Gavin Dykes, Principal

Yesterday Mr Bob Williams announced he will retire at the end of the school year.  Bob has been incredibly loyal to Xavier, clocking up 40 years of teaching at our school this year.  During his 40 years Bob has held many positions including his current roles as our Director of Communication, a member of the Xavier Leadership Team and our Sports Coordinator.  Bob is a very wise head and the support and guidance he has given me during my time as Principal is something I am very thankful for. His calmness, and sense of humor will also be missed by many of us.  I look forward to thanking Bob more formally and recognising his contributions to our school at the end of the year.

Mr Eamonn Buckley will join us next year in the role of Assistant Principal.  Eamonn joins us from Catholic College Wodonga where he is currently the Deputy Principal of Student Development. Eamonn's appointment finalises our leadership team for next year. 

This team is as follows:

Principal - Mr Gavin Dykes

Assistant Principal - Mr Eamonn Buckley

Leader of Student Wellbeing and Pastoral Care - Ms Shinead Kilroy

Leader of Learning and Teaching - Mr Shane Piper 

Leader of Faith Formation and Mission - Mr Heath Neville

Our Year 12 2021 cohort were finally able to commence their final HSC Exams this week.  Everyone at Xavier is very proud of these students and the way they have handled one of the longest year 12's that I can remember. It hasn't always been easy for them but the end is now in sight! Their exams will run until mid December so please keep them in your thoughts over the coming weeks.

Yesterday I distributed a letter from CEDWW regarding changes to fees. All schools in the Diocese are having changes made to their fees from next year.

This is to support CEDWW in funding a comprehensive renewal of school facilities across the Diocese. At Xavier we are lucky to be one of the first to receive capital works upgrades to our facilities with the construction of our stadium and refurbishment of the 300 Quad and CAPA. Please know that we will continue to support those families who are experiencing genuine financial hardship. If you are concerned about your ability to meet your fee obligations or have any question about the changes outlined in this letter please contact the school.

As we move towards the end of the school year I kindly request that if your son or daughter is not returning to Xavier in 2022 that you contact the school to ensure you understand our student exit process. 

Thank you to those parents who have already done this.

Our school will be supporting NSW Health’s efforts to minimise the risk of COVID-19 transmission within our community by distributing FREE rapid antigen home testing kits to all students. This is an optional screening measure and you are not required to participate.

The rapid antigen home tests are a quick and easy screening tool to help detect COVID-19 in people who do not have symptoms. It involves a nose swab being placed in a chemical solution. Results can be ready within 10 minutes.

If your child is experiencing even the mildest of COVID-19 symptoms, please do not use the rapid antigen home tests. You should follow NSW Health advice to go and have them tested for COVID-19 in one of the local testing clinics and isolate until you receive their result.

Please note we will not be using the rapid antigen home testing kits on students while they are in school.

How do I pick up the rapid antigen home test kits?

• testing kits are now available outside the front office (Fallon Street) between 8.15am - 4.00pm. Please do not enter the front office to pick up a testing kit.
• Testing kits must be collected by a parent/carer. Kits will not be provided directly to students.
• Each student at Xavier is entitled to one kit. Our school only has enough packs to be used by immediate staff and students.
• These kits are optional, if you do not wish to collect a kit you do not have to.

Further information:

2 weeks’ worth of RAHT kits will be provided for each student. This will come in a pack of 4 kits to be used twice a week. If you opt in to use them, instructions on how to use the tests, check results and safely dispose of the kits are provided within the packs.

You do not need to report your RAHT results to the school. If your child’s result returns as ‘negative’, then they can go about their day as normal which includes attending school.

If your child returns a ‘positive’ or ‘invalid’ test result, please follow current protocols, isolate and get a COVID-19 test (PCR test as the mouth and nose swab) in one of the local clinics.

If you have any questions about RAHT, please contact CareStart Customer Support on 1800 195 055.

As we have now settled back into something more like a normal school routine students and parents are reminded of our uniform policy. 

The correct uniform is to be worn at all times. As it is Term 4 students are to be wearing hats when they are outside. 

Additionally, PE uniform is to be worn only on the days students are completing PE practical classes. 

A reminder that short 'Champion' style shorts ARE NOT part of the current uniform. 

If students are not able to wear the correct uniform they must bring a note from home to explain. 

From Week 7 staff will begin recording students who are out of uniform and repeat offenders will be followed up.

Last week, our new School Captains - Eli Davern and Angelina Barker, alongside other Year 12 leadership nominees, took part in the AlburyCity Youth Forum. This dynamic group of students zoomed into a broad discussion with other young people and students from across the city. This collective was consulted on issues impacting Albury’s youth with topics spanning inclusion, transport and employment. 

This forum was a valuable and important opportunity for our students as they actively contributed to meaningful conversations to help shape AlburyCity’s strategic plan for young people into the future.

Congratulations to all involved and the thoughtful voice of our youth they exemplified on the day.

Year 7 2022 Orientation Days (planned)
Learning support students Monday 22nd November.
Holy Spirit Primary School Wednesday 24th November.
St Pats Primary School Thursday 25th November.
St Anne's Primary School Friday 26th November.

Year 10 Formal
Planned for Friday 26th November 2021.

Xavier Day
Planned for Friday 3rd December 2021.

Year 12 Graduation
Planned for Tuesday 7th December 2021.

Year 7 (HPV9) Vaccinations
Planned for Thursday 25th November 2021

Final date for students
Friday 10th December 2021

Xavier High School Class of 2021 Graduation

Tickets now available for purchase. Please check COMPASS for ticket details.

Date: Tuesday 7 December

Location: Albury Racing Club

More details soon!

Save the date

Year 10 Formal

Friday 26th November 2021

More details to come.

Our Year 12 Vet Construction students in action pouring the concrete slab for a new half court basketball area.

Vet Construction students earn 2 competencies in concrete for this project.

A shout out to Hard As Concreters for their helpful advice.

How talented are our Year 9 Food Tech students!

This week they baked and decorated their cakes with each student choosing a different theme.

Nice one, they look fantastic.

Thank you to all of the applications for Peer Support Leaders for 2022, we received an overwhelming amount of applicants!

The Peer Support Program is a fun and interactive program which incorporates leadership training, with a primary role to help new Year 7 students achieve a smooth transition to life at Xavier.

We look forward to announcing the successful applicants in the near future. 

This week our Year 10 Food Tech students commenced a project of creating an 'on shelf product'.

Students are required to create a food item that could be for sale in a store, including developing a brand name, packaging and promoting it! 

Just like in a store, the packaging is to include a nutritional panel, barcode, and ingredients list.

We are really looking forward to seeing the end product.

A reminder to all students who catch the bus either to or from school each day.

You are required to present your bus pass for each time you travel.

A reminder to add your name and surname to your school uniform and other belongings. This way you can be notified if it arrives at Lost Property.

We currently have a high volume of items unclaimed in Lost Property.

Please check regularly for lost items that may belong to you.

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:

To learn more, or for more episodes follow the Teach Better Together facebook page CLICK HERE

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 Xavier website:

CLICK HERE and scroll down to Private Instrumental Tuition