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By: Gaylord Hauschildt, Fitness/Wellness Teacher

Business Office News 2-3

Trusting in the Holy Spirit 4

Student Explores Caring Careers 5

Guidance News 6

Robotics Team Qualifies forState Competition 7

Campus Ministry Update 8

Fall Sports Wrap Up 9

Health Services Update 10

Four Oaks Book Drive 11

Christmas With Xavier 12

The Principal‘s Corner

Trusting in the Holy Spirit

Contents

December 2012 • Volume 15 • Number 5

We‘ve all just finished celebrating Thanksgiving 2012. Hopefully, it was filled with family gatherings, great food, and thankful thoughts. This year may have been one of your best-ever celebrations, or at least reminds you of an especially memorable Thanksgiving from the past, as it always does with us.

Can you imagine thirty-three people, all gathered in a home of less than 900 square feet, half of that size being bedrooms? How about being the only two non-Spanish speaking attendees

present, with a majority of the thirty-three neither understanding nor able to speak English? How about only one pie for des-sert for this Thanksgiving, but still divided into thirty-three pieces so all could share in the dessert so no one would be left out? We could not have experienced this wonderful Thanksgiving without having committed to service opportunities. As guests, we were asked to give the prayer of thanks. How inspiring it was, after saying it in English to then hear it repeated in both Spanish and Yaqui. Never did we think that

For the past year, the Xavier administration and faculty have been exploring ways to enhance the digital learning experi-ence opportunities for our Saints. We have reviewed litera-ture, attended conferences, invited presenters and visited other schools with the goal of determining which strategies might best prepare our students for life after high school in the digital world. We have reported our findings and recom-mendations to the Xavier School Improvement Committee, the Xavier Finance Committee, the Xavier Foundation Board, Xavier Parents for Xcellence, the Principal Student Advisory Team and the Xavier Board of Education. We received valuab-le input from those groups which led to additional review and enhancement of our plan.

I am excited to report to you that at its November 28 meeting, the Xavier Board of Edu-cation approved the Xavier faculty and administration recommendation to implement a Digital Learning Strategy (DLS) which will place an Apple iPad in the hands of every Xavier student beginning with the 2013-14 school year. I am also excited to share that the Xavier Foundation Board has committed to providing the funds to assist with the initial startup cost of our iPad DLS program.

Our choice to go with iPads is based on mobility, interactivity, instant access to infor-mation, ease of use and minimal need for tech support. The plan is for students to have the device with them 24/7 throughout the school year. Content filtering will always be in place when students use the devices.

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Sincerely,

Tom KeatingPrincipal

Principal‘s Corner (continued from page 1)

In order to prepare our faculty for the implementation of the DLS, we issued an iPad to each instructor in August. We have created an iPad team which attends training monthly at Grant Wood AEA. That team then conducts training for the entire faculty during our in-service time. Grant Wood AEA personnel have also conducted training at Xavier. We have also created an iPad “App” team to explore and recommend educatio-nal apps which will enhance student learning experiences. The training has been very well received and our teachers are excited about the phenomenal opportunity this tool will provide for them in working with their students.

To give our teachers the opportunity to explore use of the iPad with students, we have purchased an iPad cart of 30 iPads (thanks to Dan and Donna Lynch, Dave and Vicki Drown, and Joe and Carolyn Kirby). This iPad cart has been in use during virtually every period of the day and the results have been outstanding! From internet research to student presentations to iMovie creations to interacting with teachers and each other, students are quickly discovering the educational benefits of a digital device in the classroom.

On Wednesday, January 30 at 6:30 p.m., we will offer parents the opportunity to learn more about the plan for rolling out our Digital Learning Strategy. The meeting will take place in the Regis-LaSalle Theatre. Our goal that evening is to provide detailed information as well as demonstrate what students and teachers can do with the iPad. We will follow up with a survey to get feedback from those who attend the meeting.

Our school board, administration, faculty and students are excited about this won-derful opportunity! Thanks to all who helped in making this cutting edge classroom enhancement a reality!

As I close this December’s Principal Corner, I want to wish all of you a blessed and joyful Christmas! May the time spent with loved ones be a reflection of God’s love for all of us!

Dec. 1: NEIBA District Honor Band Dec. 5: In-Service 12:30 p.m. Early Dismissal Booster Club Meeting (6:30 p.m.)

Dec. 7: Mass in the Chapel (7:00 a.m.) Eucharistic Adoration Dec. 9: Christmas With Xavier (5:00 p.m.)

Dec. 14: Mass in the Chapel (7:00 a.m.) Eucharistic Adoration All-State Musical Festival

Dec. 15: Battle of the Bands (7:00 p.m.) NHS Christmas Dance (8:00 p.m.)

Dec. 17-19: Semester Exams

Dec. 20: Semester Exams Review

Dec. 21- January 1: Christmas Break

On the Radar: January 2: In-Service No School

January 3: Second semester begins

Dates to Note

The complete Xavier High School calendar can be viewed on the Xavier website or by clicking here.

