Xavier High School
Location
294 Fallon Street

Albury
,
New South Wales

Australia
Coordinates36°03′47″S 146°56′04″E / 36.06306°S 146.93444°E / -36.06306; 146.93444
Information
TypeIndependent systemic secondary co-educational day school
MottoThe truth will set you free
Religious affiliation(s)Catholicism
DenominationCongregation of Christian Brothers (1885–2002)
Patron saint(s)Francis Xavier
Established1983 (1983)[1]
FounderBrother John Henry Thornber, Sister Gwenda Livermore[1]
StatusOpen
Educational authorityNew South Wales Department of Education
OversightDiocese of Wagga Wagga
PrincipalNicole Morton[2]
Teaching staff66
Years offered7–12
GenderCo-educational
Enrolmentc. 900
Colour(s)
  •   Green
  •   Gold
Websitewww.xhsww.catholic.edu.au

Xavier High School, Albury is an independent Catholic systemic secondary day school for boys and girls, located in Albury, New South Wales, Australia.

Xavier High School is supported and partially funded by the Catholic School's Office of the Diocese of Wagga Wagga, which has a long history of involvement in Catholic education in the region, having previously orchestrated the merger of St Joseph's College for Girls and the Aquinas Boys College in 1983.[1] Xavier High School accommodates approximately 900 students between Year 7 and Year 12. The current principal is Gavin Dykes.[3] The school's motto is verse 8:32 of the Gospel of John, which reads, "the truth will set you free."

History and amalgamation

A tradition of Catholic schooling in the Albury region dates back to 1868, when the Sisters of Mercy established St Brigid's College on a small plot of land owned by St Patrick's Parish, in South Albury. In 1885, the Patrician Brothers opened a school for boys in an adjacent block in Olive Street, also owned by St Patrick's Parish. This school for boys was re-inaugurated by the Congregation of Christian Brothers in 1917, the same year St Brigid's College was redeveloped and renamed, St Joseph's Ladies College. For almost a decade, The Sisters of Mercy and Christian Brothers offered a Catholic-based education to thousands of students across the area. All teaching during this time period was performed by clergy of the Church, which ensured the schools held close ties with St Patrick's Parish. In 1959, a northern campus of the Boys College was established in Fallon Street North Albury, the site of the present day Xavier High. This establishment was named Aquinas College. In 1983, the boys and girls schools were amalgamated to create a co-educational system named "Xavier High School," after Saint Francis Xavier. The campuses remained separate until January 2001 wherein the school united to share the redeveloped Northern campus, the site of the present day school.[4] There are 8 Houses within the school named after the aforementioned colleges.[5] Today, the school employs over 60 teaching staff.[6]

Facilities

Facilities available at Xavier High School include: an indoor stadium equipped with an elevated stage, stage lighting and an audio-booth, mezzanine seating for 150, terraced seating for a further 200, and a capacity of 1,200; an athletic surface adapted for a range of indoor sports; a 200-seat Arts Centre, also equipped with an elevated stage, stage lighting and an audio-booth; two music rooms; three visual arts rooms; three sound-proof music/tuition rooms with recording equipment; an outdoor soccer/basketball court; three large sporting ovals; four science laboratories and a laboratory preparation room; two Computer rooms, which provide internet access and a range of software programs; a library with a range of fiction and non-fiction reference materials; two kitchens; a workshop, for use in range of industrial and VET (Vocational Education Training)-based subjects; a textiles room; and recently refurbished/re-landscaped quadrangles. Students also have access to a developing wetland and rainwater recycling facility; a relatively recently constructed block of five classrooms; four recently constructed student locker bays, and toilet facilities.

Houses

Xavier hosts an annual House Cup competition between the 8 House groups, with points awarded for House achievement and participation in sporting carnivals and events.

House information

  • Aquinas: "Enlightenment through learning, faith through understanding". Named after St Thomas Aquinas and Aquinas College, Aquinas is represented by the colour maroon.
  • Clark: "Persistence, task completion, fitness, working joyfully". Named after Thelma Clark, the first lay teacher of St Joseph's Ladies College, Clark is represented by the colour gold.
  • Dynan: "Gentleness, inner strength, striving for excellence, preserving what is good". Named in honour of Brother Dynan, a pioneer of Aquinas College, Dynan is represented by the colour red.
  • Joseph: "Simplicity, Love of work, courage, faith". Traditionally, Joseph is named in honour of Joseph, the father of Jesus Christ, in addition to recognising St Joseph's Ladies College. Joseph is represented by the colour white.
  • Loreto: "Holy place – in the way of Mary, loving and thoughtful". Loreto house is named after the village wherein the house of Mary the Mother of Jesus is situated and is represented by the colour blue.
  • MacKillop: "Faith Bravery and Strength – forthright and battling adversity". Mackillop is named in honour of Sister Mary MacKillop, who was canonised as the first Saint born in Australia. MacKillop is represented by the colour green
  • McAuley: "Working with others, leadership, dignity of all people, courage and compassion". McAuley House is named after Catherine McAuley, founder of the Sisters of Mercy and is represented by the colour purple.
  • Rice: "To do, to lead and learn, working for others". Rice House is named after Edmund Rice, advocate for disadvantaged education and inspiration for the Christian Brothers and is represented by the colour orange.

Sports and extra-curricular

Xavier High School is represented in a number of sporting activities, including school based Athletics, Swimming and Cross-country carnivals, BISSA and CCC level individual and team sports and state-level and national individual and team sports. Sports focused on at Xavier High School primarily include Soccer, Basketball, Swimming, Athletics, Cross-country running, Hockey and Cricket. Current extra curricular activities include Musical Performance evenings, Art Exhibitions, Musicals/Stage Productions and involvement in ANZAC day services/supporting Legacy.

Notable alumni

Notable staff

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Brief history of Xavier High School". Xavier High School. 2012. Archived from the original on 2 August 2012. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  2. ↑ "Xavier High School Albury – School Executive". Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  3. ↑ "Xavier High School Albury – Principals Message". Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  4. ↑ "Xavier High School Albury – Timeline". Archived from the original on 2 August 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  5. ↑ "Xavier High School Albury – Pastoral". Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  6. ↑ "Xavier High School Albury – School Structure". Archived from the original on 2 August 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
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