Xavier College

This article is about the school in Melbourne, Australia. For other schools using the name Xavier, see Xavier (disambiguation) § Educational institutions.

Xavier College is a Roman Catholic, day and boarding school predominantly for boys, with its main campus located in Kew, an eastern suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Xavier was founded in 1878 by the Society of Jesus, and is part of the international network of Jesuit schools begun in Messina, Sicily in 1548. Originally an all-boys school, the College now offers co-education until Year 4, and an all-boys environment from then on. Xavier has three campuses around Melbourne, the Senior Campus and one Junior School, Burke Hall, are situated in Kew, while the other Junior School, Kostka Hall, is located in Brighton. The school currently caters for approximately 2,020 students, including 76 boarders.

Xavier is a school of the Archdiocese of Melbourne, and is affiliated with the Junior School Heads Association of Australia (JSHAA), the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA), the Australian Boarding Schools' Association (ABSA), and the Associated Public Schools of Victoria (APS).Xavier is famous for it's Year 12 muck up day in October 2008.

History

Xavier College's Senior Campus was established in 1878 on land known originally as Mornane's Paddock. Formed as a Jesuit school, it was originally named St Francis Xavier's College. Construction continued for the early part of the school's life, with the main oval in 1883 and the West Wing and Great Hall in 1890.

Cigarette card featuring the Xavier College colours and crest, Circa 1920s

In 1900, Xavier replaced St Patrick's College in East Melbourne, as the sole Catholic school in the then six-membered Associated Public Schools.

In 1920, Xavier acquired Studley Hall, a gift from T.M Burke, a Catholic businessman. Studley Hall was opened in 1921 as Xavier's first Preparatory school, and was renamed Burke Hall several years later in honour of its benefactor. In 1926, Burke's wife provided funding for a construction of a chapel in memory her deceased brother. The Burke Hall campus was later extended with the donation of an adjacent mansion from the estate of John Wren following his death.

Whilst this was occurring, a Memorial Chapel on the Senior Campus was constructed in memory of Old Xaverians killed in the First World War, opening in 1934. In 1937, the Kostka Hall Junior campus was opened in Brighton, originally consisting of two buildings, Maritima and Marchwood (also known as St Johns). Kostka Hall had originally been a boarding school but now is composed completely of day boys. There have been many upgrades to the buildings, and Marchwood no longer exists with a multi-purpose hall, including a music school and a stage, now in its place.

In 1993, the multi purpose Sports Centre, The Stephenson Centre was opened, including a 25 metre pool, basketball stadium, gymnasium and multi purpose rooms. The building's Gleeson Centre has views onto the main oval.

In 2002, a co-educational Early Years Centre was opened on the Burke Hall campus for students up to grade four. A similar facility opened at Kostka Hall campus in 2005. Xavier, however, remains a boys-only institution from Years 5 to 12.

The Senior Campus saw commencment of construction of a new Science facility and the Eldon Hogan Performing Arts Centre in 2005. The development includes eleven science laboratories, a large music rehearsal room, and a 500 seat Auditorium. In April 2008, science classes began in the new laboratories. The Centre officially opened on July 25, 2008 with a blessing by the Archbishop.

On December 31, 2008, principal of eleven years Chris McCabe will retire. At his appointment in October 1997, he was the first lay principal of a Jesuit school in Australia. Chris Hayes was announced as his replacement on August 25, 2008.

Campuses

Xavier has three campuses around Melbourne: the Senior Campus and one junior campus, Burke Hall, are situated in Kew, while the other junior campus, Kostka Hall, is located in Brighton.

In addition to these three main campuses, Xavier has an outdoor education facility in Buxton, near Marysville and a rowing shed on the banks of the Yarra River.

Curriculum

Xavier offers a broad curriculum in the first years of school, in order to defer specialisation. The course of studies offered in Years 5 to 10 are designed to encourage students to have a broad, cognitive education. Students are then prepared for the alternative courses offered in the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE).

Xavier's final year cohort consistently perform well in the VCE, as measured by the Equivalent National Tertiary Entrance Rank (ENTER). Approximately 50% of the year level generally finish in the top 10% of the state (achieving an ENTER of 90 or above). In recent years Xavier students have achieved the maximum ENTER of 99.95.

