Xavier Express: February 2011

GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT

By Mrs. Jean Sherman, Director of Guidance

All Students: It’s not too early to begin thinking about your summer plans. The Guidance bulletin board is continually being updated with various summer opportunities, enrichment courses, and job postings. Please come take a look!

Reminder to Juniors: Career Day will be held on Monday, March 21st. Juniors will attend three workshops of their choice led by illustrious alumni, successful and active in their fields. A Career Day Survey will be provided in homeroom with information about each workshop so that students can make informed choices.

Any questions related to Summer Opportunities or Career Day should be directed to your son’s counselor.

Calendar Reminders FEBRUARY 21 21-25 28 28 -

Holiday - President’s Day Mid-Winter Recess (Xavier’s Europe Trip) Classes Resume Senior Service Week 4 MARCH

12478-

8911 12 12 14 16 17 1819 21 29 29 -

Kairos LXXXIV Registration - Class of 2015 (3:00pm - 6:00pm) Science Symposium (Commons) Senior Service Week 5 Freshman/Sophomore Parent Meeting “Planning for College” Workshop 6:30pm 7:30pm (Hurtado Hall) Sophomore/Junior Parent Meeting– Financial Aid Night.7:30pm -8:30pm (Hurtado Hall) X-3 Order Ash Wednesday (Church) Winter Sports Awards (6:00pm - 8:00pm) SAT Reasoning and Subject Pittaluga 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament (Gym) Senior Service Week 6 End of Third Quarter Holiday - St. Patrick’s Day Regular Class Day for all Students Military Ball (8:00pm-11:00pm) Senior Service Week 7 X-3 Order Service Assembly (Gym) Report Cards

NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY, LOYOLA CHAPTER

By Ms. Deena Sellers, Adviser

National Honor Society, Loyola Chapter Shiv Patel '11, President Ms. D. Sellers, Adviser The men of NHS-Loyola would like to extend a sincere "thank you" to everyone who participated in our Dress Down Day on January 7, 2011 in support of our fundraising efforts for an orphanage in Ethiopia. The Dress Down Day raised over $2,500 and we could not be more grateful!! A considerable donation of toys, medical supplies and infant effects were sent to Ethiopia last week via two good friends of our own Mrs. Denise Iacovone, Karey and Ross, who plan to adopt a toddler this spring. NHSLoyola is looking into further ways to support Karey and Ross's efforts by possibly making donations to Doctors Without Borders, the American Red Cross, and other organizations who work with orphanages and hospitals in African countries, and sending their little one a "Welcome Care Package" when she arrives. We are very happy to be a part of Karey and Ross's "baby story" and could not be more proud of their endeavor.

Xavier High School 30 West 16th Street, New York, NY 10011 Phone: 212-924-7900 Fax: 212-924-0303 Website: www.xavierhs.org Mr. John R. Raslowsky II President Mr. Michael LiVigni Headmaster Mr. Joseph Sweeney ’85 Dean of Faculty Mr. Luciano Lovallo Dean of Academics Ms. Janet Bonica Registrar Mr. Brian McCabe Dean of Students Mrs. Jean Sherman Director of Guidance

February 2011

Message from the Headmaster Dear Parents and Guardian,

Greetings from 16th Street! You are now able to view your son’s Progress Report on edline.net.

You will notice that the format of the Progress Report has changed. A letter grade has been added so that you and your son have a better sense of his performance in each of his classes. Please see Mr. Lovallo’s notice inside the newsletter for a more complete explanation of this change to Progress Reports. It is important to note that a progress report is a snapshot of how your son is doing at this particular period of time and reflects only those assignments that his teachers have graded up until this point. His grade at the end of the marking period will depend upon how he performs during the rest of the 3rd marking period. Please review his progress carefully and if you have concerns about your son’s performance, I encourage you to speak with his counselor.

As you review your son’s progress, it is important to note that each class, regardless of credit value, must be successfully completed in order for him to be promoted or graduated. Please consult the 2010-2011 Student Handbook for other information regarding student academic expectations.

Parents and guardians of seniors are reminded that, in addition to having a year-end average of 70 or higher in each individual subject to pass a course, seniors are required “to achieve a final exam grade of 60 or more (in each subject in which he takes a final exam) in order to pass a course.” Seniors with more than one course failure will not be able to participate in the commencement exercises.

When your son returns from winter break he will begin the process of planning his courses for next year. Please discuss his course selections with him and review the course description booklet when he receives it in March. Pre-requisites for classes are listed in this booklet. If you have questions regarding his planned course of study, please speak with his counselor. If your son is considering admission into honors or Advanced Placement classes, please note that entrance into these courses can be competitive. An “AP Fair” is scheduled after school on Tuesday, March 15th. Students who are considering registering for an AP class are required to attend the information session on that class. Your son should speak to his guidance counselor or Mr. Lovallo if he has any questions regarding admission into an AP class.

Be sure of my continued prayers for you and your family.

Sincerely,

Mr. Benjamin Hamm Director of Admissions Mr. Michael LiVigni Headmaster

Page 3

From the Desk of the Dean of Academics Mr. Luciano Lovallo By now, my hope is that most if not all of you have been able to access your son’s third marking period progress report online via edline.net. Please note the recent change to the format of our progress reports. In addition to comments, students are now provided a letter grade to capture the range within which the evaluation of their progress falls during the latest reporting period. This change was implemented after hearing concerns raised by both the Academic and Student Councils on how students interpreted the meaning of progress report comments. We are confident that the addition of grade ranges will provide students and parents with a more accurate indication of student performance at the halfway point of the quarter.

