He

ad

ma

st

er

’s a

nd

Pr

inc

ipa

l’s

Ne

ws

le

tt

er

Xa

vie

r H

igh

Sc

ho

ol

. 181

Ra

nd

olp

h R

oad

. M

idd

leto

wn

CT

06

45

7 . 8

60

-34

6-7

73

5

w

ww

.xa

vie

rhig

hsc

hool.

org

~

A C

ath

oli

c C

om

mu

nit

y F

ost

erin

g E

xce

llen

ce i

n S

chola

rsh

ip, L

ead

ersh

ip a

nd

Ser

vic

e~

Volume 52

Number 5

April/May 2015

From the Headmaster…

Dear Parents and Guardians,

“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.”

Psalm 118, vs. 24

At Mass on Easter Sunday morning, this verse is sung as part of the response

after the first reading. We have come through our Lenten season preparing

ourselves for Easter, and during Holy Week we followed a bit of an emotional

rollercoaster as we recalled the events of Christ’s passion and death. We began

with the jubilation of Palm Sunday as the crowd welcomed Jesus into

Jerusalem. We joyfully celebrated the Last Supper and the institution of the

Eucharist on Holy Thursday, and from that night on follows Gethsemane,

betrayal by Judas, denial by Peter, cruel torture and a painful death. Yet

through all of this we know the end of the story that we celebrate on Easter

Sunday, the story of resurrection, new life shared with and given to us all.

Those of us who live in New England are fortunate in that Easter usually falls

around the time when we celebrate the new life of spring. We have come

through a long and difficult winter this year, and the early signs of spring lift

our spirits as we see a bit of green instead of snow and trees that will soon not

look barren. It is especially nice to see our turf field without snow and so many

of our student athletes out practicing for spring sports. Building construction is

now in the final phase, and our music and art programs will shortly have new

homes and the science department will enjoy an additional new chemistry lab.

While construction nears completion the Sustaining Excellence Campaign

continues to raise needed funds to finance all of our new facilities.

Our seniors show signs of new life as they look forward to their new futures,

sharing their plans with each other. Hopefully they will continue to work hard

to bring their Xavier careers to a successful conclusion. And also with spring

we prepare to welcome the new class of 2019 and their parents to our Xavier

family.

These are indeed the days the Lord has made, and each of us should pause in

thanks to God for them. May the Easter season be a time of blessings for all of

you.

Alleluia!

Sincerely in Christ,

Brother Brian Davis, C.F.X.

Headmaster

The Congregation of the Brothers of St. Francis Xavier

From the Principal…

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As many of you know, each year at this time, I publish my thoughts regarding prom season. Whether your

son is attending one of our proms or one at another school, I pray that he will enjoy the evening responsibly

and return home safe and sound. Although the message may be redundant, I feel compelled to remind our

students of the potential pitfalls that may present themselves if they do not make good choices. Please take

some time to discuss the following points with your son if he plans to attend a prom this spring.

Safety is the number one priority. On April 23rd, we are hosting a speaker, Mr. Ron James, who will

present to our juniors and seniors a talk entitled “Choices”. Mr. James’ talk will focus on making good

choices in all aspects of life with specific emphasis on the choices surrounding drugs, alcohol and other

challenges of teen life. Please take the time to discuss this assembly with your son. We also have a

program on drugs and alcohol (by Mr. Rich Figewski) for freshmen and sophomores. It is our hope that

these programs will help your son to make good choices.

The escalating cost associated with proms concerns me. Please do not allow your son to go overboard

with expenses. Limousines are nice, but not necessary. Driving (safely) to the prom is OK. Most Xavier

students do just that. Some even get dropped off by their parents! There is no need for expensive parties

or dinners before or afterward. He doesn’t have to rent the most expensive tuxedo. We allow students to

wear a formal suit to the prom as long as it is approved ahead of time by the class moderator.

Be sure you are fully aware of your son’s itinerary for the evening. What are the plans for transportation?