Tune into KMRY 1450 AM & 93.1 FM to hear live broadcasts of the following games:

November 20: Girls vs. Decorah

November 26: Boys vs. Mt. Pleasant

November 27: Girls vs. Waterloo East

December 4: Girls vs. Dubuque SeniorDecember 14: Girls & Boys Doubleheader vs. Iowa City West

December 21: Boys vs. Waterloo West

January 3: Girls vs. CR Washington

January 4: Boys at CR Washington

January 8: Boys at CR Kennedy

January 18: Boys at Linn-Mar

January 22: Girls at CR Prairie

February 1: Girls at Linn-MarFebruary 8: Girls & Boys doubleheader at Iowa City West

February 14: Boys vs. Iowa City High

Xavier Basketball KRMY Broadcast Schedule

A group of Xavier students and faculty spent their first day of Thanksgiving break working on the Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity Youth Build home in Cedar Rapids. This is the second build-day the Saints have participa-ted in this year! The Saints will continue to assist with the building and preparation of the home throughout the school year.

Please note: Semester testing and review are scheduled for December 17-20. It is important and expected that students will be in school during this time. If there is an extenuating circumstance that necessitates your child missing an exam, please contact Ms. Olson as soon as possible to reschedule it. All exams must be taken by December 19.

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Tuition Payment Date ReminderSecond semester and third quarter tuition is due on January 10, 2013. Fourth quarter tuition is due March 11, 2013. All grade reports will be held for students whose ac-counts are not current.

We thank the families who fulfill their financial obligation promptly. Unfortunately, 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 contact Shea Francis at (319) 294-6635 x307.

Semester Test Schedule Semester exams begin on Monday, December 17. Semester exam review day will be Thursday, December 20. The semester exam schedule will be e-mailed to parents in the Good News and posted on the Xavier website. Students are required to attend only those sessions for which they are scheduled to take an exam. The Commons and the LMC will be open for student to study when they do not have an exam. Lunch will not be served on semester exam days and there will be morning bussing only.

Christmas VacationChristmas vacation begins after the last class on Thursday, December 20. Classes will resume on Thursday, January 3, 2013.

Christmas Season MassXavier will hold a Mass on Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at 9:50 a.m. in the Ron Thillen Gymnasium to celebrate the Christmas season. Parents are encouraged to join us!

Inclement WeatherWhen bad weather necessitates early dismissals, cancellations or delays, we will fol-low the Cedar Rapids public school system. Please listen to local radio/tv stations for information on weather-related closings or delays. Our school greeting also announ-ces school cancellations or delays.

Important RemindersPlease make every effort to call the school at (319) 294-6635 before 9:30 a.m. on days when your child is ill. Each day beginning at 9:30 a.m., our attendance office calls all parents who have not called in their students. Thank you for your help and consideration.

Yearbook OrdersAre you interested in ordering a 2012-2013 Xavier Yearbook? Log on to www.josten-syearbooks.com and place your order directly with Jostens.

Senior Photo DeadlineAll seniors are reminded that their senior photos for the yearbook are due on Monday, January 8, 2013 to Mrs. Wagner in room 226.

Business Office NewsTuition Tax CreditSection 422.12, subsection 2, Code 1997, “A tuition credit equal to twenty-five percent of the first one thousand dollars which the taxpayer has paid to others for each depen-dent in grades kindergarten through twelve, for tuition and textbooks of each dependent in attending an elementary or secondary school situated in Iowa, which school is ac-credited or approved under section 256.11, which is not operated for profit, and which adheres to the provisions of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 and chapter 216. As used in this subsection, ‘textbooks’ means books and other instructional materials and equipment used in elementary and secondary schools in teaching only those subjects legally and commonly taught in public elementary and secondary schools in this state and does not include instructional books and materials used in the teaching of religious tenets, doctrines, or worship, the purpose of which is to inculcate those tenets, doctrines, or worship. ‘Textbooks’ includes books or materials used for extracurricular activities including sporting events, musical or dramatic events, speech activities, driver’s education, or programs of a similar nature. Notwithstanding any other provision, all other credits allowed under this section and section 422.128 shall be deducted before the tuition credit under this subsection. The department, when conducting an audit of a taxpayer’s return, shall also audit the tuition tax credit portion of the tax return.”

“As used in this subsection, ‘tuition’ means any charges for the expenses of person-nel, buildings, equipment, and materials other than textbooks, and other expenses of elementary or secondary schools which relate to the teaching only of those subjects legally and commonly taught in public elementary and secondary schools in this state and which do not relate to the teaching of religious tenets, doctrines, or worship, the purpose of which is to inculcate those tenets, doctrines, or worship. ‘Tuition’ includes those expenses which relate to the extracurricular activities including sporting events, musical or dramatic events, speech activities, driver’s education or programs of a similar nature.”

