St. Francis Xavier, Acushnet: Celebrating what is good, true, and beautiful.

St. Francis Xavier School in Acushnet has so much to be grateful for as we open our doors for the 252​ Preschool-3 through Grade 8 students and their families who will be joining us for the 2017-2018 school year. We look forward to the adventures of a new academic year together!

This summer our new​ ​Parish​ ​Administrator,​ ​Fr.​ ​Riley​ ​Williams​, jumped right into the fold with our families. Fr. Williams made it a priority to have a strong daily presence at the school for our students, and will also teach Latin to our 7th and 8th graders beginning this fall. He was welcomed with open arms by the Preschool through Grade 6 students who were a part of our​ ​“Summer​ ​Fun​ ​at​ ​St.​ ​Francis​ ​Program”​ which was in it’s 4th year this past July, offering students three weeks of an affordable, academic, active, and faith-filled opportunity to build memories with school friends. There were many adventures as a part of the program this summer, including a visit from the New England Coastal Wildlife Alliance who brought a life-sized inflatable replica of a humpback whale for students to explore as a part of hands-on learning which tied so well to the story of Jonah in the Holy Bible.

We were busily preparing our facility all summer for the arrival for our families with some building improvements and classroom renovations. Most notably, our computer lab transformation into a STEM​ ​learning​ ​lab​ ​is now officially completed and our students will be able to take full advantage of this school improvement this fall. It is through the generosity of our 2017 Call of the Heart Donors that a new floor, all new furniture, 15 chromebooks and a Sharp Aquos Board 70″ Monitor have all been successfully installed. Students will utilize the new space to its fullest potential to collaborate, experiment and investigate concepts in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.

Our middle school students were the hands and feet of Christ this summer as they completed their Summer​ ​Service​ ​requirements​ throughout the community. Local churches, food pantries, nursing homes, non-profit organizations, and emergency personnel service members benefitted directly from these acts of service. We are so very proud of all our middle school students and their creative example of what it really means to embrace the call to be the light of Christ to all we meet, but most especially those in great need!

We see the gift of a solid Catholic education at St. Francis Xavier School in Acushnet, and the lasting ways that the students and alumni of our school contribute to the strength and development of the local community. We want our current students to feel the hope of that broader community of support who once walked these halls and believe in our mission. That is why this year, with the help of our School Planning Board members, we are also launching our Vision​ ​2022​ ​campaign in preparation for the school’s 100th anniversary. It is an opportunity to engage our alumni and community supporters to contribute to capital needs through their Time, Talent, and Treasure. Together we will build upon the strong foundation St. Francis Xavier School has provided for so many generations.

With our Catholic faith as our anchor, we are inviting all our families as a part of this year’s school theme to walk side-by-side with Pope Saint John Paul II. He will be inspiring us each month through his words and actions to come closer to Christ and find JOY in learning and living out our faith more fully. We kick-off the school year with his inspiring words: “Life​ ​with Christ​ ​is​ ​a​ ​wonderful​ ​adventure!”​ The adventure of the 2017-2018 school year will include monthly quotes, songs, service opportunities, liturgical year celebrations, and family faith formation opportunities that are sure to enrich the lives of our students, parents, and faculty.

With grateful hearts we open our doors to celebrate our community of support and all these accomplishments on Sunday,​ ​November​ ​5th​ ​following​ ​the​ ​10:30am​ ​Mass.​ ​ ​We are inviting our current families, all parishioners, and Call of the Heart donors to join us, meet our students, tour the facility to see the fruit of their generosity, and share in our gratitude for St. Francis Xavier School and it’s mission to learn about Jesus Christ, His Holy Catholic Church, and all that is good, true, and beautiful!