2 Index
News Opinion Mini-Feature Student Life Feature Health & Lifestyle A&E Sports Backpage
Editors-In-Chief
2 4 6 7 8 10 11 14 16
Anna Busse Cassie Busch
Copy Editor
Carolina VonKampen
News Editor
Daniel Pape News Assistant Quinlan Moran News Writers Carolina VonKampen Maria Efting Nick Mlodzik
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 VanHoeck Payton Janney Meghan Gerke Ashley Pudil
Sports Editor John Ingwersen Sports Assistant John Richardson Sports Writers Alex Fox Connor Collins 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 5
News Xavier High School Xavier hosts International Round Table On November 2, 55 international students from schools across Iowa gathered at Xavier for International Roundtable. These students came to Iowa from many countries around the world to experience American culture while living with a host family and attending school. During periods two through four, Xavier students were able to listen to three separate groups of international students speak about their lives, their home countries, and their opinion of American culture. They also answered student questions from the audience ranging from attractiveness of Americans to the recent political race. Junior Ellie Burke, who attended the roundtable during periods two and three, enjoyed the chance to hear the stories of the students. “I thought that it was really interesting to learn what other countries think of Americans,” Burke said. Senior Carlos Negrin Bolanos, who participated in Roundtable for the first time, had the opportunity to attend last year, but chose not to. “I regret not doing it last year, because it was very enjoyable this year. I was able to connect with
people from my home country of Spain,” Negrin Bolanos said. Twelve foreign exchange students were from Germany, seven from Japan, five each from Italy and Norway, and four were from China. In addition, three live in Russia and Spain, while two students each came from Denmark, DR of Congo and Finland. Other countries represented were Belgium, Brazil, Egypt, Honduras, Kenya, Macedonia, Mexico, Netherlands, Paraguay, Philippines, Slovakia, Tanzania, and Ukraine, with one student from each respective country. This year the international participants attended three separate discussions, including an interaction with world language students. The participants also attended a luncheon, provided by Panera. Student senate members coordinated all of this year’s Roundtable. Sophomore student senator Jeff Freiden had a busy day but enjoyed the experience. “There were a lot of things that needed to be done. We had to set up the gym, library, and sound system, get the ice, snacks, and podium, and prepare opening speeches, along
Cedar Rapids Washington student Oscar Tinga speaks to the students about his life in Kenya. Meghan Gerke photo with other tasks. But it was worth it, and it was a lot of fun,” Freiden said. This year’s Roundtable was the fifteenth in Xavier’s history, with the origins stemming from the days of Regis High School. The event is a yearly tradition at Xavier, occurring every fall, and each year brings new stories, new students, and plenty of excitement.
Nicholas Mlodzik News Writer
Four Oaks Book Drive kicks off Xavier students came together to organize a book drive for Four Oaks, a local non-profit agency. The book drive began on October 26 and will continue through December 10. The Four Oaks Book Drive is a school-wide effort organized in recognition of Xavier’s 15th Anniversary. It is Xavier’s first major service project of the year. According to Assistant Principal Angela Olson, the plan for the book drive has been developing for many months. Xavier’s Marketing Director Jessica Schneider met with several non-profit organizations over the summer to discuss largescale volunteer projects. During the meeting with Four Oaks, the need for books for their centers was discussed, and brainstorming between Xavier and Four Oaks took off from there. A group of students then took control of the project, and different students were assigned to head various committees relating to the drive. The books collected during the drive will be donated to the reading spaces at four of the Four Oaks locations in Cedar Rapids. Four Oaks is an organization that empowers children and families
Junior Cameron Junge places a book in the Four Oaks donation box. Chloe Streif photo to achieve stability, self-sufficiency and permanency. Xavier decided to partner with them because of their focus on creating successful adults and their emphasis on the importance of literacy for children. To get the project started, the entire Xavier student body viewed
a video about the book drive on Community Service Day. Students were told they could bring new or gently used books for children ages 12 and under. There is a collection box in every classroom, and several days a week the books are collected during third period by the students coordinating the book drive. Senior Peyton Rosencrants says the children at Four Oaks will benefit from the book drive. “We’ve all had the opportunity to enjoy the books we are donating while we were younger. We are putting them to good use by giving them to children who are not as fortunate and who will take pleasure in them now,” Rosencrants said. Olson agrees. “This is an opportunity for Xavier students to see a need in the community and fill it. There is no incentive other than helping others,” Olson said. Students interested in volunteering with the book drive should contact senior Kristen Schuster. Volunteers are needed to sort and
catalogue the
donated books.
Maria Efting News Writer