Xavier High School will send statements to all parents and guardians in early Janu-ary showing tuition and fees paid during 2012.

Trusting in the Holy Spiritour volunteer service to others would pro-vide such an enriching experience!

For many years we had considered volun-teering for long-distance service opportu-nities, particularly with Native Americans, but had just not been able to make it work. In 2002, through a personal relationship Mary had developed with Sr. Jose Hobday, a Native American nun and nationally-known speaker on living life simply, Sr. Jose connected us with the Navajos at St. Mary’s Mission, Tohatchi, NM, just north of Gallup. Trusting in Sr. Jose (and the Holy Spirit), we traveled 1330 miles to an area we had never been, to work for people we had never met, to volunteer our time for projects known only, in general, as “carpentry projects.”

After that first Southwest visit, we were able to come back home and share the needs of St. Mary’s Mission with our community. Their clothing closet had few essential clothes to share with the local Navajo popu-lation. Both Xavier High School and St. Jo-seph’s parish responded magnificently with a collection of 300 jeans, 800 t-shirts, 1000

pairs of socks, and 1000 sets of underwear, that all went there on a second service trip to St. Mary’s.

Through Sr. Jose’s next invitation and encouragement, we stretched our service work to the Pascua Yaqui Indians in the South Tucson, AZ area-both on the reserva-tion and in the urban area of the Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Parish. Again, upon returning and publicizing a need, the Xavier and St. Joseph parish communities supported the South Tucson Women’s Crisis Center with contributions of over 6400 diapers and 200+ cans of infant formula to assist new and expectant mothers.

It seems that anyone who has engaged in service work has always said they have received much more from their experience than what they had ever put in with time or material resources. Our response would be absolutely in line with that. We have witnessed the lifelong dedication of special people to helping the disadvantaged: Sr. Jose Hobday (for women and the poor), Fr. John Middlestadt (Navajo-St. Mary’s

Mission), Fr. Abram Dono (Pascua Yaqui-St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish, South Tucson), and Ricardo and Olga Voldenegro (hosts of the Thanksgiving dinner who didn’t even know all the names of guests sharing in the meal but still welcomed them.) It encourages us to try to model their dedication. We have witnessed the incredible strength of faith of those who materially have little. It challeng-es us to believe with that same level of faith. We are overwhelmed by the generosity of our community willing to help others in need. As strangers we were welcomed so warmly by the people we assisted, it shows us how to open our hearts and ourselves to other cultures. With the experiences and the confidence and trust of the Holy Spirit, we have the faith and the confidence to pursue future service opportunities.

As a member of the Xavier faculty, it has also been exciting to see how our Xavier students are reaching out in service to oth-ers as well. They may not know where the journey ultimately takes them but, hope-fully, they can experience similar rewards.

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Xavier student Alyssa Gorkow is interest-ed in helping people. This October, she got a glimpse into her potential future career through participating in a Careers In Mental Health group job shadow at the Human Services Campus in Cedar Rapids, coordinated by Workplace Learn-ing Connection (WLC). Gorkow, along with 33 other students from 19 area high schools, met with local mental health care providers who shared their career insight with the teens. Alyssa

walked away from the experience discovering that there are many professional avenues in this field, such as psychiatry, substance abuse counseling, social work, psychiatric nursing and more. During the job shadow, the students learned that mental illness is described as disorders of the way the brain functions. One interest-ing fact was revealed - one half of all mental illness occurs before the age of 14. However, if the illness is treated by a mental health care professional, the odds are high for recovery. Stigma, access to services and the cost of services are the main reasons that prevent people from getting help. Gorkow was told that mental health pro-

fessionals strive to change the way that people view mental health and who can get access to services. The job shadow included an interactive exercise. The high schoolers broke into groups and were given a scenario. They went to different professional providers to find out what services were available from a specific agency to address the scenario. Career professionals from the following agencies were on-hand to share their career insight with the students: Families, Inc; Abbe Center for Community Health; Horizons: A Family Service Alliance; Area Substance Abuse Council (ASAC); St. Luke’s Hospital; Family Psychology Associates; and the United Way. Gorkow found the job shadow very helpful and would recommend a shadow to her fellow Xavier classmates because “ …it helps to know what you want to do. I never knew how many mental health careers there are!” She enjoyed learning more about her fields of in-terest, family therapy and psychology. Xavier High School partners with WLC to provide career education to their students. Opportuni-ties like this job shadow will help connect today’s Xavier students to tomorrow’s careers. To find out more about this program, contact the high school guidance department or go to www.workplace-learning.org.

Xavier Student Explores Caring CareersSubmitted by: Nanci Young, Workplace Learning Connection

Xavier Saints Shop Holiday HoursNeed a Holiday gift? Come visit the Xavier Saints Shop! We have a great selection of Xavier gift items and apparel. Can't decide? Get some lucky person a Saints Shop Gift Card! The Saints Shop hours are extended to accommodate your busy schedule!

