Dear Colleagues,

Last Friday, I was invited to attend the official opening and blessing of St Xavier's Primary School Gunnedah's new contemporary educational facilities. I now share my speech and Jennifer Honner's, encapsulating all stakeholders' efforts, dedication and commitment to the building project.

Chris Smyth, Director of Catholic Schools, Diocese of Armidale

Distinguished guests, teachers, parents and students of St Xavier's Primary School, local parishioners and community members and CSO colleagues. My thanks to Monsignor Wilkes for blessing these outstanding facilities today.

Schools in the Diocese of Armidale operate as a Catholic professional learning community where learning, collaboration, and a focus on results inform our commitment to our students’ faith and learning outcomes and a vision to develop “literate and numerate students for a hope-filled future”.

We are focused on providing a learning environment where students can achieve to the best of their ability and staff can have a satisfying and rewarding professional life. A good Catholic school must be a good school…

The energy for change must support this vision as schools adapt to our contemporary world. The traditional model of schooling came from another time in history. This celebration today is as much about the building as it is about the energy of the leaders and staff to create a new approach to learning and teaching in a primary school.

Therefore, we can enjoy a modern, flexible learning space incorporating contemporary teaching practices, furnishings and technologies.

The learning at St Xavier’s is based on the best research, best practice, and what we know about today’s world and today's learners. Schools like St Xavier's are designed so that our young people are not left behind as our world continues to change. Like many of our schools, St Xavier's leads the way in this innovative learning space.

Some portray contemporary, flexible learning spaces as noisy 1970s open-plan classrooms with no structure for student instruction. The flexible learning spaces at St Xavier’s Gunnedah are the very opposite. They are quiet and calm with engaged students who are actively involved in their learning, with professional educators working together in teaching teams to deliver high-quality learning that is appropriately adjusted so that each student can access the curriculum at the level that is best for them.

Flexible learning spaces have some very real practical advantages:

Student supervision problems are being reduced because of more adult presence and glass walls, which therefore reduce student behaviour issues.
Students are more motivated by the seating choices, spaces and teachers.
There is more flexibility and choice for teachers so that they can move seamlessly from direct instruction to student collaboration in groups: the spaces are flexible enough to allow for a quick and easy return to a ‘regular’ classroom, with the simple sliding of a door and teachers can use ‘regular’ classrooms throughout the day at their discretion.
Teachers sharing classroom learning spaces makes it easier for teachers to work in strong teams where they learn from each other and constantly improve their practice.
Teachers now plan, teach and assess student learning together, a strong collaborative team-based approach.

Our NAPLAN data clearly shows that flexible learning spaces help teachers and students to learn.

This flexible learning approach is supported by:

Improved outdoor learning spaces and recreation facilities contribute to the learning environment.
a dynamic, uninterrupted literacy block
A balanced approach to the teaching of literacy incorporates both explicit instruction in phonics for reading and the creativity of writing.

Our student academic results and enrolments continue to grow, indicating support from the student and parent community for the learning, wellbeing and teaching approaches being employed at St Xavier’s Gunnedah.

I want to particularly pay tribute to the leaders and teachers at St Xavier's. Thanks for your hard work and commitment to improving student faith, learning and wellbeing outcomes.

But how do we pay for it?

Our key challenge in the Catholic sector is capital funding for projects like this, and the Catholic Sector is still drawing on Catholic taxpayer parents to try to keep up.

Nevertheless, today, we need to acknowledge and thank the Federal Government for its contribution of $3.3M and acknowledge the local and CSO contributions of $9.36M. We acknowledge and thank Catholic Schools NSW, under the leadership of the CEO Dallas McInerney, for their advocacy to the government to ensure the funding needs of Catholic schools are advanced.

We can never take government funding for granted, and we must appreciate the financial collaboration that was achieved to complete a project of this magnitude. We need to continue to support government action that promotes the status of the teaching profession in our nation.

This development would not have been possible without the efforts and collaboration of

Bishop Michael Kennedy and parish priests Father John McHugh and Father Abmar.
The school leadership team - Principal Jennifer Honner and Assistant Principal Leanne Herden, Religious Education Coordinator Malcolm Frend, Leader of Pedagogy Leisa Shortis and the teachers and support staff who spent countless hours working on the design of the learning spaces, and even more importantly, prepared teachers to use the most effective pedagogies for the new learning spaces.
The Catholic Schools Office, particularly Special Projects Officer the late Gary McSweeney and Facilities Officer Linda Page.
The Project Manager Neil Mangelsdorf of RPMA, Glendenning Szoboszlay Architects, and builders Shay Brennan Constructions.
The parents and carers, teachers and students.

The ongoing contribution that Catholic education makes to Australian society must also be recognised on occasions like this. The legacy of the Sisters of Mercy in the development of St. Xavier's is a credit to our Catholic educational pioneers.

The school also provides the opportunity to tell our Catholic story. We are promoting God's mission in our world, re-evangelising our baptised Catholics, and challenging the secular world with values that are often counter-cultural. Pope Francis describes it as the “evangelisation of the modern world.”

As we celebrate this wonderful new development, let us appreciate the important role of the leaders and teachers, the importance of this school in the mission of the Church and our contribution to equity in our regional setting in NSW.

