Dear Xavier FamilyMore than a few years ago, I was an eighth grader searching for a high school. The oldest child in my family, I was afraid of leaving the small Catholic school that had been my home since kindergarten. My parents did not want me to go to the local public school, I couldn’t find a boarding school to take me, and the international baccalaureate school in Africa was just a bit too far away. Finally, after weeks of restlessness, I agreed with my parents that the local Catholic high school was the best option. The decision made, I slowly became aware of the sacrifices that my family would make to enable me to continue my Catholic education.
November 2022 Volume #412 In this Issue: Athletics……………………………………. 09 Campus Ministry .......................................... 06 Christmas Stars ............................................. 08 Counseling Suite……………………………. 02 Upcoming Events ......................................... 09
St. Francis Xavier High School 1600 W. Prospect Avenue Appleton, WI 54914 920-733-6632 Fax: 920-735-1787 www.xaviercatholicschools.org
Even 30 years ago, Catholic education was expensive. If my family was middle class, it was only barely so. We drove cars that often wouldn’t start. We bought cereal in bags, not boxes. The heat in the house was a last resort, only after sweaters and blankets proved insufficient. Still, my parents believed in Catholic education. They placed value in the faith, the nurturing environment, and the top-notch education. So we sacrificed. Family vacation was a night in Milwaukee. We shared a car, shared bedrooms, and often shared outfits. I relied on support from my parish as well as financial aid in every form that I could get, but we found a way to make it work. Three years later, my parents had three children in Catholic high school and another in elementary. Today, I think back to the level of sacrifice that they made so that I could go to Catholic school, and I am dumbfounded. They knew the quality of the investment. It would have been easy for them to send me to a public school and use the money they were earning to pay bills or minimize debt. Their priority, though, was giving me the best education. I am forever grateful to them for leading me down the right path. This month, we celebrate Thanksgiving. I want to use this opportunity to thank all of you for the sacrifices you make so that your children can be a part of our Xavier community. Thanks for all of the nights of trying to figure out how to stretch your money just a little further so that you can pay tuition. Thanks for supporting us with volunteer hours so that our education can be of the whole student. Thanks for praying for your child and our entire Xavier family. Thank you for being active members of your parishes. By the way, a huge thank you to our parishes, many of whom sacrifice in equally significant ways in order to make the St. Francis Xavier Catholic School System possible. Thank you to all of our benefactors who remember Xavier regularly in their giving. So many amazing organizations do important work and deserve our support. We are honored to be supported by our generous families and alumni. I am always aware that many of you are experiencing the same challenges and sacrifices that my family once knew. We are working hard to minimize fees and keep tuition as stable as possible. In the meantime, all of us here at Xavier are dedicated each day to making your sacrifice worth it, to helping your investment in Catholic education to reap benefits in the short term and over the course of your child’s life. I know that much of who I am today was determined by the decision to sacrifice for Catholic education that my parents and I made years ago. I pray that your sons and daughters will be equally fortunate and thankful when they reflect on the power of your sacrifice.
For the greater glory of God,
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.
Mike Mauthe Principal