We will be open the following dates and times:December 4th (11-1)December 6th (11-1)December 11th (Home Game 6pm - Varsity Halftime) December 13th (11-1) December 18th (11-1)

Support the Saints Shop! Proceeds fund the annual XITA teaching award as well as events and activities to support the Xavier staff, students and community.

Time Running Out for School Cents!

The deadline for “School Cents” is December 31 -- less than a month away! Everyone can help Xavier High School earn money. Here are some

reminders on how you can earn points for Xavier (don’t forget to ask for a receipt!):

• Shopping at Lindale Mall, including nearby merchants (10 points for each dollar spent)

• Dining at Lindale Mall, including nearby restaurants (100 points for each dollar spent)

• Report cards can be shown at Guest Services by the student or his/her parents

Remember, any receipts dated October 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012 DO APPLY! Just drop off your receipts by December 31 a collec-

tion box at Lindale Mall’s center court or at the Collins road Hy-Vee (be sure to write “Xavier” on the back of receipts at Hy-Vee). If you wish

to keep your receipts or stubs, please take them to Lindale Mall Center Court by December 31 to get your purchases recorded and receipts

stamped. This program is sponsored by Lindale Mall, WMT-FM Mix 95.5, and The Gazette. Thank you for supporting the Xavier Saints!

Trusting in the Holy Spirit Art Trip to Paris, Rome and FlorenceThe Xavier Art Department is hosting an Art Trip to Paris, Rome and Florence in the Summer of 2013. The trip is open to all Xavier students and their parents and siblings.

Highlights of the trip include:Rome, Florence and Paris sightseeing, Vatican museums, Colosseum, St. Peter‘s Basilica, Roman Mosaics and Impressionist Painting workshop, Academia, Uffizi Gallery, Louvre, Versailles Chateau, Notre Dame, and more! Contact Miss Finley for more information!

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Speech ShowcaseOn Monday, January 14, the Xavier Speech Company will present “Speech Showcase” beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the Regis - LaSalle Theatre. This is a great opportunity to see the large group speech performances before they attend the district meet! Please join us!

Band NewsThe Xavier Performing Arts Students would like to thank everyone who supported the Annual Christmas Greenery Fundraiser. Reminder! The 7th annual garage/bake sale fundraiser will take place on Saturday, April 20, 2013. Additional details coming in January.

Math Team UpdateOn November 3rd, the Xavier varsity math team of James Krouse, Jacob Schmitt, and David Kirpes finished first at the GPML qualifying event in Waverly, Iowa. The junior varsity team of Edward Krouse, Matthew Kirpes, and Lucy Liu also had a strong performance, finish-ing 2nd. In addition to the teams, James Krouse and Jacob Schmitt individually placed 2nd and 5th respectively in the small school divi-sion. Overall James Krouse, Jacob Schmitt, David Kirpes, and Grace Busse qualified for the state competition.

Guidance Department News

Fifth Annual Alumni Basketball TournamentMark your calendars and tell your friends! The Fifth Annual Alumni Basketball Tournament will take place on Saturday, February 2, 2013. Teams will be organized by decade of graduation: (Team 59 -79, Team 80s, Team 90s, Team 2000s, and Team 2010.) Registration is $25 in advance, $30 at the door. In lieu of a spectator admission fee a free-will donation will be accepted and proceeds will be distributed to Xavier High School. This fun and family-friendly event is free and open to the public. For more information about the tournament contact the Xavier Foundation at (319) 378-4571 or visit www.xavierfoundation.org. (Pictured on left: Members of Team 90s, 4 time tournament champions!)

LaSalle - Regis - Xavier Alumni Association Induct Four into Alumni Hall of FamePlease join the Xavier community on Friday, February 1, 2013 as we welcome three new alumni and one Xavier supporter into the LaSalle – Regis – Xavier Alumni Hall of Fame. Reverand Donald Bruggeman, Greg Hawthorne (R92), Kristin Jennings (X03), and Ryan Sweeney (X03) will be in-ducted into the Hall of Fame during half-time of the boys varsity basketball game against Linn-Mar. A reception in honor of the inductees will take place prior to the 7:30 p.m. game, beginning at 6:00 p.m. on the “X” at Xavier High School. All are welcome and encouraged to attend! (Pictured on left: Carol Ann Riha and Adam Spanich, 2012 Alumni Hall of Fame inductees.)

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10 Tips for Surviving Semester FinalsSubmitted by Dave Schemmel, Guidance Counselor Adapted from http://www.uwcu.org/Education/Articles/Articles/10-Tips-for-Surviving-Semester-Finals.aspx

Semester finals may seem overwhelming. Every class your child is enrolled in will have a final exam, final paper, final project or some combination of the above. Fortunately, there are some techniques your child can use to help them focus and make the task of preparing for finals more manageable.

