Xavier College Gawler Belt eNewsletter

Uniform Shop in School Holidays

The Uniform Shop will be open in the school holidays on Thursday, 18 July from 8:30am to 4:30pm.

Evanston - National Simultaneous Storytime Day

In Week 4, Evanston Campus celebrated National Simultaneous Story Time. Our Early Years team met in the Library to be a part of the live stream to hear the story 'Bowerbird Blues' story being read by the author. Classes celebrated the story book by learning about bowerbirds and with a variety of craft activities throughout the day. Our students loved collecting blue objects and sharing their creativity with one another!

Anthea Lipp
Early Years Coordinator

Evanston - Northern Cluster Carnival

During Week 3, 76 enthusiastic Year 5 and 6 students from Xavier embarked on an exciting journey to Argana Park, ready to immerse themselves in a thrilling day of soccer and netball. Blessed with perfect weather, the event unfolded seamlessly, thanks to the invaluable support of senior Xavier students and dedicated parents. This annual gathering serves as a vibrant platform for Catholic Schools across the Northern region to engage in competition, fostering not only healthy rivalry but also an abundance of fun. From our Evanston Campus four girls’ netball teams took to the courts, while we proudly fielded two boys' and one girls' soccer team, all eager to showcase their skills on the field.

Lyndon Draper
Sports Coordinator 

Evanston - Year 6 Excursion

In Week 5, our Year 6 students embarked on an exciting and educational excursion to Adelaide, enhancing their learning in HASS and Visual Art. The day began with a warm welcome from Tony Piccolo, our local member of Parliament, who provided an insightful tour of the ornately decorated rooms of Parliament House. Students had the unique opportunity to sit in both the House of Assembly Chamber and the Legislative Council Chamber, learning firsthand about parliamentary roles.

The adventure continued at the South Australian Museum, where students explored Indigenous Australian culture through a self-guided tour. During their visit, they sketched Indigenous Australian artefacts, creating artworks that will be featured in a Year 6 Showcase later this year—stay tuned for more details!

The highlight of the museum visit was undoubtedly the infamous giant squid exhibit, which captivated students from every level of the museum. We commend our Year 6 students for their engagement and thoughtful questions through the day.

Anna Vanderhout, Anna Kaczmarek, Brett Wood, Emily Dickeson and Lyndon Draper.
Teachers

Evanston - Podcasting Leadership Day

In Week 6, two of our Year 6 students, Eli Costa, and Angelique Du Randt, represented Xavier College Evanston at the ARCH D Podcasting Leaders Day. This event, designed to cultivate leadership and technical skills in podcasting, provided a platform for collaborative engagement among students from various Catholic schools.

Over the course of the day, Eli and Angelique participated in structured podcasting challenges, working in teams under the guidance of experienced mentors. These exercises facilitated practical learning in content creation and production techniques, contributing to their overall understanding of how to make an engaging podcast.

As a rare treat, there was a guest appearance from Triple M presenter Laura 'Loz' O’Callaghan and producer Tom Basso who shared their experiences in the radio industry.

Taking part in the day, Eli and Angelique made great connections with students from other schools and learnt valuable skills that they will share with their peers when they take part in the Podcasting Workshops with ARCH D presenter James Meston later in Term 2.

Emily Dickeson
Teacher

Evanston - Rugby Carnival

In Week 4, the courageous students of Evanston once again showcased their bravery on the field, participating in only the second Primary Schools NRL Tackle Carnival. Following the resounding success of the inaugural event last year, there was no doubt that we would eagerly embrace this opportunity once more. Competing against schools, both Catholic and non-Catholic, from the northern plains, we faced the challenge head-on, demonstrating unwavering courage in a sport that was somewhat unfamiliar to many of us.

Claiming two trophies was the cherry on top of an already thrilling day. A special round of applause goes to one of our boys’ teams, whose undefeated streak was a testament to their skill and determination. Despite the inevitable bruises and sore muscles, the day was filled with smiles and camaraderie, underscoring the true spirit of sportsmanship that prevailed throughout. Well done to everyone involved.

Lyndon Draper
Sports Coordinator

Evanston - St Vinnies Winter Appeal

Our Year 6 students have embraced a meaningful community outreach project, dedicating their time and culinary skills to support the St Vincent de Paul Society's Fred's Van. Every Tuesday, small groups of students gather in the kitchen to prepare, cook, and provide hearty soups. This initiative is part of our Winter appeal to St Vinnies, aiming to offer comfort and nourishment to those in need during the colder months.

Fred's Van is a vital service run by dedicated volunteers. It delivers hot, nutritious meals to individuals experiencing homelessness, those who are marginalised, and others in need of a warm meal and friendly face. This service not only provides essential nourishment but also fosters a sense of community and support for some of the most vulnerable members of our society.

Our students' involvement in this initiative is a testament to their willingness and enthusiasm to participate in community outreach. By engaging in this project, they learn valuable life skills, such as teamwork, cooking, and the importance of giving back to the community. They also develop a deeper understanding of empathy and compassion as they actively contribute to helping others.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the St Vincent de Paul Society for providing us with this opportunity to serve. We also thank our students for their hard work, dedication, and commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of others.

We look forward to further fundraising for St Vincent de Paul with our Sausage Sizzle in Week 10 and getting everyone involved, to demonstrate the power of community and the impact we can have when we come together to support those in need.

Kristynn Ross
Assistant Head of Campus - Mission

During Week 3 and 4, our Year 11 Hospitality students showcased their culinary talents to the staff and students of Xavier College, offering an array of delicious treats at their Asian Street Market stalls. Each stall highlighted the culinary expertise of a different country. From spring rolls and sizzling stir-fried dishes to sweet Asian delicacies, our guests were spoiled for choice. Well done to all students involved in preparing these dishes and their achievements in showcasing such culinary excellence.

