Xavier College
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).
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. 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. 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. The Centre officially opened on July 25, 2008 with a blessing by the Archbishop.
In October 2008, Xavier suspended its entire year 12 group after end-of-year behaviour resulted in one student being taken to hospital.
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). 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.
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.
Debating
Xavier College participates in the Debaters Association of Victoria league, with students from Year 8 onwards given the option of participating. 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.
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.
"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. 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 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. Each year, students compete in a Summer Sports Carnival, a Winter Sports Carnival, an Athletics Carnival and a Swimming Sports Day, with the title of champion house awarded based upon points accumulated on these four days.
In 2009, two further houses will be added, as the increase in the number of students has called for that.
Burke Hall
Students at Burke Hall are similarly divided into eight houses.