Start At the Beginning

Reduce Distractions. Help your child find a quiet place to work and concentrate. Eliminate distractions like television, social networking sites and cell phones. Encourage your child to find something that helps him or her concentrate, like music.

Don't Procrastinate. Putting off projects, papers or studying until the last minute can increase the feeling of being overwhelmed. The task at hand may be a challenge, and students may feel there are better ways to spend their time, but procrastinating can make the quality of work suffer. Know what your child has due and when, and help them prioritize.

Assess Each Task. Spend time with your child identifying and think-ing through everything that needs to be done. If possible, segment tasks into smaller steps and pieces. It's much easier to tackle smaller chunks than one huge task. Often, simply staying on top of assigned reading and coursework will alleviate some of this challenge.

Time to Study

Get Started. Avoid shooting for completion in one sitting. It will probably overwhelm your child if you try to finish everything at once. Suggest that he/she get started on the smaller pieces, and incremental progress will follow.

Take Advantage of Study Guides. In many classes, your child‘s teacher has taken the time to create a study guide for the final exam. Encourage your child to use it. These guides are generally an excellent indicator of the information your child will be tested on.

Study in Chunks. Suggest working in 20-50 minute time periods fol-lowed by a brief break of 5-10 minutes. During the break, encourage your child to do something different from what he/she has been doing, like walking around or going to a different area.

Find a Study Partner. Encourage your child to find someone that cares about their scholastic performance. Study partners can dis-cuss exam topics and quiz each other.

Establish Rewards. After your child completes a work session, encourage him/her to do something enjoyable. Take a nap, call a friend or round up people to play a game.

Exam Time

Make Sure Your Child Gets a Good Night's Sleep. The night before an exam, be sure your child gets plenty of sleep and gets up with time to spare. Make sure your child has access to a good breakfast or lunch.

Don't Stress. Remind your child that they have put in the work to prepare, so it‘s important be positive about their potential grades.

XPX News

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Post Prom

Post Prom 2013 plans are underway!

Thank you to all who attended our Parent Meeting on November 6th, and to all who emailed their desire to help. A special thanks to our awesome committee chairs who are getting the party started! If you want to help with committee planning - please contact Angie Cummings, Monica Robinson, or Julie Schnoebelen, our post prom co-chairs, at xhsprom2013@gmail.com and they will get you in touch with the correct committee head. All junior and senior parents, watch for timely requests for help and donations. And thank you in advance for helping to make Xavier Post Prom 2013 a fun and safe night out for all our kids!

XPX had a busy fall providing hospitality to the Xavier community! Students, parents and faculty enjoyed hot chocolate and treats at the traditional Homecoming bonfire following the pep rally. Our teachers had snacks and meals provided during the fall conferences. And our students, faculty and staff were treated to pumpkin, apple and chocolate pies at the school’s annual Thanks-giving meal. Thank you to all parents that donated food, beverages and labor to these fall events.

XPX will host a Christmas luncheon for facul-ty and staff this year on Wednesday, Decem-ber 19th. This luncheon is a wonderful way for XPX to show our teachers and support staff how much they are appreciated.

Want to get more involved with Xavier High School? XPX is Xavier’s Parent-Teacher orga-nization and we are looking for new board members. Please contact Karen Thinnes at thinnes@aol.com or 362-9337 if you are interested. No experience necessary and all parents are welcome!

Booster Club News

Become a Member!

Download the 2012-2013 Booster Club

Membership form today!

Now in its second year, Xavier’s robotics team, The Xpendables, has qualified for the state FTC competition, to be held at the University of Iowa on February 23rd. Seven members of the team competed in a qualifying tournament at Solon High School on Saturday December 1st under the direction of coach Barb Miltner. Pictured from left to right are: Spencer Wille, Josh Schnoebelen, Elizabeth Woods, Peter Clark, Alex Tietz, Matt Wardlaw, and Claire Felser. Other team members include Noah Hagen, Jacob Schmitt, Lucy Liu, Kyle Skoumal, Steven Swiderski, Josh Blanck, Joshua Ford, and Chris Williams. Xavier qualified by being the first team selected by, and competing with, the captain of the winning alliance team, Solon team 367, in the semi-final and final rounds of the competition.

Just what do the Xpendables do? “We design and build a robot to compete in a chal-lenge that changes every year,” according to returning team member Matt Wardlaw. “We keep a record of everything we do in an engineering notebook.” Freshman Peter Clark describes what happens at competitions based on his experience with FIRST Lego League, “we are matched up with other teams and try to win by getting more points, which are earned by completing various aspects of the challenge.”

Veteran Alex Tietz explains that this year one of the objectives is to hangs rings on pegs with the robot. In the first phase of a match, the robot has to operate autonomously by running a program that the students have coded. In the next phase two drivers use a game remote to control the robot. The end game awards bonus points for any robot that can lift their alliance partner’s robot off the ground.