With whom will he be and what will the level of adult supervision be before and after the prom? I know

you want to place your trust in your son to make good decisions on his own. That being said, this is not

the night to let down your guard. Trust, but verify.

If your son is ending up at another family’s home, do you know the parents? Do not assume that every

family has the same rules and guidelines as you do. Some adults allow alcohol to be served in their homes

to minors and mistakenly think that this is OK “as long as we take the keys”. Do not assume anything. If

your son is going to end up somewhere else that evening, please call those parents and speak directly

to them ahead of time and ask tough questions. If you are not comfortable with the situation, insist that

your son return home that night.

Talk candidly about appropriate behavior with regard to the young lady he will be accompanying. I

expect him to be a perfect gentleman and to treat his date with utmost respect. Our culture does not share

that sentiment. After-prom parties are often seen as occasions for drugs, alcohol and sexual promiscuity.

Do not be afraid to speak directly to your son about making good moral choices.

In addition to the health, safety and legal issues associated with drugs and alcohol, any student who

engages in these activities is subject to disciplinary action including expulsion from Xavier. Your son

must not plan for, nor engage in, such illicit behavior. If he finds himself in a potentially dangerous or

compromising situation, he must remove himself immediately and contact you. Please remind him that

you are always just a phone call away.

There are several reputable limousine companies in the area who take safety very seriously and who have

your child’s best interest in mind. However, you should be mindful of a few things. “Party buses” are an

unnecessary expense. If you do choose to rent one for the evening, be aware that some of them are

equipped with “stripper poles” and with satellite TV providing access to any TV program available. You

can ask to have the poles removed and the satellite disabled. The state DOT will be out stopping

limousines during prom season. If a limousine is not properly certified and insured, the passengers will

not be allowed to continue the trip and will find themselves stranded on the side of the road.

Prom night should be a time for your son to enjoy himself with his friends and return home safely. Please join

us in presenting a unified message to your son.

In Christ,

Mr. Brendan Donohue

Principal

April 6 – 10: Spring Break

April 13: Classes Resume – All School Liturgy 9:10 a.m.

April 14: Freshman Class Assembly – Period 1

April 15: Sophomore Class Assembly – Period 1

Senior Class Assembly – Period 2

April 16: Junior Class Assembly – Period 1

April 17 – 18: Music Trip

April 21: Spring Art Show 6:30 p.m.

April 20: Fr. Greg Visit – Confessions

April 23: Junior/Senior “Choices” Assembly – Mr. Ron James

May 1: First Friday ~ Eucharistic Adoration ~ Ryken Service Society Canned Food Drive

Deficiency Reports Posted Online 6:00 p.m.

May 2: SAT @ Mercy 7:00 a.m. ~ Junior Prom 6:30 – 11:00 p.m.

May 4: AP Environmental Science Exam 8:00 a.m.

May 5: AP Calculus Exam 8:00 a.m. ~ Teacher Appreciation Day

May 6: AP English Literature/Composition Exam 8:00 a.m.

AP Physics Exam 12:00 p.m.

May 7: AP Spanish Language & Culture Exam 8:00 a.m.

May 8: AP European History Exam 12:00 p.m. ~ AP Studio Art Exam Due

May 9: 8th Grade Placement Exams 8:30 a.m. (Algebra and Foreign Language)

Senior Prom 6:30 – 11:00 p.m.

May 10: Mother’s Day

May 11: AP Biology and AP Music Theory Exams 8:00 a.m.

Fr. Greg Visit - Confessions

May 12: AP US Government & Politics Exam 8:00 a.m.

Guidance College Fair 6:00 – 8:30 p.m.

May 13: AP Statistics Exam 12:00 p.m.

May 14: Ascension Thursday School Liturgy 1:00 p.m.

Advancement Freshman Parent Reception 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

May 15: AP Latin Exam 12:00 p.m.

May 14-19: Second Semester Exams for Seniors

May 16: SAC Freshman/Sophomore Semi-Formal 7:30 – 11:00 p.m.

