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Catholic Life
Publication of the Diocese of Sale
New business manager for diocese - Page 3
ISSUE 167
St Patrick’s celebrates 90 years - Page 4
November 2012
44 years in Catholic education - Page 7
School’s in at Officer By Colin Coomber
THE impressive growth of St Francis Xavier College has continued with the opening of its new Officer campus last month. Situated centrally in Melbourne’s growth corridor the school now had around 2200 students on three campuses, which makes it one of the largest schools in the state. And when you consider that St Peter’s College, Cranbourne, was once a campus of St Francis Xavier, and has itself expanded to two campuses, the growth has been remarkable. The new Officer campus is home to 110 students studying in Year 7 and that number will almost treble next year with the influx of a new group of Year 7s and an extra stream of Year 8s. Principal Paul Desmond said that he envisaged there would be 600-650 students in Years 7-9 within a couple of years, While the growth of the college had been enormous over the past decade it had been well-planned and the Officer campus had enough land that it could one day be a Year 7-12 campus. He said it was also possible that the Berwick and Officer campuses could eventually be excised from the main Beaconsfield campus to become colleges in their own right. There were now just over 1000 students at both Beaconsfield and Berwick campuses. Mr Desmond said the school was fortunate that it was able to attract and keep a high standard of teaching staff. Next year there would be 17 new staff who would be a mix of graduates and experienced teachers. The rapid urbanisation of
AMONG the first students at the new Officer campus are (rear, from left) Joshua Henderson, Alfred Sempel, (front) Brianna EvansWood, Annaliesse Silva, Elisheva Draghici who are pictured in front of the distinctive main building on campus. what was once a rural area St Bidgid’s Primary opened in different parishes as St Brigid’s Cranbourne East has forced the of the diocese has created its Officer only two years ago and on the western side of town is diocese to create a new parish fair share of headaches with now a new St Clare’s Primary in Berwick parish, while St around the new St Peter’s new schools having to be will be built on a four hectare Clare’s will be east of the town Campus and there are plans constructed continually. site next to St Francis Xavier’s and therefore in Pakenham afoot to build an adjacent St Hundreds of new homes are Office campus. parish. Thomas the Apostle Primary being built every month in Casey Interestingly the two Officer Meanwhile to the south School within a couple of years. and Cardinia municipalities. primary schools will fall in the rapid development of
Your generous gift will go on giving A donation to the Bishop’s Family Foundation will aid needy families in the Diocese of Sale by funding much needed counselling and other programs. Send tax deductible donations to: Bishop’s Family Foundation, PO Box 1410, Warragul 3820 Phone 5622 6600 for more information