The judges use these categories for awards: motivate, connect, design, innovate, think, inspire, and promote. Throughout the competition, judges are looking for what they call “gracious professionalism” which involves good sportsmanship.

Besides getting the robot competition-ready and giving the drivers practice with any last minute design modifications, preparing for an event involves practicing for the judges’ interview. In addition, this year each team may submit a short video to the judges. Tietz said early in the season “our goal this year is to qualify for state because we came very close last year,” but now that they’ve qualified for state, Wardlaw has sights set on the World Tournament to be held in Missouri in April.

The Xpendables received a grant this year from the Governor’s STEM Council, another grant from Rockwell Collins, sponsorship from The Sled Shed, mentoring from engineers Jeff Woods (father of Elizabeth Woods) and Chad Middelstadt, and volunteer help from Jennifer Dircks and Anne Walraff.

Good luck to Coach Miltner and The Xpendables as they prepare for the state competi-tion!

Robotics Team Qualifies for State Competition

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Campus Ministry UpdateWe just completed TEC #542 here at Xavier High School and it was a wonderful experience for all. We were blessed with 51 candidates and an exceptional team of adult facilitators led by Fr. Dustin Vu. Thank you to all who helped with the TEC and for the students who were willing to give up their weekend to spend time in prayer and reflection. The next TEC retreat will be held January 26 - 28 at Mar-quette High School in Bellevue, IA. Other TEC dates can be found at www.Arch.pvt.k12.ia.us. Please encourage your senior to attend a TEC retreat this year!

As part of our preparations for Advent, we celebrated the Sacra-ment of Reconciliation on November 29th and 30th. Each class attended a prayer service followed by a time for examination of con-science, individual Reconciliation and silent reflection. Thank you to the priests from our supporting parishes who celebrated Reconcili-ation with us.

We are blessed this year to again be participating in the Advent Giving Tree project in cooperation with Tanager Place. Students and faculty selected a gift tag from the Angel Tree for a child in need. 200 children were able to have a Christmas present under the tree because of our participation. This wonderful project put us all in the Christmas spirit.

Advent Food Drive: The Xavier student body will be collecting non-perishable food items through Dec 14 to benefit the Metro Catholic Outreach. Click here to learn about their about immediate food needs.

Our theme for this Advent is Like Mary, we ponder. Spend some time pondering the wonder of Advent by utilizing on line resources. There are many but here a few recommendations http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-resources/advent/; http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/advent/; http://onlineminis-tries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Advent/index.html

Looking ahead…

Mass to celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe will be held on Wednesday, December 12, 2012 at 9:50 am in the Ron Thillen Gymnasium.

Mass to celebrate the Christmas Season will be held Wednesday, January 9th, 2013 at 9:50 am in the Ron Thillen Gymnasium

Kairos #14 will be held January 24 - 27 at the American Martyrs retreat house. There are still a few spots left on this weekend. Reg-istration material is available in Campus Ministry. Please keep the students and team in your prayers as they prepare for this upcom-ing retreat.

Quest Retreat for freshman and sophomores will be held January 26th and 27th at LaSalle Middle School. The cost is $35. There are applications in the Campus Ministry office. It is a popular retreat and space is limited, so if you are interested get signed up ASAP

Xavier students will be traveling to Catholic Heart Work Camp in Jackson, MS June 1-8, 2013. Applications are currently available in the Campus Ministry office. This trip is a great opportunity to serve others and grow in your faith. The total cost of the trip is $490. It would make an excellent Christmas present for your son or daugh-ter. Spots are limited and applications are due in to Campus Minis-try January 4th. Please stop by Campus Ministry for any questions about the trip.

The March for Life trip to Washington DC will be January 23-24. Fi-nal payments for the trip are due by Friday, December 14th. Contact Mr. Satterlee with any questions.

“What does the Lord want of me? Of course, this is always a great adventure, but life can be successful only if we have the courage to be adventurous, trusting that the Lord will never leave me alone, that the Lord will go with me and help me.” -Pope Benedict XVI, Meeting with Youth in Rome Before the Twenty-first World Youth Day April 6, 2006

The members of Go Green Club want to help make your holidays more green and cheerful! They are still collecting used printer cart-ridges, cell phones and household batteries. Recycle collection centers are located in the main entrance and by the Commons. Nearly three billion batteries are sold in the United States per year, and the average person throws away eight each year. Recycling batteries keeps heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium and lead out of our landfills, groundwater, and air. Recycling saves resources because recovered plastic and metals can be used to make new batteries. It is the giving season, so please help give our future generations the greatest gift of all--a green world to live in!

Recycle Used Printer Cartridges, Cell Phones & Household Batteries

The 2012 fall sports season is complete and what a fall to remember here at Xavier!