May 18: Spring Concert Practice 6:00 p.m.

Driver Education Parent Meeting 7:00 p.m.

May 19: Fall Sports Pre-Season Meeting for 8th Grade Parents 6:30 p.m.

May 20: AP U.S. History Exam 8:00 a.m.

AP English Language/Composition and AP World History Exams 12:00 p.m.

Spring Fine Arts Assembly & Frosh Grandparents Day 1:30 p.m.

Spring Fine Arts Night 7:00 p.m.

End of 4th Marking Period for Seniors

May 21: AP Chemistry Exam 12:00 p.m.

Senior Retreat 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Academic Awards Ceremony 6:30 p.m.

May 25: Memorial Day – School/Offices Closed

May 27: Graduation Practice – Mandatory 9:00 a.m. ~ Senior Breakfast and Picnic

May 28: Graduation Practice – Mandatory 9:00 a.m.

May 30: Baccalaureate Mass 5:00 p.m.

May 31: Graduation 10:30 a.m.

June 1: Senior Report Cards Posted Online

June 3: End of 4th Marking Period for Underclassmen

June 4-5, 8-9: Second Semester Exams for Underclassmen

June 6: Kalber Car Show @ Xavier (Rain Date 06/07)

SAT @ Mercy 7:00 a.m.

June 11: Spring Sports Awards Night 6:30 p.m.

June 12: Underclass Report Cards Posted Online

Beginning with the 2015-2016 school year, Xavier High School will require all students to have

a physical examination prior to the start of each school year. Physicals must take place between

May 15th and August 15th and the physical form must be on file in the nurse’s office at the start

of each school year. Please click here to view the letter sent home by Mr. Donohue in March

explaining this new policy. Please note: students will not be allowed to try out, practice or

participate in any sport without documentation of a physical examination on file in the nurse’s

office. Any questions regarding student physicals should be directed to Mrs. Tina Loomis,

School Nurse, 860-346-7735 Ext. 712.

Tuition contracts for 2015-2016 are

due on April 6th. A signed tuition

contract and deposit of $500.00 for

each student attending Xavier must

be on file in the business office in

order for your son to begin classes

in September. If your son is an

incoming freshman, no additional

deposit is due with the tuition

contract. All tuition for the current

school year must be paid in full by

April 20th. Please contact the

business office with any questions

regarding tuition balances or

contracts.

Graduation Information and Tickets will be distributed to seniors at their class assembly on April 15th. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. A.T. Gargano. Mandatory Graduation Practice for members of the Class of 2015 will be held on Wednesday, May 27th and Thursday, May 28th at 9:00 a.m. Baccalaureate Mass for the Class of 2015 will take place on Saturday evening, May 30th at 5:00 p.m. Father Gregory Galvin, Director of Vocations for the Diocese of Norwich, will celebrate this liturgy. Many awards will be distributed to members of the class on this evening. Seniors must arrive by 4:15 p.m. and must be in cap and gown. Commencement Exercises for the Class of 2015 will take place on Sunday morning, May 31st at 10:30 a.m. The Most Reverend Michael R. Cote, D.D., Bishop of the Diocese of Norwich, will distribute diplomas and address all present for Xavier’s Forty-Eighth Commencement Exercises. Seniors must arrive by 9:45 am.

PLEASE NOTE: ALL SENIORS ARE REQUIRED TO ATTEND BACCALAUREATE MASS AND GRADUATION

PARENTS OF SENIORS Reminder: There is no such thing as a senior skip day. Any senior or group of seniors who absent themselves from school without valid reason will be considered truant and will be disciplined appropriately.

Seniors should hear from the colleges they have applied to by April 15. Keep in mind that deposits are due on May 1. College acceptances are conditional; therefore, please encourage your son to continue his good academic performance. Also please remind your son to provide confirmation of any scholarship(s) he receives to the guidance office.

