March 2012 Navigator

(continued on page 2)

Xavier High School is built upon the mission and tradition of the Catholic faith. While this is common knowledge to anybody associ-ated with Xavier, the ability to orally explain in-depth the teachings of the Catholic faith and how those teachings were arrived at can be daunting. It was this challenge that brought together two of Xavier’s teachers and their collaborative course offering Why Am I Catholic?Dr. Phil Drey and Mr. Mike Goldsmith are the co-teachers of this senior elective Theology course at Xavier. Its goal is to produce apologists, or those who are able to explain and defend the Catholic faith. It might be termed chance that led the two teachers to discuss the development of a new course that demanded students be able to research and explain Catholic teachings, though they would tell you it was the Holy Spirit instead.

Business Office News 2 Tuition Reminder

Guidance News 3Junior Guidance Parent Information

Annual Report 4-5Iowa Assessments 2011 ResultsAnnual Goals2012-2013 Budget

Xavier Updates 6-7Co-Curriculars at XavierAthletics and Fine Arts Highlights

Xavier Updates 8-9Inner Beauty WeekKeeping Your Kids Safe“Taming of the Shrew”

Campus Ministry 10-11Lent 2012Faith Formation Opportunities

The Principal‘s CornerContents

March 2012 • Volume 13 • Number 8

As we do each year at this time, we would like to present you this month with our annual report to the Xavier com-munity. Throughout this issue of the Navigator you will find a detailed overview of many of the school’s programs. This report includes information about the students, the staff, the curriculum and much more.

We invite you to carefully examine the information pre-sented. We think you’ll agree that Xavier is an outstanding school. The data presented would certainly support that claim.

While we are pleased with the progress that Xavier has made, we hold firm to the belief that, “Each day we get better or worse; we never stay the same.” As a result, we continue to look for ways to improve our programs in order to fulfill our mission – to educate the total person in a Catholic environment.

This also seems like an appropriate time to thank all of you for your input throughout the year. We depend on your positive feedback as well as the concerns you raise to provide us with a barometer of how we’re doing. Your comments encourage us to con-stantly examine our school and look for ways to make it better.

Thanks for taking the time to look over the information. Should you have any ques-tions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Why Am I Catholic?Submitted By: Dr. Phil Drey and Mike Goldsmith

March12-DRAFT.indd 1 3/8/2012 11:16:20 AM

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Mr. Goldsmith describes their early meeting this way: “After I discussed with Phil my ideas about how I had led a Catholic life but had trouble explaining to others why I felt so stron-gly about the Catholic faith, he simply replied, ‘I’ve had those same ideas for a long time.’ It was then that I knew we had something.”

After two years of research and interviews with colleagues and others, the class began in the fall of 2006. Since that time, 115 seniors have elected to take the course. It has also expanded from one to two sections per year, with 28 seniors taking the class this school year. Its focus remains apologetic. Students routinely research Scripture, the writings of early Fathers of the Church, Church Documents, and use their own logic to piece together Church teachings.

A core belief in the pedagogy of the class is that “Unless you can explain it, you don’t really know it.” To that end, all midterms, finals, and the majority of the class assignments are oral. “It is quite incredible to witness seniors investigating the foundations of the Catholic faith by using Scripture and Tradition and then being able to verbally defend it,” Dr. Drey explains.

A recent survey of alumni of the Why Am I Catholic (WAIC) course yielded the following quotes:

- “WAIC is something that I have carried with me through the adventures life has

thrown at me and I’m very grateful to the both of you for it. . . . It motivated my in-

volvement in service programs at (college), service trips to Appalachia, Nicaragua,

and Guatemala, and now a year of service in Houston.” – 2007 alum

- “WAIC definitely influenced me beyond Xavier. It gave me the spring board of real

information about the Catholic Church on which to build my own faith.” – 2009 alum

- “I do believe the material and methods of WAIC have influenced me beyond Xavier.

. . . I did have many opportunities to sit down and explain the teachings of Catholi-

cism to fellow students. For instance, one religion class required students to attend

a religious experience of a faith they do not practice, then conduct interviews and

write a paper on the experience. I fielded a lot of questions from non-Catholics about

the different parts of our Mass, the role of priests, sacraments, etc. Unlike the major-

ity of Catholic students surrounding me, I was able to rattle off answers with ease

and confidence. Had it not been for WAIC, I would’ve been a bit more sheepish in that

position.” – 2007 alum

Student Aid Forms must be complet-ed online or mailed directly to Pri-vate School Aid Service on or before March 23, 2012.

Private School Aid Service (PSAS) Student

Aid forms are available online at www.psas.

org or in the Xavier Business Office. If you

do not follow the guidelines and/or PSAS

has not received the completed form by this

date, your eligibility for tuition assistance will

not be guaranteed. For more information

contact Shea Francis at 319-294-6635 x307.

