children have the right to feel safe, regardless of whether it is in the schoolyard or online.

We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this edition of SchoolTV and we always welcome your feedback. If you have any concerns about your child, please contact the school counsellor for further information or seek medical or professional help.

Young people are being bullied online right now. Understanding what to do about it can help stop the harm it causes.

What does cyberbullying look like?

Cyberbullying behaviour might include:

• abusive texts and emails
• hurtful messages, images or videos
• imitating others online
• excluding others online
• humiliating others online
• spreading nasty online gossip and chat
• creating fake accounts to trick someone or humiliate them

How common is it?

In the 12 months to June 2017:

1 in 5 Australian young people reported being socially excluded, threatened or abused online

55% sought help from their parents, 28% from their friends; 38% blocked the offending social media account; 12% reported it to the website or platform

1 in 5 Australian young people (15% of kids, 24% of teens) admitted behaving in a negative way to a peer online — such as calling them names, deliberately excluding them, or spreading lies or rumours. Of these, more than 90% had had a negative online experience themselves.

What can I do?

Learn how to protect yourself and your family, and what to do if you or someone you know is experiencing cyberbullying.

More information can be found on the e safety website:CLICK HERE

School TV has a special report on Vaping to ensure our whole community is educated around Vaping and what exactly it is. At Xavier, we have a zero tolerance policy to both traditional cigarettes and the more contemporary version, e-cigarettes. We have recently had a case of vaping on site and it is important our community is aware of the dangers.

Vaping is becoming a trendy pastime that is growing in popularity across Australia, especially amongst teenagers. It is the act of inhaling a vapour created by an electronic cigarette, or e-cigarette. Many teenagers are succumbing to peer pressure around this risk-taking activity due to the ease of accessing and hiding vapes. They are often cheaper than conventional cigarettes, making it more cost-effective and attractive to young people.

McAuley House are currently hosting a charity fundraiser for ‘FightMND’

Beanies are on sale during recess every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, so be sure to head on down to the 300 quad near the office and pick up a beanie for only $20

FightMND was established with the purpose of finding effective treatments and ultimately a cure for Motor Neurone Disease, and with every beanie purchased, you can help to further fund their cause.

Thank you to the McAuley House Captains for organizing this fundraiser, and make sure to keep an eye out for the upcoming Big Freeze day where you’ll be able to wear your new beanie!

Thanks to everyone who attended our inaugural Xavier Careers Expo, it was a huge success!

We thank the following businesses and groups for their attendance:

Albury City Council, Anytime Fitness, Apprenticeship Support, Cafe Musette, Charles Sturt University, Cycle Station, Expanse Aviation, Golf NSW, Helifly Albury, Hutcheon & Pearce, Jayco Albury Wodonga, Joss Construction, Kestrel, Kirinari, La Trobe University, Lifelong Careers, Mercy Connect, MP Training & Recruitment, NSW Ambulance, NSW Fire & Rescue, Optus, PGC Security, Regional Industry Education Partnerships, Richmond Institute of Sport, Squad, Staughton Group, Stone Real Estate, TAFE NSW, Wodonga TAFE, Wolki Farm.

The BISSA Athletics Carnival planned for Wednesday 2nd June has been postponed.

The new date for the Carnival will be Tuesday 20th July.

Are you a keen reader and want to win some great prizes...

The Xavier High School Reading Competition is on now!!

WHO: 
Junior Category: Students in Years 7 - 10 
Senior Category: Students in Years 11 & 12

WHAT:
Xavier High School Reading Competition.

WHEN:
Open now until the Final Judging during Book Week in Term 3 (Wk 7)

WHERE:
Visit the Xavier Library for more information.

WHY:
The House with the most number of book reviews will win
House Points are up for grabs
Great individual prizes on offer for the Best Book Review!

HOW:
Easy 3 step process: 
1. Find a book you like 
2. Borrow it from the Xavier library 
3. Leave a review on the Library Portal (Oliver) 

Student Leader Profile: Georgia Hickey

House: MacKillop

Your Position: Stage 4 Leader

What inspired you to take on a leadership position?
To be a good leader my peers and younger students can look up too.

What are the things that make your House great?
MacKillop is like one big family.  

What do you love about Xavier High School?
I like the healthy environment at Xavier and all the friendly teachers.

Which Xavier event did you enjoy most last year and what was so good about it?
I enjoyed R U Ok Day when we did the Homeroom activities because it was a time for my Homeroom to grow a stronger bond and become closer.

Student Leader Profile: Nick Brennan

House: Joseph

Your Position: House Captain

What inspired you to take on a leadership position?
I wanted to extend my role within the school.

What are the things that make your House great?
A great work ethic and high participation level in all activities.

What do you love about Xavier High School?
Sport, getting around my mates and having good teachers.

Which Xavier event did you enjoy most last year and what was so good about it?
Swimming carnival, it was heaps of fun and hanging out with mates for the day.

All staff and students are welcome! 

Fridays @ lunchtime in the ERC.

Come along and share in conversation, community building, mentoring and wisdom sharing. 

You might even learn a few new skills along the way!

Join in with our up-coming lunchtime activities at Xavier.

Music Jam Session - Each second Friday (Day 5)

Yr 10, 11 & 12 Film & TV Club - Wednesdays

Board Games - Tuesdays & Thursdays

Faith/Ethics/Philosophy Discussion Group - Each second Friday (Day 5)

Art Group - Tuesdays 

Yarning with Yarn - Fridays

Voice coaching with Nicki  - Thursday lunchtime

Choir - Thursdays

Chess Club - Wednesdays

The Xavier Sports Stadium construction continued with pace again this week, with the craning into place of the initial concrete tilt panels. 

Each of the concrete panels are over 9m tall and weigh around 9 tonnes! 

Friday 14th May was Do It For Dolly Day.

Thanks to Xavier students Charlie, Savannah and Halle who organised a fundraiser. 

Money was raised with students and teachers having their hair coloured with blue hair spray, plus students completing laps of the oval.

Our winners for the most laps of the oval completed were: 

Bryce for the most laps with Joe and Aiden equal second.

Well done team!

On Sunday 23rd May some our students enjoyed a morning of worship, music & morning tea at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church Youth Mass.

It was great!

headspace Albury Wodonga are in the early planning stages or creating a ‘Youth Community Garden’.

The key objective of the community garden project is to create a non-clinical space for young people aged 12-25 to make connections within their local community. 

These spaces will provide opportunities for young people to:

• Have a closer connection to community
• Experience personal growth
• Improve life skills including all things gardening & sustainability

Did you know, there is a Xavier Facebook group for second hand uniforms & equipment?

This is a closed group, however you can request permission to join.

LINK: CLICK HERE

About:

Xavier offers students access to on-site private music tuition before, during and after school. Tuition is open to all students from Years 7-12. 

Xavier collaborates with instrumental teachers of music, providing students with the opportunity for private lesson on their chosen instrument.  

Students can study:

• Keyboard Piano
• Guitar - Acoustic, Electric, Bass
• Woodwind - Flute, Clarinet, Oboe
• Brass - Saxophone, Trumpet
• Percussion - Drums
• Voice - Contemporary

Shared lessons can be arranged with individual tutors at a reduced fee per student. 

For more information visit our website:

CLICK HERE and scroll down to Private Instrumental Tuition