Senior Prom will be held at The Farmington Club on Saturday, May 9th from 6:30 to 11:00 p.m. The final payment of $125 is due on Wednesday, April 22nd. A late charge of $10 will apply for late payments not pre-arranged with Mrs. Tomasiello. Please see Mrs. Tomasiello in the guidance office or email her at jtomasiello@xavierhighschool.org.

Safe Graduation News: Please click here for more information regarding this event.

Yearbook: Information regarding the Message to the Graduate section of the yearbook was sent out to senior parents in mid-February. Replies were due on April 1. Please click here If you have not yet submitted this information. Please contact Ms. Lee at klee@xavierhighschool.org for more information.

JUNIORS The Junior Prom will be held in St. Joseph Hall at Xavier on Saturday, May 2, 2015 from 6:30 to 11:00 p.m. The final payment of $85 will be due on Friday, April 17th. A late charge of $10 will be added if this deadline is missed without prior approval from Mrs. Keereweer. Any questions should be directed to Mrs. Keereweer.

Juniors who did not take the March SAT, please register online for either the May 2nd test (late registration is April 21) or June 7th test (regular registration deadline is May 8, late registration is May 27. Juniors needing to take SAT Subject Tests please see your counselor to discuss dates and subjects A.S.A.P.

Juniors should have already met with their guidance counselor about Naviance and the college process. If they have not, please have them do so.

College Visits: Weekend Junior Open Houses and April vacation are an ideal time to visit colleges!

XLI is Sunday, July 26 through Thursday, July 30. Applications will be available beginning April 30th from junior religion teachers, in the campus ministry office or on our website.

SOPHOMORES Your sons will be meeting with their guidance counselor to discuss grades, PSAT scores, and the college search process during March, April and May.

MBS BOOK BUYBACK

Used book collection will be held at Xavier on the following dates: Every school day from Thursday, May 14 to Friday, May 29 before and after school – SENIORS ONLY; June 4 through 9 before and after school until 12:30 p.m. and Wednesday, June 10, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. UNDERCLASSMEN. Buyback quotes must be obtained from the MBS website before Xavier can process book buybacks.

HOME & SCHOOL NEWS A special thank you to Amy Brough, Lynn Blanchard, and Michelle Marszalek, co-chairs of our Auction Committee, and all the volunteers for transforming our gym and dining hall into a beautiful venue for our Mardi Gras auction on March 21. The evening was very successful! A special thank you as well to Karen Haberski for coordinating our winter sports concessions.

ADVANCEMENT OFFICE Thank You! As always, thank you to all of our alumni, parents, grandparents, and friends for your continued support!

Phonathon Pledges: As we begin to look towards wrapping up this fiscal year, (July 1, 2014-June 30, 2015) we remind all of you who have made a pledge to please mail in your gifts or donate securely at www.xavierhighschool.org/give as soon as possible. Please remember that while no gift is ever too small, your gift goes to cover the gap of $1,400 between the cost of a Xavier education and the tuition charged each student. You may specify that your donation be applied toward financial assistance or another area of particular interest. With your ongoing loyalty and support, we will be able to help many young men at Xavier achieve their goal of becoming Xavier graduates. Thank you for all you do for Xavier High School!

Annual Alumni Association Spring Raffle tickets will be distributed in April! All proceeds benefit the Xavier Alumni Association, which then sponsors a number of activities that ultimately benefit every Xavier student. Student planners and senior graduation photos, as well as a generous donation to the Xavier Annual fund, are examples of ways in which the Alumni Association benefits Xavier students.

Alumni Golf Classic is Monday, June 1, 2015 at Wampanoag Country Club in West Hartford. All Alumni, Parents, and Friends of Xavier are welcome to join us for a day of golf and excitement. Sponsorship opportunities are available for businesses and friends at a number of different levels. Please contact the Office of Advancement at advancement@xavierhighschool.org or 860-347- 6079 to reserve your spot today or for more information!

ACADEMIC DEANS

Reports Cards for the third marking period were made available online on Thursday, April 2nd. If you have difficulty accessing your son’s report online, please contact the Main Office.