Specialist teachers are available for small group tutoring. There is an advanced programme for selected students from Year 5 culminating in first year university level mathematics in Year 12. Students are encouraged to take a Unit 3 and 4 level subject when in Year 11.

Spirituality

All classes from Early Years to Year 12 are taught Religious Education. It is integrated with the pastoral and service programs, with the aim of giving students an opportunity to make an informed decision about their own faith. In Year 11 the VCE subject Religion and Society (Ethics) is taught, while in Year 12 students have a choice between the VCE subject Texts and Traditions, or an internal course.

Co-curriculum

Sport, Music, Drama and Debating provide the main avenues for co-curricular activities. Students may also join a specific interest group such as the Chess Club. Outdoor Education is compulsory in Years 5 to 9. Students and teachers spend up to one week at the College's Outdoor Education Centre at Buxton, or an alternative venue, where they are given instruction in a variety of activities.

Community service

The school encourages students to participate in community service, and a minimum amount of completed service hours is mandated. Each Friday evening Xavier students volunteer their time at a tutoring school in housing commission apartments in Richmond, where many residents are recent migrants or refugees. Year 11 students must also complete an additional 35 hours while on a week-long community service placement, and a Maytime Fair is held annually to raise money for the Jesuit Mission in India. This event raises over AU$100,000 each year.

Debating

Xavier College participates in the Debaters Association of Victoria league, with students from Year 8 onwards given the option of participating. The school competes in the Hawthorn division.

Sport

Sport is compulsory for all students at Xavier. The school's Australian rules football team has produced numerous VFL/AFL players, and has won the most football premierships of any APS school. The Old Xaverians Football Club has also been successful in the VAFA, winning eight premierships in the last decade. In addition, a range of sporting activities are offered including triathlon, cricket, basketball, rugby, soccer, tennis, athletics, hockey, rowing, swimming, water polo, volleyball, cross country, lawn bowls, badminton, sailing and martial arts.

Music

Practical tuition is available for any orchestral and band instrument, piano, classical and modern guitar. There are many orchestras, bands, chamber groups and choirs operating at various levels in the school.

In 2006, the Wind Ensemble went on the school's first international music tour, touring around the USA. The tour group met with conductor Brant Karrick, to compose a work commissioned for the trip entitled Companions on a Journey, the school's theme for 2006.

Musicals and plays

Xavier holds an annual play or musical in conjunction with local girls' schools. An annual Musical is performed during late February/early March in conjunction with Genazzano FCJ College, the Winter Play is held with Loreto Mandeville Hall in July/August and students are invited to join with Loreto Mandeville Hall in their Spring Play, performed in October.

Recent performances include Black Comedy, The Mikado, Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Oliver! and Fiddler on the Roof. The 2008 musical was Little Shop of Horrors, in conjunction with Genazzano FCJ College. Also in 2008; Xavier College and Loreto Mandevalle Hall presented the prestigious Winter Play, Thornton Wilder's Our Town, in August, and they are currently associating with Loreto in their Spring Play, Lorca's Blood Wedding, in October. In Feburary, Xavier will present a modern adaptation of Gilbert and Sullivan's "Patience", to be performed with Genazzano FCJ College. "Patience" marks the first Xavier College Senior-Musical to be performed in the beautiful, brand new Eldon Hogan Performing Arts Centre.

Maytime Fair

The Maytime Fair has been held annually on the first Saturday in May for the past 58 years. The fair is hosted by Xavier College, and raises funds for the work of the Jesuit Mission, with support from friends and benefactors connected with schools, parishes and other communities in Victoria and beyond.

The most recent Fair was aided by Genazzano FCJ College, Ruyton Girls' School, Sacre Coeur School, Loreto Mandeville Hall and Methodist Ladies' College. These schools, along with Xavier College, provided student-run stalls such as "Go Nuts for Donuts", a Fairy Tent and face-painting amongst other things to raise over $5000 for the Jesuit Missions.

Every stall and attraction at the Maytime Fair donates 100% of its profit for the work of Jesuit Mission (except for the few stalls and attractions that are hired in for the day). The Maytime Fair consistently contributes over $100,000 each year for work in the developing world, including India, Cambodia, East Timor and Myanmar. In 2008, over $130,000 was raised. From that, money will be given to assist in the relief effort by Jesuit Missionaries in response to the 2008 Sichuan earthquake particularly.

