A Xavier Welcome Award-Winning Artist

Marquette Campus 500 W. Marquette Street Appleton, WI 54911 (920) 733-4918 McDonald Campus 1810 N. McDonald Street Appleton, WI 54911 (920) 739-7826

WELCOME! - THE XAVIER WAY

Our Very Own Award-Winning Artist!

Each year, over 125 new Xavier students wake up on the first day of school to a personalized greeting, a “Welcome to Xavier” yard sign. It is all part of a tradition which first started at Catholic Central elementary school and has since expanded to include any student and family new to Xavier Catholic Schools. For the past 15 years, parent volunteer Keri McCormick has played a large part in making this annual tradition a truly memorable one. Since taking over for Kari Voissem, Keri and her crew of volunteers visit each family residence after dark the night before the first day of school and place a sign in their yard. To personalize them, balloons are attached to the sign with the child(ren)’s name written on each. When the family is ready to part with the sign, they return it to their child’s campus for use the next school year, using the fun term “recycled sunshine.”

Planning is no easy task. On average, it takes 30 volunteers, often current parents, parents of alumni, or faculty and staff, to dedicate an evening delivering the signs. Fortunately, the preparation over the years has changed with improved mapping technology. The time and dedication spent by Keri and her team is certainly worth it. The excitement and surprise on the student faces when they see their sign on the first day of school is a great way to welcome them to the Xavier family!

Lynn Trinity Pereira ‘32, a 2nd grade student at the XESMarquette Street campus, is now an award-winning artist! Pereira’s artwork was one of 24 chosen nationally from the National Missionary Childhood Association, which is a branch of the Pontifical Missions of the Society of the Faith. Pereira originally submitted the artwork to The Compass last Christmas when the theme was “What did Mary sing to baby Jesus? What music or musical did the angels sing at Bethlehem? And what did it all look like?”

National artwork winners are typically invited for a Mass, private tour and luncheon at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C. It is not yet known if that will take place this year. Pereira’s winning artwork will be available as free shareable digital Christmas greetings beginning the first week of Advent 2021 at mission.org, the MCA site. Congratulations Lynn and thank you for sharing your talents with everyone!