At St. Francis Xavier School, educators and administrators believe that it is their duty to weave values-centered lessons into curriculum. With this in mind, every Kindergarten through eighth grade student is assigned to a “Crusader Community.” Each community boasts a cross-section of ages and grades and is led by a dedicated homeroom teacher for instruction and mentoring.
A good deal of the student experience at SFX takes place within the structure of the community system. Students meet quarterly to discuss, explore and participate in group exercises designed to promote a better understanding of the Crusader Covenant, the values system to which we as SFX students and teachers subscribe. Students are seated at weekly school masses by community, and all-school assemblies are generally organized in this framework as well. The community system is employed for special events and holiday celebrations, for targeted academic projects and the annual school “Field Day.”
In addition to the Crusader Community system, older students are paired with 3 Year Old, Junior Kindergarten, and Kindergarten “buddies.” This provides an avenue for rich relationships to develop between our youngest and oldest Crusaders, and aids Early Childhood teachers during attendance at assemblies and liturgies.
The advantage of the K-8 setting is that children, surrounded by a wide variety of age groups and in a more intimate setting, are called to grow and mature in new and inspired ways. Older students learn to serve as mentors and understand that, with their age, comes responsibility. Younger students grow in confidence as they develop relationships with older students who model healthy friendships and behavior. Ultimately, a culture of kindness is fostered as multiple grades mix and grow in a mutual understanding of one another.