I sincerely thank all of you for your support and commitment to making this a lighthouse project to advance quality faith and educational outcomes in the Diocese of Armidale and, particularly, at St Xavier's Primary School Gunnedah. I hope the young people at St. Xavier's now and in the years ahead continue to benefit from a wonderful Catholic education. Congratulations St Xavier’s!!

Jen Honner, Principal St Xavier’s Primary School Gunnedah

Today is a very special occasion in the history of catholic education in the Gunnedah community. We gather here to celebrate the opening and blessing of our new contemporary learning spaces, a symbol of progress, innovation, and the unwavering commitment to providing the best possible education for our children to become literate, numerate students with a future filled with hope and faith.

I stand before you with immense pride and deep gratitude. I started my career in catholic education right here in this very school. Over the years, I have played a significant part in many changes, but none so notable and consequential as the last nine years under the leadership of our Director, Chris Smyth. The design of this building is a direct result of new learning, a relentless focus on improving student outcomes, and an urgent desire to build collaboration and systemness.

The commitment to improving student learning, wellbeing and faith outcomes over the last nine years has required deep, specific, evidence-based learning for all staff. The research of John Hattie, Lyn Sharrett, Micheal Fullan and Helen Timperly, to name a few, has strongly impacted our development of the Catholic Professional Learning Community at St Xavier’s.

To be part of such exciting evidence-based learning and a building project at the same time has been a gift to me as an educator. We started our co-teaching approach after much research and shared learning, and in old spaces on covered verandahs, we got the pedagogy right; we knew what we wanted and how it would work. The transition into this building was seamless. The staff already understood the concept of co-teaching and working flexibly in spaces. The students were immediately calm and respectful of the space.

I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all the individuals who made this project possible.

The federal government for its contribution, and we have a message from Minister Jason Clare to share with you shortly.
Also, the very generous contribution from the CSO.
In his time in the Armidale Diocese, Bishop Michael Kennedy showed great interest in this building and enjoyed how engaged the students were each time he visited.
The Catholic Schools Office- Chris Smyth for believing in me and trusting us to design this type of building. Linda Page for her consistent support and guidance. My dear friend, the late Gary McSweeney, could read between the lines and went above and beyond to secure the very best outcomes for us.
Neil Manglesdorf, our project manager, for your dogged determination in all areas to bring about the best possible result for our entire community. Thanks for always having our back, Neil.
Lazslo Szoboslay, for your endless patience with us and me, as sometimes the lines blurred between functionality, good pedagogy, perfect design and my fantasies! You were always so generous and kind and in good humour. Your input, Mark Glendenning, was also very much appreciated.
The team from Shay Brennan Constructions were outstanding. Shay and Ben communicated regularly and met all our needs. Ben, you are a very reasonable man! Little did we know that when James McDonald walked into our lives, he would become a lifelong friend. James, you were unwavering in your support and professionalism, and your care for us and our students was evident daily. How lucky are we to have met you.
Sister Christine, thank you for keeping the spirit and memory of Catherine McAuley, founder of the Sisters of Mercy, alive in our discussions and for being so excited about progress.
Leanne Herden for her thoughtful advice, valued opinion and practical approach throughout the project. Our office staff handled many deliveries and phone calls and supported the classrooms during the process. Greg Jaeger, thank you for all your practical help and your passion for the project.
The staff of our school during those years of building, who packed and moved numerous times and stayed the course! Our shared beliefs and understandings were the rocks on which we relied to continue quality teaching and learning throughout this time.
Our students who found calm in the chaos and still talk to me about how lucky they feel to be part of such an amazing school. You are at the heart of St Xavier’s. This is a place where you learn, make mistakes, and grow stronger. Remember that education is not just about acquiring knowledge; it is about the pursuit of wisdom, the development of character, and the cultivation of empathy.
Parents and carers, thank you for your support, encouragement, and involvement.

In this state-of-the-art facility, we have learning spaces equipped with the latest technology and resources, a library that is the centre of the whole school where quality literature can be accessed at any time. Beautiful spaces throughout that allow us to provide authentic differentiation to meet the needs of every student every day. Areas for staff to meet, access data and be involved in deep conversations around student learning and wellbeing.

But our school is not just about infrastructure; it's about the people who inhabit it. From the foundations set by the Sisters of Mercy to the powerful work by each of us over the last nine years, building and nurturing relationships with students, staff, families, and our parish remains our most important work.

As we continue to thrive in our new school, let us not forget the responsibility that comes with it. Let us continue to foster an environment where curiosity is celebrated, diversity is embraced, and kindness is paramount. May each of us strive to be the face of Jesus for those around us.

SXG is more than just a building; it is a symbol of hope and faith, progress, and the boundless potential of our young people. It is a testament to what we can achieve when we come together with shared beliefs and understandings and shared accountability and responsibility.

Thank you all for being here today. I believe St Xavier’s school will be a beacon of faith, knowledge, and inspiration for future generations.

Chris Smyth, Jen Honner, Monsignor Edward Wilkes, Fr Abmar Dumayag MS

I would like to express my sincere thanks to so many of you for your support and prayers for the communities at St. Mary’s Armidale and St. Nicholas’s Tamworth following the recent tragedy for the family of David and Elise Smith. Please keep all involved in your prayers. It has been very reassuring to hear of the outreach from government and independent schools in these communities. Indeed the offers of support from the NSW Department of Education regional office and their schools and independent schools have been a wonderful reflection on living in a regional community.

God bless,

Chris Smyth

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