Beholding the New

With distancing being one of many important health and safety measures against COVID-19 (in addition to a mask requirement, routine sanitizing of areas and surfaces, and nightly deep cleaning of the building), Xavier students have been divided into two cohorts. One cohort would attend class in-person in the morning and then return home to engage in virtual learning in the afternoon, while the other cohort would learn online in the morning and come to school in the afternoon. The cohorts would alternate their AM/PM schedules every two days. This feature was important to students as they preferred to have the ability to see all their teachers in-person every week. This was also the most preferred model when considering the health and safety of everyone in our building. Each cohort then has the option to eat lunch (distanced from others) at school, take a to-go lunch, or eat at home before or after coming to school. 

After more than a year of prayer, research, and fact-finding, Xavier launched its new “Community System” this school year. This system, housed within Xavier’s Campus Ministry Department, is designed to build relationships with God and with others in addition to enhancing a sense of belonging and connection for each and every Xavier Saint who walks through our doors. 

The system is comprised of five separate “communities,” each of which features a cross section of 9-12 Grade students, teachers and staff. The communities themselves are named after various saints: St. Catherine of Siena, St. Juan Diego, St. John Paul II, St. Teresa of Calcutta, and St. Pio of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio). Communities will participate in a variety of activities together such as service projects, celebrating Masses and at pep rallies, and having time built in to the normal school day schedule to interact and learn about one another. We encourage you to learn more about this new initiative at XavierSaints.org/Community.
 

Despite the odds, the high-achieving Xavier activities programs had an outstanding fall season once again, which saw the volleyball team win its first state championship in program history, the football team advance to the UNI-Dome again, and boys golf finish in the Top 10 in Class 4A. While the competition portion of the marching band season was cancelled due to COVID-19, the Marching Saints were still able to perform at home football games and even offered a special livestreamed performance for family and friends to watch.

The Xavier Drama department presented its fall play, "Noises Off," in front of a distanced audience while masked. Xavier moved its play (traditionally presented in the spring) to the fall and the musical was rescheduled to the spring.

The national award-winning Xavier Dance Team found a way to once again achieve a high bar in their halftime performances and the Xavier Cheer team inspired spirit despite the restricted attendance at games. The Xavier choirs moved their fall vocal preview concert from the theatre to the Ron Thillen Gymnasium, where they performed while masked in front of distanced 

Xavier hosted its second ever Xavier Catholic Extraordinary Encounter Day (XCEED) Conference on September 28th. The XCEED Conference is held every other year (with the first being in 2018). It is centered on the faith development of students, staff, and parents. The conference featured a variety of speakers who inspired and challenged our Saints in their various Impact Sessions. These sessions were all aimed at helping our students further enrich their relationship with God and deepen their Catholic faith. Topics included mental health, race, social responsibility, respect for life, music, fitness, current events/politics, science, and more. The XCEED 2020 keynote speaker was Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers who lived up to this nickname of the “Dynamic Deacon,” delivering a fiery and inspiring message about who we are as Catholics and what our role is in the world. The conference also featured Kimberly Fitten, who addressed how to discuss issues like race, racism and racial injustice. Adoration and Reconciliation were also available throughout the day for students.
 

Rooted in the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) teaching on social justice, Xavier High School is committed to increasing its efforts toward working to promote peace, and justice, and equality, not only within our school building, but also the world around us. With this in mind, Xavier has established the Champions for Solidarity Council. The Council will be comprised of administrators, faculty, current Xavier students, Xavier alumni, and community members, will focus on the Catholic Social Teaching of “Solidarity.” From these conversations, our goal is to produce action that will make Xavier a better instrument to effectively combat the sin of racism and advance the common good. 

While the physical school building weathered the August 10th derecho relatively well, the storm caused significant damage to Xavier’s baseball/softball complex. Planning for repairing and rebuilding is currently underway.