House system

All students at Xavier College are grouped into houses. The houses are named after famous Jesuits, or other influential people in the Catholic system.

Senior Campus

Students at the Senior Campus are grouped into eight houses, which form the basis of tutor groups, pastoral care and extra curricular activity throughout their time at Xavier. The houses are as follows:

•   Bellarmine House (sky blue) – St Robert Bellarmine SJ, (1542–1621) – Integrity in All
•   Cheshire House (brown) – Group Captain Leonard Cheshire, Baron Cheshire VC, OM, DSO, DFC (1917–1992) – No Call Ignored
•   Claver House (magenta) – St Peter Claver SJ, (1581–1654) – To Serve And Not Be Served
•   Gonzaga House (blue) – St Aloysius Gonzaga SJ, (1568–1591) – No Greater Love
•   Ignatius House (red) – St Ignatius of Loyola SJ, (1491–1556) – To God Alone the Glory
•   Mannix House (gold) – Archbishop Daniel Mannix, (1864–1963) – Love One Another
•   Ricci House (black) – Fr Matteo Ricci SJ, (1552–1610) – To Understand the Unknown
•   Spinola House (green) – Blessed Charles Spinola, (1564–1622) – Always and Ever Faithful

Two additional houses are planned in 2009 in response to increasing student numbers.

Burke Hall

Students at Burke Hall are similarly divided into eight houses. The houses take a lesser role at Burke Hall, mainly forming a basis for co-curricular activities, sporting carnivals and events. The houses are as follows:

•   Aloysius House (white) – St Aloysius Gonzaga SJ, (1568–1591) – No Greater Love
•   Campion House (maroon) – St Edmund Campion, SJ (1540–1582) – The Expense Is Reckoned
•   Claver House (red) – St Peter Claver SJ, (1581–1654) – To Serve, Not Be Served
•   Ignatius House (green) – St Ignatius of Loyola SJ, (1491–1556) – To God Alone the Glory
•   Loyola House (brown) – St Ignatius of Loyola SJ, (1491–1556) – And Not to Count the Cost
•   Owen House (blue) – St Nicholas Owen SJ, (unknown–1606) – Unless the Lord Builds
•   Regis House (yellow) – St John Francis Regis SJ, (1597–1640) – Your Word My Light
•   Southwell House (black) – St Robert Southwell, (1561–1595) – Who Least Hath Some

Kostka Hall

Students at Kostka Hall are divided into four houses:

•   Campion House (green) – St Edmund Campion, SJ (1540–1582) – The Expense Is Reckoned (Formerly Tully)
•   Claver House (yellow) – St Peter Claver SJ, (1581–1654) – To Serve, Not Be Served (Formerly Hackett)
•   Owen House (blue) – St Nicholas Owen SJ, (unknown–1606) – Unless the Lord Builds (Formerly Maritima)
•   Regis House (red) – St John Francis Regis SJ, (1597–1640) – Your Word My Light (Formerly Craig)

Notable alumni

Main article: List of Old Xaverians

Alumni of Xavier College are commonly referred to as Old Xaverians, and upon their graduation automatically become members of the schools alumni association, the Old Xaverians' Association (OXA).

Amongst the schools notable alumni are Sir James Gobbo, the 25th Governor of Victoria, The Most Reverend Denis Hart, the 8th and current Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne, Simon Whelan, Justice of the Victorian Supreme Court, and Paul Dumbrell, a V8 Supercar driver.

Associated schools

Xavier's main sister school is Genazzano FCJ College, they participate in an annual musical production, orchestral workshops, fairs, debating, and masses. Other associated schools include Loreto Mandeville Hall, St Ignatius' College, Riverview, St Aloysius' College and Loyola College, Mount Druitt in Sydney and Saint Ignatius' College, Adelaide in Athelstone.

Further reading

• Xavier- A Centenary Portrait Greg Dening (1978) The Old Xaverians' Association. ISBN 0-9595926-0-1

See also

• List of schools in Victoria
• List of high schools in Victoria
• List of schools in Victoria, Australia according to 2006 VCE results
• Victorian Certificate of Education

External links

• Xavier College website
• Old Xaverian Football Club website
• Old Xaverian Soccer Club website
• Jesuit Mission Australia
• Characteristics of Jesuit Education in Australia - Mission, Governance and Directions Fr. Mark Raper SJ (Provincial), April 2006.