Tuition Assistance Reminder

Fourth quarter tuition was due on March 12, 2012. All grade reports have been held for students whose accounts are not current.

We thank the majority of families who fulfill

their financial obligation promptly. Unfor-

tunately, some of our families do not make

their payments in a timely manner. If at any

time your circumstances change and will not

allow you to complete your obligation as in-

dicated on your tuition contract, please con-

tact Shea Francis at 294-6635 x307.

Tuition Payment Reminder

Kairos Math Class Science Class

(continued from page 1)Why Am I Catholic?

Xavier Main Number: 319-294-6635Xavier Activities Line: 319-378-4266www.xaviersaints.orgFacebook: Xavier High SchoolTwitter: @XavierSaints

Contact Us


3Guidance Department News

Workplace Learning Connection-Internships

Junior Guidance

Driver‘s Education Sign-Up Summer 2012

The Summer Driver‘s Education Program will take place June 4 - July 6, 2012.

For more information or to sign up for this program, contact Mr. Kramer at (319) 294-6635 x313.

Current sophomores and juniors are encour-aged to explore a career of interest through the AREA 10 Student Internship Program. This program is coordinated through Work-place Learning Connection, a department of Kirkwood Community College. Students explore the real world of work, gain work-place skills, networking skills and build their scholarship and college application resumes while earning elective credit. Applications for summer and fall 2012 are due to WLC by 4/6/12 . Program coordinator, Laurie Worden (Xavier parent), can be reached at [email protected] Please see the Guidance Office and visit www.workplace-learning.org for details. There is a $75.00 participation fee for this experience.

Junior Guidance wrapped up the second week of March. Ask your student to show you the information on financial aid and their preliminary list of potential college choices. Look through your student's copy of the "Get Set For College" newspaper for all kinds of helpful information. The College Planning Center will be presenting col-lege planning information to all Juniors on March 14th to wrap up Junior Guidance for the year.

Now that your student has been accepted, you and your student will need to con-tinue to pay attention to several important dates and deadlines. Each school will have its own requirements and deadlines, of course, but here are a few things to watch for.

Financial Aid Priority Deadline – Your student may have applied for financial aid when she applied for admission, but if not, check with the school about the deadline for financial aid applications. Complete the FAFSA and Profile forms as soon as possible and contact the school about other forms they may require.

Enrollment Deposit – Once your student has been accepted, he will need to submit a non-refundable enrollment or admissions deposit. This will let the college know that he is planning to attend. The deadline for most enrollment deposits is May 1.

Housing Deposit – Your student’s school may require a separate housing deposit to reserve space in the residence halls. Check with the school about this date.

Summer Orientation – If your student’s school runs a summer orientation session for incoming students, you should en-courage your student to attend. Summer

orientations give students a wonderful op-portunity to get to know the campus, meet current students, and get to know some other incoming students.

Course Registration – If your student’s school runs a summer orientation pro-gram, your student may register for his fall courses as part of this event. If not, your student may need to work with or speak to an advisor, or she may be free to register for classes on her own. Check with the school to see when your student should begin selecting classes.

Summer Opportunities – If your student is planning to attend any events or pro-grams over the summer, such as a Bridge program, summer classes, pre-orientation program, or leadership event, check on ap-plication and registration deadlines.

Move-in Day – Mark your calendar early, too, for move-in day in the fall. This will be a big day for both you and your student!

Tuition Deadline – Check the deadline for paying tuition. Bills are usually sent in early summer. Be sure to arrange payment well ahead of the deadline.Reprinted from: http://www.collegeparentcentral.com/2011/04/important-dates-for-new-college-parents/#more-1397

(continued from page 1)

Important Dates for New College ParentsCongratulations! Your high school student has been accepted to college and is soon to be a new college student. You’re relieved, excited, and anx-ious all at the same time. Chances are you were involved in helping your student through the admissions process, and you’re happy to know that your student made all of the required admission deadlines.

State of Iowa Youth Advisory Council (SIYAC)SIYAC’s members are young people between the ages of 14 and 20 from across Iowa. Youth who have demonstrated leadership qualities and are interested in following leg-islation that could impact Iowa’s youth and meeting with legislators to discuss bills are encouraged to apply. Youth selected to serve Iowa as a member of SIYAC will reflect the positive differences throughout our state and among its young people.

The council meets quarterly at the State Capitol building in Des Moines and holds month-ly conference calls. Applications received by May 1st, 2012 will receive priority consider-ation and new council members will be selected by June 30th, 2012. Council members serve two-year terms. There are no fees for youth to participate and travel expenses to and from meetings will be reimbursed. Visit www.icyd.iowa.gov/SIYAC for more infor-mation about SIYAC.