Kimberley Seelander
Teacher

Gawler Belt - Parliament Excursion

The Year 11 and 12 Legal Studies classes recently had the chance to step inside the historic South Australian Parliament House alongside local member Tony Piccolo MP. From diving into Parliament's rich history to understanding the ins and outs of our State Government, these students gained valuable insight into the legislative processes and parliamentary functions of law-making procedures in South Australia.

Alexandra Zille
Teacher

Gawler Belt - Pedal Prix

Three teams from Xavier College entered a Pedal Prix race at Tailem Bend at the end of Week 3.

The weather was excellent for racing and our teams performed brilliantly, racing in a massive field of 171 vehicles.

Bosco 1 achieved a fantastic 11^th position in the Senior School division of 48 vehicles. Racing in this category is super competitive and we congratulate Elijah Kelly, Cameron Hayward, Owen Relihan, Daan Barrett, Eamon Fopp and Ethan Martin for achieving this significant result.

Bosco 2, driven by a developing team also performed beyond our expectations, coming home in 31^st position in this same division. Joseph Dwyer, William Menadue, Eli Lillecrap, Oliver Kelly, Blake Wandel, Dean Crew and Luca Renshaw worked so hard on the day in this heavier vehicle to earn this worthy placing.

Bosco 3 is our entry vehicle and was piloted by younger riders who raced in the Lower Secondary division of 42 vehicles and they secured 30^th position . None of these riders had ever raced before and they showed courage and skill taking to this giant track in a huge field of riders including the high-speed adult teams. A great effort was displayed by Isobel Norris, Leithen Thomas, Zachary Menadue, Lincoln Strawbridge, Lachlan Gladigau, Max Bannon and Tyler Taverner.

An important factor in Xavier’s overall success was that none of our vehicles experienced mechanical problems or race damage, allowing the riders to compete without interruption. This enabled our students to identify base line performances which they can seek to improve with training and competition during the season.

The Xavier Pedal Prix team is extremely grateful for the parent support from volunteers in Track Marshalling, I.T. vehicle monitoring, mechanical and rider changes. Thank you also to the Xavier Maintenance team which always provides vehicles and equipment.

Rob Welsh
Student Hub Technician

Two Wells - Adelaide Zoo

During Week 4 and 5, our Two Wells Campus Year 1 students attended an excursion to Adelaide Zoo. Students took photos of natural, managed and constructed features around the Zoo using classroom iPads to support their learning in Humanities and the creation of Australian animal enclosure dioramas for Design and Technology. Highlights included the Bird Flight Show experience, Nocturnal House and giant Nature Playground! It was a beautiful day spent together exploring the Zoo's animals and our native Australian species.

Adele Taylor
Early Years Coordinator

Two Wells - Indigneous Garden

During Reconciliation Week, our Two Wells Campus Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students united to plant native flora in our new Indigenous Garden! This hands-on activity allowed our First Nations students to connect with the earth and each other. The garden serves as a vital space for students to gather, share stories, and celebrate their heritage in a safe and proud environment. It was an amazing experience for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students during Reconciliation Week, and we are all excited to see our garden grow at Two Wells.

Kaitlin Marrone
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Support Officer

Two Wells - Italian Day

In Week 4, our Two Wells Campus celebrated Italian Day by hosting their own Palio di Siena! The Palio di Siena is a horse race held twice a year in Siena, Italy, where horses and riders race around the town centre, a tradition dating back to the 17th century. Our Year 5’s put on their running shoes, dressed in Italian flag colours, and mounted their horses to compete in a House relay event in spirit of the Palio di Siena. Students competed in two races, with Handley winning the first and Occhiena winning the second. Congratulations to the winners, and well done to all students who competed!

Two Wells - National Simultaneous Storytime Day

On Wednesday, Week 4, our Xavier College Two Wells R-2 students participated in the 2024 National Simultaneous Storytime. Every year schools, pre-schools, libraries, and bookshops across Australia listen to the same story read aloud to promote literacy and nurture children's love for reading.

As part of Laudato Si' week, R-2 students gathered to listen to special guest, Vanessa from Fauna Rescue SA, share about the importance of caring for wildlife animals and their natural environment. After sharing about native Australian birds including the Bowerbird, Vanessa read aloud the National Simultaneous Storytime storybook, Bowerbird Blues by Aura Parker.

Congratulations to Sienna Mallen (Year 1) who was awarded a personal copy of the storybook.

Adele Taylor
Early Years Coordinator

Two Wells - World Bee Day

On Monday, Week 4, our Xavier College Two Wells Campus celebrated World Bee Day as part of Laudato Si' week! World Bee Day celebrates bees as hard-working little pollinators who are critical for food security, biodiversity, and ecosystem health. It was an excellent opportunity to put bees at the centre of conversation for a day and encouraged students to explore ways they can contribute to more bee-friendly landscapes.

As part of Reception to Year 4 library lessons with Mrs Haythorpe, students learnt about procedural texts, following a recipe to make their own honey crackles! During lunchtime, Gavin Pearce, our passionate beekeeper and Year 6 teacher, hosted a rotation of bee-themed activities in the Hub for all students to be immersed within. Students were given an opportunity to try on beekeeper suits, observe a live beehive, explore honey-related products and try fresh honey! To conclude the day’s celebrations, our Reception students met in the Hub at the end of the day to perform the Bee ‘Waggle Dance’ for their families.

Adele Taylor
Early Years Coordinator