AP Exams will be administered during the weeks of May 4, 11 and 18. Specific exam dates are noted in the Student Calendar. REMINDER: In addition to taking their AP exams, students are required to be in school for the full day. Students taking morning exams are required to be in their seats by 7:45 a.m. Note that afternoon exams conclude after the regular dismissal time. The guidance department oversees ordering and administering the exams.

The end of the 4th Marking Period for Seniors is May 20. Parents, as this is a time when seniors lose enthusiasm for homework and study, please remind your sons to continue to do all their schoolwork. Final exams for seniors will take place May 14, 15, 18 and 19. As exams count 10% of the grade for a full-year course and 20% for a semester course, it is important that your sons prepare well for exams. Senior report cards will be published online on Monday, June 1.

The End of the Fourth Marking Period for Underclassmen is on Wednesday, June 3. Final Exams for underclassmen will take place on Thursday, June 4 through Tuesday, June 9. Make-up exams will be held on Tuesday, June 9 and Wednesday, June 10.

Grade Reporting and Evaluations will take place June 10 through 12. Report cards will be made available online on Friday, June 12. If a student fails a course for the year his parents will be notified by registered letter, and he will need to make up that course in summer school. Any student who fails two (2) or more credits in a given year cannot return to Xavier. Any questions should be directed to your son’s academic dean.

PARENT BIG FALCON PROGRAMPlease help welcome the newest members of the Xavier community by being a “Parent Big Falcon”. Parent Big Falcons will be paired with a new incoming family to answer questions and give tips to help make the adjustment to Xavier. The commitment is minimal, but the impact is huge. If you are interested in mentoring a new family, please contact Mr. Grasso (860-346-7735 ext. 743). Pairings will be made late spring/early summer.

DEAN OF STUDENTS

Athletes and students using the locker room and/or weight room before or after school must always lock their possessions in a locker. Bags, clothing items, etc. left outside the lockers will be confiscated by school personnel. Please remind your sons not to leave their belongings on the floor, on benches or on top of lockers.

Busing information and registration cards have been mailed to next year’s sophomore and junior classes. Information for those students who will be seniors in the fall and need to register for the bus will be available in the main office. Information for in-town students riding the DATTCO buses will be forwarded to the City of Middletown transportation office. We will continue to run twelve out-of-town routes next year and the $450.00 deposit for out-of-town riders is due on April 24th.

Electronic Devices: Students are not permitted to be in possession of cell phones or to inappropriately use other electronic devices during the course of the academic day. Please see page 33 of the Student Handbook.

Parking 2015-2016: During the 4th marking period, next year’s juniors and seniors will be registered for parking. Registration forms must be submitted to Mr. Cerreta before the close of school in June. Please note that student drivers are not allowed to park off campus and walk to school.

Prom Season and Dance Regulations: Parents are asked to be mindful of the school’s policy regarding leaving early from or arriving late to the proms. Notes requesting permission and outlining the reason for an early departure or late arrival for the senior prom must be submitted to Mr. Cerreta by Wednesday, May 6. Permission notes for the junior prom should be submitted to Mr. Cerreta by Wednesday, April 29. For your son’s well-being please be aware of his plans prior to and after the prom and that there is appropriate adult supervision. Please be advised that all students are accountable to the Student Handbook, particularly the section regarding the policy on controlled substances. Please remind your sons of the policies in the Student Handbook regarding dance regulations. The administration will not tolerate “dirty dancing/grinding” which is unacceptable behavior at Xavier. Any student involved in these activities will be confronted, his parents will be contacted, and he will face disciplinary action. We ask for your cooperation in discussing this with your son.

ATHLETICS

Football Off-Season and Practice Information can be viewed on the athletic page on the school’s website. For more information contact Coach Marinan smarinan@xavierhighschool.org.

Xavier’s weight room is open to all students from 2:45 to 6:00 p.m. every day after school. Instruction from our weight room proctors is available whether your son is on an athletic team or just wants to work out!