Applications are available at http://www.xaviersaints.org under “Links.“


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Annual Report to the Community Xavier High School Mission StatementThe mission of Xavier High School is to develop the total person in a Catholic environment.

Xavier High School Philosophy

Xavier High School is a part of the tradi-tion and mission of the Roman Catholic Church and the Archdiocese of Dubuque. As a part of that tradition we are committed to:

• proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus in a Catholic faith-filled

environment that motivates each student, staff member, parent/guardian and supporter to share in that mission,

• developing each person’s spiritual, intellec-tual, social, emotional, and physical gifts,

• respecting each individual person’s unique value and talents, • building God’s Kingdom through service to our community, nurturing family relationships, and modeling Christ in our everyday actions, • creating an atmosphere of justice and trust through embracing the Gospel in our decisions and actions,

• fostering stewardship through personal com-mitment, responsibility, and accountability to one another and to our world,

• providing a learning atmosphere where creativity and innovation are honored and celebrated.

• 100 percent of Xavier students are involved in community service

• 100 percent of Xavier students complete the core curriculum (4 years English, 3 years Math and Science)

• 98 percent of the Class of 2011 went on to post-secondary education

• 94 percent of Xavier students are involved in at least one co-curricular activity; 78 percent are involved in three or more co-curricular activities

Average Scores for Xavier HS 2010 Graduates

Pct. Taking English Reading Math Science Composite Xavier 96% 23.5 23.6 23.1 23.7 23.6 State 59% 21.7 22.6 21.9 22.4 22.3 National 45% 20.5 21.0 21.3 20.9 21.0

The average composite for top 66% (state participation level) of Xavier Students equals 25.7.

Xavier Class of 2010 ACT Results

Reading Social Studies Science Math CompositeGrade 9 83% 84% 81% 98% 81%Grade 10 83% 85% 82% 83% 85%Grade 11 80% 82% 81% 80% 82% The Iowa Assessments (formerly the Iowa Tests of Educational Development) were given to all students in grades 9-11 in October 2010. These tests are used to measure student growth and curriculum success.

The scores above reflect how the average Xavier High School student did in compari-son to other students nationwide at that grade level. The Iowa Assessments are given in the majority of states. Please note that the tests have been re-normed this year and only national percentile ranks (how individual students compare) are listed compared to previous years where Xavier as a school was compared to other schools.

These scores represent just one aspect used to measure student progress. Xavier also utilizes ACT, SAT, PSAT, CAT, ICAM, DRP, Advance Placement Tests to measure student growth. Of course, there are countless local assessments used as well by the teachers. All of these scores are available for your review at any time in the principal’s office.

Iowa Assessments 2011 Results

2011 - 2012


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Annual Report to the Community Xavier High School Mission Statement

Annual GoalsEach year Xavier High School establishes a set of goals to help us focus our academic efforts.

These goals must be measurable, utilizing normed-based testing. As do most other schools in the state, we use the Iowa Assessments (formerly the Iowa Test of Educational Development) to measure success. This test is administered an-nually to grades 9-11 in the fall and measures growth and success in Reading, Math, Science and Social Studies. The results of the test given in October 2010 are included on page four. Please note that the tests were renormed this year so results may not fully reflect a change in performance.

This year, Xavier High School established the following three goals: (Please note that we also work improving other areas, i.e. Catholicity, Technology, etc., that are not easily measured by standardized tests.)

1. During the 2011-12 school year, our school will increase the percentage of 11th grade students scoring at the high performance level in reading as mea-sured by the ITED. The percentage increased from 27% to 36%.

2. During the 2011-12 school year, our school will increase the percentage of 11th grade students scoring at the high performance level in Math as mea-sured by the ITED. The percentage decreased from 41% to 33%. Our Math department has done an item analysis and is working on strategies to address this decrease. 3. During the 2011-12 school year, our school will decrease the percentage of 11th grade students scoring at the low performance level in science as measured by the ITED. The percent-age decreased from 13% to 5%.