It’s important to note that progress reports offer a snapshot of student performance during a given quarter, and are not necessarily an indication of future success. They are merely an opportunity for students, along with their parents, to reflect on their work to date and take corrective action if necessary in order to achieve academic success come quarter end.

As always, feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns regarding your son’s academic performance, or with feedback on the recent change.

IMPORTANT CALENDAR CHANGES

Classes Cancelled on Friday, February 18th, “E” day Due to flight changes for the educational trips that we run each year to Europe and South America, over 100 students and 25% of the faculty will need to depart on Friday, February 18 in the morning. Given the number of teachers that will be absent, classes will be cancelled on February 18th. Athletics games will go on as scheduled, but please have your son check with his coach to see if there will be any changes. I offer you my sincere apology for this closure. The school administration has taken steps with the educational tour companies that we use to ensure that an incident such as this will never be repeated.

Classes Scheduled on Friday, March 18th, “E” day In order to reclaim class days resulting from recent cancellations, the faculty/staff retreat has been cancelled on March 18th. There WILL be classes on Friday, March 18th, and we will follow an “E” day schedule.

Thank you for your understanding as we make changes to our schedule.

ATHLETICS UPDATE

By Mr. Rod Walker, Director of Athletics

Indoor Track: Keith Meisidor was named the Field MVP at the NYCHSAA Varsity Championships with a meet record jump of 22 feet, 1.75 inches. Shuttle hurdle relay team of Andrew Cheah, James Kondrat, Zack LaRock and Dom DiNiro set a school record of 33:34. Joe Cutrone and Dennis Dunne take 1st and 2nd in the shot out at the CHSAA Frosh Championships.

Varsity Swimming and Diving: The Aqua-Knights have repeated as 11-0, undefeated Division Champs. Pat Kilgallen has set a school record in the 500 yard freestyle and has a shot for a second record in the 200 free. Joe Mercurio still has a chance at a Xavier record in the 100 butterfly.

Hockey : The Knights are finishing out the first season in several years without a trip to the post season playoffs. However,17 players will return from this year’s roster so the expectations are high for next year.

Wrestling : 6 Wrestlers have qualified for the CHSAA Championships in their respective weight classes: Joe Vitale, Dionisos Georgiou, Marco Raffa, Jared Thompson, Miguel Palacios and Michael Prendergast.

Basketball: Xavier Hoops has qualified for the post season at all three levels. At this writing it is likely that the Varsity, JV and Freshmen will finish 2nd, 2nd and 1st within their respective divisions and all have earned a first round bye for the playoffs.

JROTC NEWS

By Col. Roy Campbell, Senior Army Instructor

The Xavier Regiment is gearing up for three major activities: First, the Regiment forms up on March 17th at 11:10 AM on East 44th Street between 5th and Madison for the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Manhattan.

CAMPUS MINISTRY

By Mr. Joseph Petriello, Director of Ignatian Services

The MAGIS program has been completed for the current school year. A total of 42 seniors and 25 adults participated in the four retreats at Bethany Spirituality Center. KAIROS (juniors) and Montserrat (sophomores) retreats continue through early April. The entire school community will next gather to celebrate liturgy together on Ash Wednesday, March 9th, in the Church of St. Francis Xavier.

Second, volunteers from the Regiment will march in a second St Patrick’s Day Parade in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, forming up at 12:00 Noon on Sunday, March 27th. Third, the Military Ball Christian Service Program will be held Friday, April 1st at the El Caribe in Seniors have now completed three of twelve work Brooklyn from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM.

days for their Christian Service Program. A reJCLC: Junior Cadet Leadership Challenge will minder that any absences from service must be take place at Fort Devens, MA this summer from treated as an absence from school (parents/ guardians must call the Dean’s Office, the service June 26th to June 30th. Xavier has been alloagency must be notified, and an absentee note cated 50 spaces for our cadets, the largest contin- brought to school when the student returns). gent of any of the 16 high schools in attendance. Christian Service is treated as a class in terms of Cadets may sign up for this safe, challenging, criteria for graduation. Please see the service webpage for all details (www.xavierhs.org/isp-cspand fun summer experience in Room 3D2 after mid-Winter break. Cost for the week is only $50. seniors)

Finally, join your fellow Cadets at the Winter Sports Competition on Monday, February 21st in the Gym and in the Commons. Companies will compete against one another in dodge ball, pushups, sit-ups, basketball, volleyball, and miniature golf. Refreshments will be served after the Best Company is recognized. Come out and join in the fun from Noon to 3:00.

Companions of Xavier A group of 24 seniors, joined by faculty and alumni leaders, will be traveling to Bayou La Batre, Alabama for the fifth consecutive year to work with the Bayou Recovery Project. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers as they continue to help families rebuild their homes in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

CFX participants are encouraged to keep fundraising towards their service trips to Alabama, Tennessee, and Mexico. The total fundraising amount for all participants is due by Friday, April 15. Mr. Petriello will be sending more detailed information to parents/guardians of CFX participants by e-mail in the near future.

Acoustic Coffeehouse Thank you to all those who came out to support our musicians at the Acoustic Coffeehouse on February 11th! The event raised $3,643 for this year’s CFX service trips. Special thanks goes out to all of our talented student and faculty performers!