History:
On land known originally as Mornane鈥檚 Paddock, the Senior Campus of Xavier College opened in 1878 鈥渋n the far-flung countryside of Kew.鈥� Known originally as St Francis Xavier鈥檚 College, it was and is a Jesuit school. In 1900 Xavier replaced St Patrick鈥檚 College, East 吃瓜不打烊, as the sole Catholic school in the then six-membered Associated Public Schools. In 1921 Xavier acquired Studley Hall, the gift of T M Burke, as a junior school and renamed the property Burke Hall in his honour. In 1926 Mr Burke鈥檚 wife provided funds for the construction of a Chapel in memory of her deceased brother.
Meanwhile, the Memorial Chapel on the Senior Campus was being built in memory of those Old Xaverians who had been killed in World War 1. In 1937 another junior school, Kostka Hall in South Road, Brighton, was opened.
In 2002, a co-educational Early Years Centre was opened on the Burke Hall campus which will eventually run to Year 4. A similar facility is opening at Kostka Hall in 2005. Xavier will remain a boys-only facility from Year 5 鈥� 12, with boys moving to the Senior Campus in Kew for Years 9 鈥� 12.
Description:
Xavier College belongs to the 460-year tradition of Jesuit education founded by St Ignatius Loyola and we strive to develop men and women for others whose model for the way they lead their lives is Jesus Christ. A Jesuit education inculcates a desire to be constantly doing more, to accept the challenge of taking the next step. It seeks to instil a lifelong love of learning and discovering that will go on long after the students have completed their secondary education.
Features:
Pastoral care of each student is central to education at Xavier. Families are encouraged to maintain close contact with teachers, Level Co-ordinators and tutors. Chaplains at each year level monitor the boys鈥� spiritual development and the tutor system, supported by the house-room system, ensures that each student is individually nurtured.
Xavier has an extremely broad curriculum and a vibrant community service program. There is a Learning Enhancement Centre which caters for extension and remedial activities and there are many music and drama programs and performances, usually in conjunction with girls鈥� schools. The school has a comprehensive range of sporting activities, an extensive exchange programme for students and staff to at least five overseas countries and aboriginal communities within Australia. The Boarding House, home to some 76 students, is a vibrant and integral part of the Xavier student community.
At Xavier College, in summary, we strive to develop students of competence, conscience and compassion; people who will make a difference when they move into the wider community once they leave school.