CLICK HERE FOR INFO

In March seven young men represented Xavier at the annual

Xaverian Brothers Sponsored Schools Junior Retreat. These young men interacted with students from twelve other Xaverian schools. The purpose of this retreat is to provide the opportunity to realize “connectedness” to the Xaverian Charism, ministry of the Xaverian Brothers Sponsored Schools and their mission. A special thank you and congratulations to our senior leader, Ethan Pitney, our juniors Frederick Auger, Zachary Braun, Connor Flynn, Connor Frauendorf, Michael Greco and Abhishek Gupta and to Mr. James Tyrol, Jr., adult leader, for their participation in this very worthwhile program.

INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

OF INCOMING STUDENTS

Busing information and registration cards have been mailed to incoming freshmen and the $450.00 deposit for out-of-town riders is due on April 24th. Please contact Mr. Cerreta with any questions regarding busing.

The Placement Exams for Algebra and Foreign Language are scheduled on Saturday, May 9, beginning at 8:30 a.m. with the Algebra exam followed by the Foreign Language exam at 10:15 a.m. Please register here.

Any questions regarding the placement exams or proficiency exam should be directed to Mr. Sizemore at 860-346-7735, Ext. 728. Please click here to register.

A meeting for parents of incoming freshmen and transfer students planning to participate in Football, Soccer, or Cross Country in the fall will be held on Tuesday, May 19 at 6:30 p.m. Coaches Marinan, Fitzgerald, and Stonier will provide information regarding their programs, tryouts, practice times, etc. Parents of incoming students planning to participate are encouraged to attend. Please direct any questions to Coach Marinan smarinan@xavierhighschool.org; Coach Fitzgerald brfitzgerald@xavierhighschool.org; or Coach Stonier cstonier@branford.k12.ct.us.

XAVIER SCHOOL STORE The school store will be open on Wednesday, May 27, from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. for parents who wish to purchase items of Xavier apparel as 8th grade graduation gifts for their sons. The school store is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 to 8:00 a.m. and 2:30 to 3:00 p.m. and is located on the first floor main corridor across from the gym. Use the school’s front entrance for easy access. If the above date is not convenient, please contact the School Store at 860-346-7735 Ext. 739.

SUMMER PROGRAMS 2014

The Summer Academic Programs Informational Brochure for Incoming Freshmen was mailed in February. Course offerings for incoming freshmen include English

Study Skills, Pre-Algebra, English Grammar, Topics in Algebra, Introduction to Spanish I,

Honors Algebra I Review, Honors Spanish I Review in June, Introduction to Honors Physics,

Introduction to Honors French I and Introduction to Honors Latin I in August. Questions should

be directed to Mr. Sizemore at Ext. 728. Registrations are due by June 5th.

The Summer Camp Programs Informational Brochure was also mailed home in February. Summer camp opportunities include Baseball Camp, Cross Country/Track & Field

Camp, Fundamental Football Camp, Lacrosse Camp, Rowing Camp, Soccer Camp, Strength

and Conditioning Camp, and Wrestling Camp. Questions should be directed to Mr. Cerreta at

Ext. 785. Registrations are being accepted at this time. Please note: Our Basketball Clinic

runs in the Fall and is only for students who will be in 6th through 8th grade at that time.

We encourage you to register and pay online:

Click Here for academic programs

Click Here for summer camps

If you have trouble registering online, please contact Mrs. Donna Jaskot at djaskot@xavierhighschool.org.

Summer Enrichment Courses for current students include Introduction to Spanish I, “Writing

the College Essay,” and Algebra I Review. An informational letter will be mailed home in early

April. Questions should be directed to Mr. Gargano at Ext. 703.

ADMISSIONS

XAVIER FINE ARTS DEPARTMENT PRESENTS A Celebration Of Art

Special Spring Exhibit of Works by Xavier Art Students

“To Create is a Gift”

Xavier High School Front Foyer and Lobby Areas Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Display open for viewing throughout the school day. Evening viewing and reception begins at 6:30 p.m.