Xavier High School Budget 2012 - 2013

RevenueTuition (Net of Prepaid Discount) 3,342,629Tuition Assistance (135,000)Parish Subsidies 1,344,785Fees 79,778Foundation Support 1,402,500Fundraising 34,625Investment Income 1,500Other Income 9,000 Total Revenue 6,079,817

ExpensesInstruction 2,497,360Administration 800,900Facilities 644,300Transportation 25,850Religious Faculty Support 3,500Employee Costs and Benefits 559,300Capital Expenditures 165,000Bond Debt Service 1,377,455Fund Transfers 5,000 Total Expenses 6,078,665

NET INCOME (DEFICIT) 1,152

• 90 percent of Xavier students complete four years of science

• 88 extra-curricular programs to choose from

• 70 percent of Xavier students complete four years of mathematics

• 40 percent of Xavier students complete four years of a foreign language

• 40 courses at Xavier are honors and AP courses

• 3 dual credit courses are offered through St. Louis University

• 1 dual credit course is offered through the University of Northern Iowa

• 16:1 is the student to faculty ratio

• 11 is the average number of years that faculty members have devoted to Catholic education


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• Girls Tennis 2A State Doubles 6th Place

Lisa Cowden & Laura Birky (2011)

• Girls Golf 4A State 7th Place (2011)

• Girls Golf Kimmy Askelson 4A 6th Place

State Individual (2011)

• Boys Track 4A State 2nd Place Alec

Clasen High Jump (2011)

• Boys Track 4A State 3rd Place Carter

Valentine (2011)

• Boys Soccer MVC Division Champions

(2011)

• Boys Soccer 2A State Champions (2011)

• Girls Soccer 2A State Champions (2011)

• Football 4A State Qualifier (2011)

• Boys Golf MVC Division Champions

(2011)

• Boys Golf 4A State Qualifier JP King

(2011)

• Boys Cross Country 3A State Qualifier

Ben Schueler (2011)

• Girls Swimming State Qualifier:

McKenzie Asplund (2011)

• Marching Band State Division I Rating

(2011)

• All-State Band: Bridget Karnik/Clarinet

& Noah Hagen/French Horn (2011)

• All-State Orchestra: Bryan Banowetz

Piano (2011)

• All-State Choir: Jack Daubitz, Jackson

Esker, Allison Pitz, Kate Gallagher,

Harry Daubitz, Meredith Diebold, Cole

Manternach, Josh Dubois, Mariel Kean,

Megan Kundel & Angelica Elkema

(2011)

• Pom Squad ISDTA 3rd Place State X

“Pom”; 5th Place IV “Jazz” (2011)

• Boys Swimming State Qualifiers: Nick

Durin & John Richardson (2012)

• Wrestling 3A State Qualifiers: Jack

Boland & Sean Ickes (2012)

• Girls Bowling MVC Division Champions

(2012)

• Girls Bowling 1A State 7th Place (2012)

• Girls Bowling Tara Trcka 1A 8th Place

State Individual (2012)

• Girls Basketball 4A State Qualifier

Spring 2011 - PresentAthletics and Fine Arts Highlights

• 75 students participate in speech (10%)• 175 students participate in choir (23%)• 149 students participate in show choir (19%)• 43 students participate in band (6%)• 128 students participated in intramural

basketball (17%)• More than 300 students participated in a drama production (40%)• More than 500 students will participate in at least one sport during the school year (67%)

Xavier students are involved in successful activities at Xavier! The following data is from the spring of 2011 up through the winter of 2012:

Co-Curriculars at Xavier

6th Annual Band Garage SaleSaturday, April 21, 2012 from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Commons.

The following items have sold very well in the past: clothing for infants, children, adults, toys, games, household items, small appliances and hand-held electronics. A tax receipt will be available for those who offer donations. Sorry, we’re unable to accept large furniture items. Please limit clothing donations to one large bag per family. After the sale, any unsold items will be donated to area charitable organizations.

Proceeds from the sale will assist the band department in purchasing new equipment. Donations can be dropped off in the Com-mons on Friday, April 20th between 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Thank you for helping to support the Xavier Band – the students who practice hard all year long and add so much to many athletic and fine arts events!

• Affiliated with the eleven area Catholic parishes and the Archdiocese of Dubuque• A member of the National Catholic Educa-tion Association• Accredited by the State of Iowa • All administrators and teachers are certi-fied in their areas of responsibility• 64% of faculty have an M.A. or Ph.D. in their area• 752 students• Complete co-curricular program• Partnerships with:

• American Heart Association• Columbia University• Downtown Kiwanis Club• Grant Wood AEA• Iowa Wireless• Junior Achievement• Kirkwood Community College• KMRY Radio• Knights of Columbus• Linn County Physical Therapy• Mercy Medical Center• Mt. Mercy College• Polk Elementary• Rockwell• St. Louis University• University of Northern Iowa• Viola Gibson Elementary• Workplace Learning Connection

• 60-acre campus, 146,500 square foot facility

Xavier Facts


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The 2012 Business Professionals of America (BPA) State Leadership Conference was held February 26, 27, and 28, in Des Moines. Eighteen Xavier High School BPA students competing at the conference were called onto the stage to receive at least one award. Twelve of those students earned the right to compete at the upcoming BPA National Conference being held in Chicago, Illinois, from April 24 through April 29. In order to ad-vance to nationals students at the state conference must place in the top two for a team event, top three in an individual judged event, or the top five in a competitive individual event.