The Boys Golf team won the MVC Super Meet and the” Valley” Divisional Championship. The team qualified for the 4A State Meet and placed 8th.

The Boys Cross Country team qualified for the 3A State Meet and placed 11th.

The Volleyball team won the MVC “Valley” Divisional Championship and qualified for the 4A State Tournament.

The Football team won the MVC Valley Divisional Championship and advanced to the 4A State Championship game.

Congratulations to all of our students who had an outstanding season in these sports. We all know our success will not be possible without the outstanding leadership of our coaches. Three Xavier coaches were named MVC Valley “Coaches of the Year” for 2012: Tim O’Brien / Boys Golf; Barb Sullivan / Volleyball; Duane Schulte / Football. Congratulations to all three coaches as well as their assis-

tants who were an integral part of the Saints success this fall!

The fall sports seasons success was a true community effort. Xavier won the MVC Valley Divisional Fall Sportsmanship Award for 2012. Officials rated the fans, athletes and coaches during all MVC Volleyball and Football games.

This is two sportsmanship awards in a row for the Saints as the school also won the 2012 MVC Valley Division “Spring & Summer” Sportsmanship award for Girls Soccer, Boys Soccer, Softball & Base-ball.

The Saints community can earn the “triple crown” by winning the winter sportsmanship award for Girls Basketball, Boys Basketball & Wrestling. It would be fantastic to have ownership of all three MVC sportsmanship awards at the same time! Our Saints fans can make that possible this winter by supporting the Saints and respecting our opponents and the game officials.

Fall Sports Wrap UpBy Mike Winker, Activities Director

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Activities Update

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It is normal for students to become anxious before a big test, tryouts or major class project. Everyone experiences stress and anxiety; it’s a survival skill that helps us deal with perceived threats. Stress and stress responses are not necessarily negative events. They can be what motivates and gives us the energy to excel and meet our goals if used productively. However, students who experience excessive stress may develop anxiety which can lead to feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness. When it gets to this point we see more signs of depression and even thoughts of suicide. The key is to recognize the stressors, understand how your body reacts to them, and learn to control stress and use it productively. Do teens have stress? You bet they do! Some of those stressors include peer pressure, grades, extra-curricular activities, deciding on college, and work just to list a few. It is also important to remember that what is stressful to one student may not be for another. It is all in how they perceive the stress.

Some common physical signs that they may experience in a stressful situation include pound-ing or racing heart, dry throat, chest pain, indigestion, headache, cold or sweaty hands, sleep disturbances, and fatigue. Psychological signs of stress can include anxiety, depression, and feelings of helplessness, sadness, apathy or anger. When we are stressed, we frequently per-form destructive behaviors such as overeating, not eating at all, withdrawal from friends and family, perform poorly in school, and even resort to using drugs and alcohol.

Each person may develop certain coping mechanism to deal with stress. Below are some sug-gested ways to cope and role model effective stress management techniques…

We encourage you to recognize when a student is stressed. No one knows your child better than you do. Ask them about their day and help them to learn that there are effective ways to cope with stress. For more information visit www.teenhealthandwellness.com or contact Kris Naeve, School Nurse at kris.naeve@xaviersaints.org or 294-6635 Ext 318.

Health Services NewsStressSubmitted by: Kris Naeve, RN, MA

• Be good to your body (eat right, get enough sleep and plenty of exercise) • Be organized • Be assertive • Laugh at the simple things in life • Make time for fun and socialization • Spend time with people who value you • Use positive self-talk • Know your limits

• Keep a journal for times when feeling stressed • Avoid use of drugs for self medicating, including alcohol • Be tolerant of your own mistakes, avoid excessive self-criticism. • Acknowledge your accomplishments to develop a stronger sense of self-worth • Realize nobody is perfect

Corrective exercise is understanding the interplay between the muscular, skeletal, and nervous systems in the body’s “human move-ment system” – also called the kinetic chain – helps the athlete/patient get more out of every workout, recover from injuries, and prevent new ones.

It finds and overcomes the imbalances and im-pairments that lead to injuries and that make you less efficient and less powerful when you exercise or compete.

The corrective exercise continuum involves inhibiting and lengthening overactive or tight muscles by stretching and massage. It then

activates underactive muscles with isolated strengthening exercises. Finally, corrective exercise allows the now balanced muscles to work together. Corrective exercise can de-crease pain and increase flexibility!

For example if you have chronic back pain check feet and hip alignment or if you have knee pain check hip and trunk weakness.

Remember: the whole body needs to work together and any one of the parts that are out of alignment or weak can cause pain, discom-fort, stiffness, or decreased movement, which throws the whole system (body) out of unison!

Corrective ExerciseBy Heather Boyer, ATC, CES (Corrective Exercise Specialist)

Battle of 42nd Street Blood Drive

Sponsored by Xavier Students Against Destructive Decisions (S.A.D.D.)

Support your school as well as three local patients in need!

