St Francis Xavier College (abbreviated SFX) is a
coeducational,
systemic Catholic
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
high school
A secondary school describes an institution that provides secondary education and also usually includes the building where this takes place. Some secondary schools provide both '' lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper seconda ...
and
college
A college (Latin: ''collegium'') is an educational institution or a constituent part of one. A college may be a degree-awarding tertiary educational institution, a part of a collegiate or federal university, an institution offerin ...
in
Florey,
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory (commonly abbreviated as ACT), known as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) until 1938, is a landlocked federal territory of Australia containing the national capital Canberra and some surrounding townships. I ...
,
Australia.
The college caters for years 7 to 12 from the
Belconnen
The District of Belconnen () is one of the original eighteen districts of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), used in land administration. The district is subdivided into 27 divisions (suburbs), sections and blocks. The district of Belconn ...
and
Gungahlin
The District of Gungahlin () is one of the original eighteen districts of the Australian Capital Territory used in land administration. The Gungahlin Region is one of fastest growing regions within Australia. The district is subdivided into div ...
areas and is part of the
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Canberra
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn is a Latin Rite archdiocese located in the Australian Capital Territory, and the South West Slopes, Southern Tablelands, Monaro and the South Coast regions of New South Wales, Australi ...
and Goulburn Catholic Education System.
The school is named after
Saint Francis Xavier
Francis Xavier (born Francisco de Jasso y Azpilicueta; Latin: ''Franciscus Xaverius''; Basque: ''Frantzisko Xabierkoa''; French: ''François Xavier''; Spanish: ''Francisco Javier''; Portuguese: ''Francisco Xavier''; 7 April 15063 December ...
of
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, i ...
, who was a
Jesuit Missionary who spread the Christian message in
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
and parts of
Japan.
Location
The school is located on the eastern border of the suburb of Florey. It was founded in 1976, originally just as a high school (serving years 7-10), and officially opened by
Archbishop Cahill on 24 September 1977. In 2001, the college graduated its first year 12 students. The college is one of the six Catholic Archdiocesan secondary schools in the
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory (commonly abbreviated as ACT), known as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) until 1938, is a landlocked federal territory of Australia containing the national capital Canberra and some surrounding townships. I ...
. It is located on a large side block, across the road from Saint John The Apostle Primary School, and bounded by Barnard Circuit and Kingsford Smith Drive.
[ACT Yellow pages 2006, Map 37.]
Curriculum
Middle school (years 7 and 8) are placed in a vigorous mathematics, science and humanities program with the choice of various elective subjects including languages, drama, visual arts, technology and design and hospitality.
In years 9 and 10 students are to continue a similar pattern of liberal arts education with compulsory religious education. Students choose which Social Science subject they will study - History, Geography or Commerce. Other electives include the popular Sport and Recreation Courses.
In the senior years most students are placed through a dynamic university preparatory program tailored to each students future career and study aspirations and academic level. English and Religion (religious philosophy, art history and psychology) units are compulsory and maths and sciences are highly recommended. However, a wide range of university like units are available such as Sociology, Psychology, Business and Media, that prepare students for vocational or higher education. The school's program has proven its dynamic and analytical thinking; its 2008 and 2009 UAI/ATAR results were among the highest in the territory.
The college is known for its strong pastoral support of students. In senior years the Senior Studies Coordinator is part of a team who assist students in their academic goals.
Refurbishment and facilities
In recent years the college has undergone some major refurbishments and improvements to its facilities. Many areas of the school were completely redone, including the Resource Centre and Student Services Hub, an area to which all students have access. The Resource Center contains books and computers. Other areas of the school which were renovated include the maths building and the art building. A new middle school building was also erected.
The school also boasts a fully functional theater area, containing up-to-date lighting and prop equipment, as well as a large seating area for performances such as the school musical held every second year. The school's basketball and tennis courts were also repainted with some new design changes making basketball and tennis a realistic choice for school physical education classes. Additionally, the school has created many "breakout" computing areas in the renovated areas of the school. This, combined with the three dedicated
computer areas has increased the number of computers available to students to well over 40 units.
Environmental awareness
SFX has moved closer to becoming an environmentally
sustainable school. Each classroom has recycling bins for paper and cardboard, students receive Waste Wise and
sustainability education, and a worm farm has been established for food scraps.
Recently SFX received an ACT NoWaste award, which is an award given by the ACT government to organizations with commendable environmentally sustainable no-waste programs.
St Francis Xavier College recently became the first high school/college in Canberra to be officially Wastewise accredited.
Extracurricular activities
Extracurricular activities offered at the college include:
* College musical (every 2 years)
*
Pride club
* Production crew
* Yearbook
* The school magazine (''The SFX-tra'')
*
Robotics
Robotics is an interdisciplinary branch of computer science and engineering. Robotics involves design, construction, operation, and use of robots. The goal of robotics is to design machines that can help and assist humans. Robotics integrate ...
*
Youth ministry
Youth ministry, also commonly referred to as youth group, is an age-specific religious ministry of faith groups or other religious organizations, usually from ages 12 to 30, whose mission is to involve and engage with young people who attend th ...
*
Public speaking
*
Manga club
*
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance: a play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a genre of poetry in general, the dramatic mode has b ...
club
*
Programming language
A programming language is a system of notation for writing computer programs. Most programming languages are text-based formal languages, but they may also be graphical. They are a kind of computer language.
The description of a programming ...
Tutorials
* Writing club
* Reading cafe
* Various sports teams
* Green Team
* Debating team
* Band and Choir
* Strategic Games Club
* Volunteering for local charities such as The
Salvation Army (Salvos) and
St Vincent de Paul Society
The Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP or SVdP or SSVP) is an international voluntary organization in the Catholic Church, founded in 1833 for the sanctification of its members by personal service of the poor.
Innumerable Catholic parishes have ...
(Vinnies)
*
World Youth Day
World Youth Day (WYD) is an event for young people organized by the Catholic Church that was initiated by Pope John Paul II in 1985, sometimes nicknamed in later years as the "Catholic Woodstock". Its concept has been influenced by the Light-L ...
References
External links
SFX College website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Francis Xavier College, Canberra
Catholic secondary schools in the Australian Capital Territory
Educational institutions established in 1976
1976 establishments in Australia