Dear Xavier family, It is audience participation month here at News and Notes! Thanks to those of you who send me comments on my monthly reflections. This month, I am going to give you an assignment- something to think about for the betterment of our Xavier education… As you are well aware, preparing the young person for life is a multi-faceted task. Academic excellence is the headline grabber, spiritual and moral development are the bedrock of the Xavier education, and things like digital citizenship and financial literacy have become essential components of the preparation process for our young people. Students need to know how to write, but also how to use technology to improve their sentences. They need to know how to do math, but also when a calculator is the best course for problem solving. Students need to learn how to have difficult conversations, how to pray, how to support a grieving family member, how to address their own mental health or the health of another… it is a long list. Still, one thing that we hear frequently from seniors is that they wish there was a class to teach them “life skills,” the kind of thing they’ll need to thrive on their own in a dorm or an apartment. They always mention things like changing a tire or ironing a shirt. I’d like us to consider creative ways we can do these things to help students to prepare for the challenges of daily life. So here is my question for you:
January 2023 Volume #414 In this Issue: Business ....................................................... Campus Ministry ......................................... Celebrate ...................................................... Freshman (Current) Parent Night ................. Upcoming Events .........................................
St. Francis Xavier High School 1600 W. Prospect Avenue Appleton, WI 54914 920-733-6632 Fax: 920-735-1787 www.xaviercatholicschools.org
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What are the life skills that you would hope a graduate of Xavier? What kinds of everyday activities or practical skills can we put on our list? What did you have to learn on your own when you were a young adult? How to tie a tie? Change your oil? Ask that special someone for a date? Send me your ideas –we’d love to have them. January is the month for students to pick their classes for next year. Your student will be meeting with the counselors in the weeks ahead to make selections. You can see those choices on PowerSchool – please make sure you are having discussions with your student about things such as healthy workload, pursuing classes that match student interest, and considering what colleges will think. In the pages ahead, you’ll read more about a change in the grading policy for college credit classes. Please make sure you and your student are considering this when reviewing their choices. Thank you for being a part of or Xavier community. We look forward to a memorable and transformative 2023. For God’s Greater Glory,
Mike Mauthe Principal
Xavier High School is a proud member of the St. Francis Xavier Catholic School System, and has been accredited by AdvanceED (formerly the North Central Association) since 1970.