2 Index
News Opinion Student Life Mini-Feature Feature Health & Lifestyle A&E Sports Backpage
Editors-In-Chief
News
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 Nicholas 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 Van Hoeck 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 Biweekly Xavier High School 6300 42nd St. NE Cedar Rapids, IA 52411 Volume 15 Issue 1
Xavier High School
Xavier’s summer of service
Over the 2012 summer, 40 students continued the Xavier tradition of giving back to others by participating in service trips to Guatemala and Tennessee. Following the dismissal of school on May 25, Xavier students began packing their bags and preparing for their departures. Senior Bryan Banowetz was optimistic and ready to go to Left: Xavier girls pose for a Guatemala again. “I was excited to photo at Catholic Heart go for a second time, and was able to focus less on tourism and more Memphis, Tennessee to attend a Work Camp. Above: Meredith Diebold shows on service,” Banowetz said. 23 Catholic Heart Work Camp. Each a young boy her camera. students and five Xavier teachers day of the work camp was faith- Angela Olson photo went to Guatemala for ten days, based and service filled, with a June 4 through 14, as a part of daily morning Mass, an evening do it again. It was an amazing the God’s Child Project. While prayer service and rosary, and experience being able to work in Guatemala, the students built volunteering in the community by people that were so grateful six houses, visited an orphanage, from nine in the morning and being able to share my faith and helped with a clothing drive, to three in the afternoon. with so many teens,” Esker said. among other service activities. The girls performed various Whether it was service This trip to Guatemala was service activities throughout in Memphis or Guatemala, sophomore Greta Gustafson’s the week. They painted, Xavier students served the less first mission trip. “It was nice to cleaned, participated in home fortunate this summer. Xavier get out of the country and to help improvement projects for elderly plans to continue volunteering those in need,” Gustafson said. residents, did yard work like with the God’s Child Project Also over the summer, June raking and mowing, and babysat and the Catholic Heart Work 9 through 16, 17 female Xavier children. According to Junior Camp in the summer of 2013. students and three chaperones Mary Esker, it was a rewarding Nicholas Mlodzik traveled 19 hours by van to experience. “I would definitely News Writer
37 Xavier students attend Leadership Seminar Before school started this year, a group of 37 Xavier Saints were back in the classroom preparing to be leaders in the 2012-2013 school year. They met on July 31 for what would become Xavier’s first ever Leadership Seminar. The students who attended the seminar were all recommended by the Xavier faculty. In order to have the most productive day possible, teachers were asked to nominate students with outstanding leadership qualities. Many students were nominated, but to keep the group size reasonable, students with the most recommendations were asked to attend. According to Principal Keating, there were two main purposes for the seminar. The first was to enhance the positive climate at Xavier and motivate students to excel. The second was to give students the tools and strategies they need to be the best they can be. During the seminar, Xavier
The five leadership qualitites that Xavier students exhibit during the year. Maria Efting photo teachers gave the students motivating messages. The various topics included respect, community, integrity, perseverance, faith and service, and responsibility. After each speaker, the students participated in small group discussions
over each particular topic. One of the highlights of the day was when the students were asked to come up with five words to define the upcoming school year. After thoughtful consideration, the students decided on the words acceptance, belief, community, inspiration, and integrity. These words were put on posters that now hang in every teachers’ room. The posters serve as a silent reminder to the qualities and virtues the Xavier community will emulate this year. Junior Nina Noronha had a positive experience at the seminar. “My favorite part of the day was coming up with our five words to follow. It really summed up the entire day and gave us something to work for and remember the rest of the year. It showed us what Team Xavier is all about.” Plans are in place for more leadership seminars in the years to come. Maria Efting News Writer