Parish's
Name: St. Francis Xavier's Narrabri
School
Established:
1882
Nandewar Street - current site
1897
Nandewar Street - opposite to current site
1975
Nandewar Street - current site (opened 1/2/1976)
Principals
and enrolled number of students:
198?
Clare Keating rsj
1984
Sarah Hogan rsj
198?
Mary Hagan rsj
198?
Kevin Furlong rsj
1987 Maria
Harrex rsj
1992
Maria Harres rsj
1993-1996
Johanna O'Sullivan rsj
1997-2001
Jenny Scally rsj
2002-2005
Tony
Hunter
300
2006-
Andrew Pinelli
303
In
1880 the Parish of Narrabri was established and the building of a Church began
under the
direction of the first resident priest,
Father Joseph Doyle.
In
1885, the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart established the first
school. Three sisters arrived and in July 1885 the
school opened with an enrolment of 100 students. A fourth sister arrived
later in the year. The founding Sisters were
Sr.
Agnes Smith, Sr. Agatha Nolan and Sr. Alphonsa Kennedy with the fourth sister
possibly being Sr. Alberta Murphy.
In
1889, the Sisters of Mercy came to Narrabri and took over the administration of
the school. The Sisters of Mercy
were to remain in the school for 81 years.
In
1897, a new school was established on the block of land opposite to where the
present school is situated. All the primary classes were taught in this new
school, while the old school (situated where our present school is) became a
select school for Senior pupils.
In
1927, the present convent was built making an architectural addition to the
Catholic buildings and the town in general.
In
1933, the school enrolment was 270 pupils including both primary and secondary
students.
In
1970, the Sisters of St Joseph returned to Narrabri.
In
1975, the present school was erected and was blessed by Bishop H J Kennedy and
opened by Hon J L Carrick, Minister for Education on 1st February, 1976.
In 2001 three extra classrooms were built and the Administration and staff room
was extended.
Playground improvements have included the erection of
a shelter area, wooden playground equipment and a covering for the sandpit.
The Convent Chapel has been used as a classroom periodically for the last 20
years.
The school presently caters for 11classes
and has an enrolment of 295.