In addition to those pictured, Xavier students receiving honorable mention awards were seniors Craig Murtha, Micaela Franey, Ryan Milke, and juniors Becca Winders, Cal Stovie, and Hunter Wille. Seth Fahnle and Drew Scott also competed at the state conference. Mr. O’Brien, Xavier BPA Advisor/Business Instructor, and Chaperones Mary Chicchelly and Kendall Krouse accompanied the students to Des Moines. Picture (National Qualifiers):Front Row (L to R): Brooke Martin, Taylor Wertzberger, Rachel Sigmon, Molly Snow, Sarah Chicchelly, and Emily Metz. Back Row (L to R) BPA Advisor Tim O‘Brien, Alex Tietz, Jacob Schmitt, James Krouse, Jacob Wallerstedt, Josh Giles, and Collin Neuhaus.

Twelve Xavier BPA Students Advance to Nationals

XPX News

Booster Club News

Thank You!Thanks to all who made our winter conces-sions a success: Volunteer coordinator: Gretchen Swanke; Wrestling head: Stepha-nie Laska; Girls Basketball head: Suzanne Bailey and Kelly Drahozal; Boys Basketball head: Elaine Collins.

A special thanks to all Booster Club mem-bers who took time to work in the conces-sion stand for basketball and wrestling.

Spring Concessions are just around the corner!

Mark your calendars for the next Booster Club meeting on April 4, 2012, in the Com-mons.

• Thank you for all parents that donated food and refreshments for “Discover Xavier“ night and for events during Catholic Schools Week.

• The Saints Shop needs your help! Volunteers are needed for jobs such as inventory. Please contact Saints Shop volunteer coordinator, Stephanie Hoxie ([email protected], 329-4936).

• Remember the Saints Shop for your Saints-wear needs. We have a great se-lection of sweatshirts and windbreakers that are ideal for spring weather.

• Please stay tuned for news about the “Xcellence in Teaching Award” (XiTA). A nomination form will be published this spring in the Navigator. All parents are asked to nominate a teacher for this award.

• Make plans to participate in the next XPX “Why Am I Catholic” Parent Seminar, which will be held Saturday, April 21st in the Xavier LMC. Xavier’s own Dr. Phil Drey and Mr. Mike Gold-smith will offer a glimpse into this class, available to Xavier seniors, by guiding parents through a particular sample topic. This year the topic will be: “The Real Presence.” Participants will work their way through fundamental Catho-lic resources to develop a clear under-standing of the Church’s teachings on this paramount faith belief. The seminar will be from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

The results are in for the American Mathematics Competition conducted at Xavier on Feb 7th. Juniors James Krouse and Sarah Chicchelly finished in first and second place and Jacob Schmitt, a sophomore, came in third. The AMC Contests are sponsored by the Mathematical Association of America, and are meant to be more challenging than the problems routinely encountered in mathematics courses. We hope that by offering these contests, Xavier can challenge and inspire students to learn more mathemat-ics, which is increasingly important in our technological and scientific age, and is the gateway to jobs and careers of all kinds, even those that are not explicitly mathematical, scientific, or technological.

American Mathematics Competition Results

James Krouse (11) 93

Sarah Chicchelly (11 ) 79.5

Jacob Schmitt (10) 78

Alex Tietz (11 ) 76.5

Hunter Hayes (10 ) 72

Daniel Pape (11 ) 70.5

Edward Krouse (9 ) 66

Yichen Lu (11 ) 64.5

Grace Busse (10 ) 64.5

Jae Kim (9) 64.5

Noah Hagen (11) 61.5

Jingyu Liu (9 ) 61.5

David Kirpes (11 ) 60

Jack VonKampen (9 ) 60

Courtney Himmelsbach (11) 60

Grant Hunt (11 ) 60

Benjamin Biggins (11 ) 58.5

Megan Lynch (11 ) 57

Matthew Thommana (10) 55.5

Lukas Koechner (9 ) 55.5

Hannah Rochford (12 ) 54

Congratulations to all participants for their outstanding effort:


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• Know that minors who consume al-cohol are at higher risk of damage to the brain, liver, and stomach than those over 21.

• If hosting a gradu-ation or any kind of party offer a variety of fun, non-alcoholic beverages. Remember that providing alcohol to minors is illegal, and could result in large fines or even im-prisonment. Also, consider that adults who provide alcohol to minors are held legally responsible for any actions of youth while under the influence. Protect yourself by not providing to minors.

• Investigate safe entertainment options. Ideas could include dances, live music, DJ’s, games, sports, video game tournaments, or other activities your kids enjoy.

