​​ Welcome to St Francis Xavier School, Runaway Bay.

​It is with great pleasure that I welcome you and your family to St Francis Xavier School.  Whether this is your first experience of Catholic education, or your family is continuing your journey with us, we hope that your association with St Francis Xavier's will be long-lasting, and one filled with many memorable experiences.  We offer you not only a school of learning which is dedicated to providing a quality education, but also a community of faith which openly recognises Christ and seeks to live and proclaim His Gospel message.

St Francis Xavier is a well-established school.  It has strong links to the local community and a great reputation for providing a quality education for all students, not only those of the Catholic faith.  Grounded in the traditional values and ideals of holistic Catholic education, we are committed to quality teaching that ensures success for all students. We value students, parents and staff as part of our community of learners and we encourage parents to be active partners in their child's education.

Each child and parent wishing to enrol at St Francis Xavier must strive to uphold the values of this school.  We are called to participate actively in maintaining the special character of the school's faith and cultural identity and agree to become a part of a community of learning, which is seeking knowledge of the world and of its Creator.  By sending your child to this Catholic school, you openly affirm your support of a Catholic education.  Hopefully, what we endeavour to offer at St Francis Xavier is far more than just 'another education'.  Our commitment is to bring together faith and learning in ways that are real and meaningful to our own lives, and which ultimately reflect the life and message of Jesus Christ.

St Francis Xavier School is part of the Holy Family Parish Runaway Bay and was established in 1975 to meet the educational and spiritual needs of Catholic children and a growing population at the northern end of the Gold Coast. Originally St Francis Xavier Catholic Primary School was established with the construction of four classrooms, administration, tuckshop, library and toilet block. St Francis Xavier School opened its doors to 69 students. The school community now embraces 680 children from almost 480 families. The spirit of community, belonging and partnership between the school, the Parish and the parents is warmly encouraged.

St Francis Xavier School is named after our Patron Saint, St Francis Xavier and offers a Catholic education based on the Gospel. St Francis Xavier was a founding member of the religious order, th​e Society of Jesus (Jesuits), along with St Ignatius Loyola. The Society's mission was to take the message of the Good News to people everywhere. St Francis believed in the Good News of Jesus, and of sharing that message of hope with all people. He spent his adult life travelling to other countries and teaching people about Jesus, and much of his life was spent tending to missions in areas such as India and Japan. Today we can follow in St Francis Xavier's footsteps, not by going out to faraway places, but by being people of hope for our friends, family and people we meet.

​To find out about the many more reasons why your family would want to become part of the St Francis Xavier community, I invite you to read through the information on our website or reach out to the school directly. We at St Francis Xavier look forward to our journey with you and sharing the challenge of bringing your children to a greater knowledge of themselves, their world, and their God.

 Ronan O'Mahony
​ Principal​