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Editors-In-Chief Anna Busse Cassie Busch
Copy Editor
Carolina VonKampen
News Editor
Daniel Pape News Assistant Quinlan Moran
News Xavier High School Saints furnish Four Oaks reading room A group of Saints worked on April 20 to provide a reading room for children at Four Oaks, a non-profit organization that ensures young people become successful adults. Xavier students put together a book drive for Four Oaks in 2012. The next step of the process was to provide the students with a furnished room where they could read the books that were collected. The effort was led by senior Kristen Schuster, and students volunteered to help with the project through Key Club.
News Writers Carolina VonKampen Maria Efting
Opinion Editor Bryan Banowetz Opinion Assistant Peyton Rosencrants Opinion Writers Hannah Gibbs Brennan Graeve CJ Lampe Morgan Noonan Gina Reiman Chloe Streif Ben Valentine
Student Life Editor Jenna Fenske Student Life Assistant Colette Miller Student Life Writer Lauren Lutgens
Mini-Feature Editor Anna White Mini-Feature Assistant Ameena Challenger Mini-Feature Writer Rachel Brady
Feature Editor Megan Lynch Feature Assistant Robbie Thinnes Feature Writer Mary Esker
Health and Lifestyle Editor Ansley O’Brien Health and Lifestyle Assistant Hannah Chute Health and Lifestyle Writer Molly Vipond
Arts and Entertainment Editor Maddie Smith Arts and Entertainment Assistant Emma Hunt Arts and Entertainment Writers Lauren Van Hoeck Payton Janney Meghan Gerke Ashley Pudil
Sports Co-Editors Connor Collins John Richardson Sports Writers Alex Fox Shannon Mulcahey Kyle D’mello Lizzy McWhinney
Backpage Editor Nicole Draker Backpage Assistant McKenzie Potter
Business Hailey Sojka
Distribution Brennan Graeve
The Xpress Bi-weekly Xavier High School 6300 42nd St. NE Cedar Rapids, IA 52411 Volume 15 Issue 15
Sophomores Claire and Jeanne Bouchard sort books at Four Oaks. Mr. Craig Kadlec Photo.
The Saints pose in the furnished reading room. Submitted Photo.
Mr. Tom Schuster and teacher Craig Kadlec assisted as well. Students began the day by meeting with the director of Four Oaks, who told them the history of the organization and provided a tour of the facility. Next, students divided up the work of assembling curtains. Some measured and marked the places for drilling, while others drilled holes and mounted brackets to the wall. The curtains were then hung, and students brought in a bookshelf filled with books. At the end of the event, the director provided rolls and breakfast drinks for the Xavier volunteers.
According to sophomore Claire Bouchard, the work completed at Four Oaks will prove to be beneficial. “This will help all the kids at Four Oaks, especially since they come from low income families and rough lives. The curtains will help them to not be distracted and focus on their school work or crafts,” Bouchard said. Claire’s sister Jeanne agreed. “I liked seeing the final product, because I knew we made that place better for the kids,” Jeanne said. “The reading room is so much more welcoming now.” Maria Efting News Writer
Iowa Model United Nations Xavier KMO places second On April 18 and 19, the Saints participated in the 47th annual Iowa Model United Nations at the University of Northern Iowa. Nineteen Saints gathered at UNI along with students from across the state to debate and discuss various world issues through the eyes of a particular nation. In order to prepare for the debates, students composed position papers about a particular issue facing their country. Juniors Morgan Noonan and Lauren Smith received Iowa Outstanding Position Papers for their entries on the Effectiveness of Foreign Aid and Water Sanitation for Underdeveloped countries. “We present Amendments, debate their validity, and vote on them. The whole point is to pass a resolution which is a promise to act upon the problem as a collective body,” junior Bryce Volk said. The students debated world issues such as nuclear defenses,
The delegates pose after the final adjournment. Mrs. Winter Photo. cloning, and the ethics of genetic engineering. Social studies teacher and Model United Nations moderator Donna Winter said her students acquired many new skills through Model UN. “Students learn about other countries, world problems, and complete cooperative problem solving, with the ultimate goal of world peace.” Interested students should contact Mrs. Winter for more information about Model United Nations in 2014.
Quinlan Moran News Assistant Editor
The Xavier Knowledge Master Open team placed second in the state in a competition on April 23 held in the Xavier LMC. Led by moderator Matt Farrell and senior captain Noah Hagen, the team scored 1357 points out of a possible 2000 to earn the runner-up position. Davenport Central won the event with a score of 1412. The competition consisted of 200 questions over a wide variety of topics, ranging from typical high school subjects such as American history and math to fine arts and trivia. For each question, each team was awarded five points for a correct answer on the first attempt and two points for the right response on the second try. Bonus points were also awarded for the speed of the correct answer, but only given if the team responded accurately on the first try. Teams were allowed to collaborate for all questions. “Knowledge Master Open is fast-paced and intellectual,” Hagen said.
“It requires teamwork, self-restraint, and risk taking. I would suggest quiz bowl competitions for anyone seeking a challenge for the mind.” According to Farrell, about 35 students participated in the last Knowledge Master Open competition, which was sponsored by Academic Hallmarks. This year marked one of the most successful years for the team over its five year history at Xavier, as the team won the State Championship in the fall in addition to its runner-up finish this spring. Knowledge Master Open will not be held in upcoming years due to Academic Hallmarks’ merger with another company. Farrell is currently searching for a new competition for the 2013-2014 school year, so interested students should look for more information next year to get involved.
Daniel Pape News Editor