• Discuss with your child why you do not want them to drink alcohol or use other drugs. Be candid. Give them tangible rea-sons such as their increased risk of alcohol-ism, increased chance of using other illicit drugs, and alcohol’s relation to the three leading causes of death in teenagers (ac-cidents, homicides, and suicides). Let them know about the legal and financial conse-quences.

• As hard as it may be, talk with your child about your expectations. Do not worry about what your child might think. Rest assured that keeping your child and his/her friends’ safe is worth any resistance that may arise.

• Be clear and specific about your expecta-tions and establish consequences for break-ing the rules. Then stick to them.

• Talk with other parents to understand their values on underage drinking and substance

use. Make clear your expectations when your child is at another’s house. Also, don’t be afraid to call and check up on your kids, even though your child may object. Many cell phones now have GPS trackers to check on kids.

• Come up with a code phrase or word that your child could call/text you to let you know there is drugs and/or alcohol where they are at and need an excuse to get out of the situation. Create a plan so they feel safe and comfortable making that type of call.

• Also remember that you are role models for your kids and if they see parents drinking at every social activity, that’s what is as-sumed to be socially acceptable. It’s just as important for them to see you not consume alcohol amongst peers to know that is just as accepted when in the company of friends.

For more information go to [email protected]

Keeping Your Kids SafeBy Kris Naeve, School Nurse

Spring break, graduation parties, going off to college, and summer vacations are right around the corner and for many teens that means it’s time to party. These activities can carry more risks than sunburns. Here are some tips to help keep your kids safe:

Inner Beauty Week Submitted by Sam Woods (X12)

Being a senior at Xavier I have seen the first hand affects of inner beauty week every year. The affects are not normally drastic but the thoughts they evoke are important. Students here of all grade levels have

started to openly discuss the challenges facing them regarding what society labels as beautiful. SADD’s purpose is to help the students of Xavier see the truth that everyone is beautiful in their own way and we should not let media tell us any different.

As long as I have been at Xavier and a member of SADD we have always started inner beauty week with “Mirrorless Monday.” Mirror-less Monday” is a day in which SADD members cover up the mirrors in all the bathrooms, we do this not to block people for looking at themselves but to prove a point. In our society today we have be-come obsessed with looks and how others perceive us. This event

always gets us students talking because you start to realize how much you actually look at yourself in one day.

Tuesday was free “Feel good buttons”, which we gave out at lunch. SADD members made the buttons with inspirational sayings on them. All grade levels get really involved in this give away because who doesn’t like wearing a button that makes you happy.

On Thursday SADD played music with lyr-ics that sent positive messages of self-worth between each class period.

Friday was “Warm Fuzzy Friday” in which we encouraged giving compliments. Positive affirmations can help develop a positive attitude to life in general. On Friday all SADD members reminded students that when giving a compliment be genuine and take it to heart. This day was made to show students that when they start noticing good things about others, they will start noticing good things about themselves.

Sam Woods (X12)

Every year around this time Student Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) sponsors a week of themed days for students to focus on their own inner beauty.

“...everyone is beautiful in their own way and we should not let media tell us any different. „


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The Xavier Drama Department is proud to announce its final production of the year, The Taming of the Shrew. It’s Shakespeare’s version of the battle of the sexes and also one of his funniest comedies. The play revolves around a father who is desperate to get his oldest daughter Katherine (the Cat) married off so his younger daughter Bianca (the Meek) can get married. The problem is Katherine hates men and vows never to get married, just to spite her younger sister. The father finally has to offer a reward to any man who can tame Katherine to the point she gets married and finally brings peace to his house. Along comes Petrucchio, (the slob) who says he will take the money and guarantees he will tame the fiery Kather-ine. Little does he know, it is far easier than it sounds. Join us for a night of comedy and fun as Petrucchio attempts to show the superi-ority of men and Katherine fights to show that she is his equal, in more ways than one.

The performances will be April 12-14 at 7:00 pm in the Regis LaSalle Theatre on the Xavier High School campus.

Tickets: Adults $6.00; Students: $4.00; Senior Citizens: $2.00.

Tickets can be purchased at the Xavier High School Activities Office or at the door the nights of the production.

Presenting: “Taming of the Shrew“Post PromProm is fast approaching and the Post Prom Committee would like to sincerely thank all parents, friends and businesses for the response to our request for dona-tions of time, food, prizes and money! We are still in need of donations. Cash dona-tions are greatly appreciated.

Please encourage your student to attend this fun, safe event! Post Prom will be held Sunday May 6, from midnight to 3:30 am at Westdale Bowling Center. The event is free and all Xavier junior and senior stu-dents and dates regardless of whether or not they attend prom, are invited. Xavier students will have a chance to win many great prizes, enjoy all sorts of fun games like bingo, “Minute To Win It,“ poker and more!