Kennedy and Xavier go head-to-head to help save lives! The winning school takes home the trophy and bragging rights! Please make an appointment.

What color do you bleed?

Monday, December 10 and Monday, December 172:00 - 6:00 p.m.Oakland Church of the Nazarene (Gym)3000 42nd Street NE, Cedar Rapids

To learn how to prepare yourself or your Xavier Student for donation, please visit: www.donatefeelgreat.org. Please make an appointment by contacting Kris Naeve at 294-6635 x 318 or kris.naeve@xaviersaints.org. All presenting donors will receive a t-shirt representing their school! T-shirts are also available for non-donors to order for $8.00 (checks payable to M.V.R.B.C.)

*16 year olds must have signed parental consent form prior to donation.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a common form of depression that af-fects many Americans and is commonly overlooked or misconceived to be a case of the “holiday blues.” Symptoms of SAD typically occur during the fall and winter months, when the reduced level of sun-light disrupts your body’s internal clock. Likewise, diminished exposure to sunlight may cause a drop in serotonin, a chemical in your brain that affects mood, leading to symptoms of depression. For most, these fall and winter months also mean a busy holiday season. The holiday season often brings excitement, anticipation and joy; but for some, it also brings anxiety, stress, and loneliness. Typical sources of holiday sadness include fatigue, unrealistic expec-tations, inability to get along with family members, stress of managing traditions, financial burdens and the emotional stress that accompanies memories of past holi-days or lost loved ones.

In between the shopping, cooking, cleaning, and family get-togethers, routi-nes get pushed aside and it can become difficult to manage the expectations of a perfect holiday experience. There is a great deal of pressure to think and act jolly during the winter months, and this pres-sure can sometimes mask or exacerbate the symptoms of SAD.

Symptoms of this common form of de-pression include sadness, loss of energy, anxiety, hopelessness, isolation, irritability, changes in appetite, loss of interest in activities, difficulty concentrating, sudden weight gain/loss, insomnia or exhaustion. Symptoms can appear with the change of seasons, onset of the holidays, or at the beginning of the New Year.

These symptoms can lead to further complications including social withdra-wal, school or work problems, suicidal behavior and substance abuse. Substance abuse is particularly concerning around the holiday season when over-indulgence is common. It is important to note that alcohol is a depressant and can increase or cause symptoms of depression and anxi-ety, as well as add to financial, emotional, and physical stress.

Seasonal Affective Disorder is common in both men and women and can affect your high school student. If you have concerns that you or your child may be suffering from this disorder talk to your family doc-tor or encourage your loved one to do so. Seasonal Affective Disorder can be severe, and treatment should be monitored by professionals; however there are ways to manage symptoms of SAD at home: • Increase your exposure to natural sources of light during the fall and winter months; open blinds and curtains, sit near sunny windows, trim trees that may be blocking direct sunlight from your home. • Exercise regularly; physical exertion redu-ces stress and anxiety and can increase mood and self-esteem. • Spend time outside when able; take a short walk, eat your lunch outside, or spend time at a local park. Even on cold and cloudy days, exposure to outdoor light can help. • Encourage your high school student and your family to maintain a normal routine through the winter and holiday season that includes regular, well-balanced meals, exercise, steady sleep habits, and time for relaxation. For more information, contact Sedlacek Treatment Center at 319-398-6226.

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Books Still Needed for

Four Oaks!

Friday, October 26th throughDecember 10th

The Xavier Saints are are holding a book

drive to collect gently used or new books

for children up to age twelve. Students

have been instructed to bring books to

their first period class.

We have received lots of great books, but

still have a need for gently used or new pic-

ture books!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year?Submitted by: Megan Esch, MA, CRC

Save Your Hy-Vee

Receipts!

The Cedar Rapids and Marion Hy-Vee stores

are excited to announce a local fund rais-

ing program for area schools called Cash 4

Students.

The program is simple and based on the

collection of Hy-Vee grocery receipts start-

ing July 1, 2012 and running through April

30, 2013. Simply save your Hy-Vee grocery

receipts and turn them into the school

of your choice (Xavier!). At the end of the

school year program, a donation from Hy-

Vee will be made to the collecting school

based on the receipt total. The amount do-

nated will be $1 for every $200 in receipts

collected. Start saving your receipts today!

Xavier High School • 6300 42nd Street NE • Cedar Rapids, IA 52411 • (319) 294-6635 • www.xaviersaints.org

Corbin Woods“For an outstanding football season and earning KCRG Athlete of the Week. “

Anna Busse “For her participation in cheerleading, her role in “The King and I,” and her work as co-editor of the Xpress.“

Mrs. Sullivan“For leading the Saints to the Class 4A State Volleyball Tournament and being named MVC Coach of the Year!“

Mr. Schulte“For leading the Saints to the Class 4A State Championship football game and being na-med MVC Coach of the Year!“

Students and Faculty of the Month