Overuse InjuriesBy: Heather Boyer, ATC

There are basically two types of injuries: acute and overuse. Acute injuries are usually the result of a single, traumatic event. While overuse injuries are more common in sports than acute injuries, they are subtle and usually occur over time, making them challenging to di-agnose and treat. They are the result of repetitive micro-trauma to the tendons, bones, and joints. Common examples include tennis/golfer’s elbow, swimmer’s shoulder, runner’s knee, jumper’s knee, Achilles tendonitis, and shin splints.

Training errors are the most common cause of overuse injuries. These errors involve rapid acceleration of intensity, duration, or frequency of activity. Proper technique is critical in avoiding overuse injuries, as slight changes in form may be the culprit.

Some people are more prone than others to overuse injuries due to imbalances between strength and flexibility, body alignment, or weakness.

Some tips for treating an overuse injury include: cutting back the intensity, dura-tion, and frequency of an activity; adopt-ing a hard/easy workout schedule and cross-training; learning proper training and technique; performing proper warm-up/cool-down; using ice after an activity for minor aches and pain; using anti-inflammatory medications as necessary.

Sponsorships for the Xavier High School Booster Club Golf Outing are available! Contact Dick Breit-bach if your are interested or would like more information!


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St. John Baptist de la Salle Feast Day: April 7 • Patron Saint of Teachers

La Salle believed the more religious a school was, the more successful it was. The boys went to daily mass and were taught cat-echism and prayers. Religion was included in all of their subjects. Though he had many enemies and his work faced much opposi-tion, La Salle’s schools were so successful, they were soon overflowing with students!

On Good Friday in 1719, La Salle died from asthma and rheumatism. Today, his legacy lives on as the Christian Brothers have schools in more than 80 countries around the world.

St. John Baptist de la Salle is praised as a teacher who applied the Gospel to his daily life and continues to influence education today. He inspires us in our mission of “learn-ing today, leading tomorrow and serving forever”. St. John Baptist de la Salle, please pray for us!

Saint John Baptist de la Salle Submitted By: XPX Spiritual Committee

St. John Baptist de la Salle was born in Reims, France to noble parents on April 30th 1651. He was ordained a priest in 1678, and with his social status and intelligence could have attained a high position in the church. His encounter with Adrian Nyel, a layman from Reims, change the direction of his life. Adrian was passionate about the need to educate poor children. La Salle disliked the rough behavior of the poor and life in the slums, however he felt sympathy for those born without the privileges he enjoyed. La Salle knew the influence teachers have upon shaping the lives of future generations and saw his mission as training young men to be teachers. He called his congregation the Brothers of the Christian Schools. The main purpose of this community was to train teachers to provide religious education for the poor.

“See Christ beneath the rags of those confided to your care.”

The Theology Department and Campus Ministry work together to lead in the faith formation of the students here at Xavier, but every member of the administration, faculty, and staff share in this responsibility. In keeping with our Catholic tradition, we seek to engage both the head and the heart of the students in this process of formation.

The Theology curriculum includes topics such as Old and New Testament, Religious Foundations, Church History, Ethics and Mo-rality, Christian Lifestyles, Comparative Religions and Apologetics. Our curriculum is in transition to align with the required curricu-lum developed by the USCCB. Next year the freshmen curriculum will be based on USCCB. All students who are members of one of our eleven participating parishes are required to take four years of Theology. All other students are required to take at least two years of Theology. By the time students have graduated from Xavier, they will have had over five hundred clock hours of direct

faith formation in a Theology classroom. The Theology curriculum follows the guidelines established by the Roman Catholic Church.

The Campus Ministry Department at Xavier offers a wide variety of spiritual opportunities and all students are encouraged to become involved in any or all of these opportunities. Some of these offerings are Class retreats, Mission trips, Liturgy committee, Eucharistic Adoration, Community Service day, Music Ministry, daily prayer, Liturgies, Prayer Services, Reconciliation Services, Stations of the Cross, Kairos Retreats, TEC Retreats, Aid to Women, Kids Against Hunger, Lifesavers (pro-life committee) and Ministry in Service class. Xavier has provided support to the Catholic Work-er House, Birthright, the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities and numerous other charitable organizations. Our goal is to provide opportunities for our students to make their Catholic faith come to life.

Catholic Faith -- Our Foundation

Our Catholic faith is the foundation of everything we do here at Xavier High School. We understand that as parents, you are the first teachers of your children in the ways of faith. We strive to support you in your efforts to raise faith-filled young adults.


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Campus Ministry Update

This year our Lenten theme is “Finding Christ in the Silence…” The Xavier com-munity is contemplating silence during this Lenten season. Mother Teresa said “in the silence of the heart God speaks. If you face God in prayer and silence, God will speak to you. Then you will know that you are noth-ing. It is only when you realize your noth-ingness, your emptiness, that God can fill you with Himself. Souls of prayer are souls of great silence.” During morning prayer, we have one minute of silence each day with a focus on eyes, ears, tongue, heart and mind. If you are interested in viewing our medita-tions please visit www.xaviersaints.org

• The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be held March 15 and 16. Each class will attend a prayer service followed by a time for ex-amination of conscience, individual Recon-ciliation and silent reflection. Juniors and seniors will receive Reconciliation on March 15 and freshmen and sophomores on March 16. A very special thank you to the priests from our supporting parishes and the sur-rounding area who will celebrate Reconcilia-tion with our students and faculty.

• Stations of the Cross will be held Holy Thursday, April 5 in the Regis-LaSalle The-atre.

• Grandparents Mass will be April 11 at 9:50 am.

• Kairos #12 will be held April 19-22 at

American Martyrs Retreat House in Cedar Falls. Thirty five students from the junior class will be led by students, teachers, and staff from Xavier. This is our last Kairos of the school year. Please keep our team and retreatants in your prayers.

• Teens Encounter Christ (TEC) Retreats continue for seniors held throughout the Archdiocese of Dubuque. This three day re-treat centers on the Paschal Mystery. Please encourage your senior son or daughter to experience this spiritual experience as they finish their high school careers and move forward as young adult. Information is avail-able at www.Arch.pvt.k12.ia.us. Registra-tion forms are available on-line or in the Campus Ministry Office.

• Soles4Souls: As part of Catholic Schools Week the Campus Ministry Department helped coordinate a shoe drive for Soul-4Soles. 875 pairs of shoes were collected and will be shipped to those in need. A big thank you to all who donated!

• Catholic Heart Workcamp: In the summer, 17 teens and 3 chaperones from the Xavier community will be going to Memphis, TN to join in mission work with Catholic Heart Workcamp. We will leave Sunday June 10 and return June 16. It will be a week spent in service and personal faith formation.

“What is essential is not what we say but what God tells us and what He tells others through us. In silence He listens to us; in silence He speaks to our souls. In silence we are granted the privilege of listening to His voice.” --Mother Teresa

Divine Mercy Sunday April 15, The Octave of Easterby Jeani Murtha, Co-chair of XPX Spiritual TeamThe feast of Divine Mercy, which John Paul II designated to be called Divine Mercy Sunday; is the Sunday which follows Easter and is considered to be the Octave of Easter – the grand finale of the annual grace filled eight day Easter celebration. Past Pope John Paul II proclaimed this recognition of Divine Mercy Sunday on April 30, 2000, the day he canonized Sister Faustina Kowalska, which was Divine Mercy Sunday of that year.

For more information about Divine Mercy consider joining the Divine Mercy prayer group at Xavier, which meets the second and fourth Tuesday mornings of the month. The group reflects upon passages from Saint Faustina’s Diary, along with those from Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

To read this article in its entirety, please visit www.xaviersaints.org.

Faith Formation Opportunities Martha, Martha...and Mary Too!Thursday, April 12Presenter: Sr. Annette Kestel PBVM, Pas-toral Associate, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Hiawatha. We are all familiar with the passage from Luke’s Gospel about the two sisters, Martha and Mary. Mar-tha, service oriented and Mary, prayer-ful. Many of us may even identify with one sister over the other. Come join us for an evening of revelation when we dive into the reality that we are all called in our Catholic lives to a balance of both Martha and Mary: action and prayer.

The Iowa Faith Formation ConferenceSaturday, April 14, 2012, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Hiawatha. Father Ron Rol-heiser is the featured speaker discussing “Living the Ups and Downs of Our Faith, Dark Nights and Doubt, A Failure of Faith or a Failure of Imagination.” Go to the Archdiocesan website and click on the Events tab to register. For more informa-tion contact Julie Johnson at [email protected]

Weekly Mass: During the school year Mass is held in the Chapel on Friday at 7am. Please consider joining us - we‘d love to see you there!


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Cara Reilly

“For her involvement in athletics, fine arts, and service at Xavier.”

Alex Rehman

“For his work as a member of the Xavier Concert Band, Xavier Jazz Band, Xhilarati-on, and the fall musi-cal.“

Mr. Lilly

“For leading the girls basketball team to the class 4A state tournament and for his involvement in the clean campus initiative.”

Mrs. Wendt

“For her work on painting the backdrop set for “Cinderella.”

Students and Staff of the Month: March


March 2012 Navigator

Documents

Transcript of March 2012 Navigator