Hawk Strong through COVID-19

4. On behalf of the entire Xavier community, we thank you for your leadership and service. Are there any words of wisdom or reflections that you would like to share with our Xavier Family?

JP: If you would have told me back in 1998 that 22 years from then I would have a professional career that started with an NBA Championship with the Detroit Pistons, to experiencing the largest bankruptcy in history while with General Motors, to eight moves across four states, and a global pandemic, I’d have said nothing out of sheer disbelief.

I share this because none of us know what truly lies ahead…but what I do know is that each of our experiences leads to the next. Good and bad, each of these are moments to learn from and reflect upon. Leaning on faith and knowing when to trust in that faith will provide us with rewards never imagined.

Claire: The Xavier community provides just that, a community. It is so important for all of us to take care of each other and support each other. That is the foundation of my career in public health and what I do every day is rewarding.

Hawk strong, even when we are apart... this is the #XavierXperience!

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Our New (and Hopefully Temporary) Normal

March 17, 2020. The last day Xavier students attended class in-person. Most had no idea the day had so many “lasts”. Since then our world has changed, our lives have changed and we continue to live in unprecedented times. Technology, aided by amazing faculty and staff, has made it possible for our students to continue to learn at every level. At Xavier we deeply care about each and every student and have a responsibility to teach them, not only academically, but about faith and social development. We are proud to say that we have worked at each one. What follows are some unique ways we have pivoted to online learning, to providing faith opportunities, and to providing social development while celebrating what makes Xavier special.

On page 14, enjoy portions of unsolicited appreciation letters written by an international student and a parent. It is moments such as this that make us proud to witness our staff and students shine through this challenging time.

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Academics

• Teachers learned quickly and proficiently how to conduct class virtually (1). • Students were still challenged, tests still administered, and grades still earned. • Our guidance, learning services, and support staff took the roles of learning coaches. They met often, sometimes daily, with students to provide the support needed to succeed.

Faith

• Children continued to pray as a class. • Daily prayers along with prayer intentions and a weekly rosary were done at XHS. • Each school continued to offer virtual Mass and prayer opportunities (2).

Social Development and Celebration

• Teachers made videos and photo collages to send to their school families. • Google Meets allowed students and teachers to interact to learn math problems and also to sing a classmate “Happy Birthday”. • XHS students recorded bedtime stories for XES students to view (3). • XHS students started the “Connect Project” (read specifically about this on page 15). • Elementary staff held a reverse parade where families drove through the parking lots while staff smiled, laughed and waved (4, 5, 6, 7). • Teachers held award programs online and personally delivered some awards (8). • Campuses held online talent shows. • Middle school teachers lined the middle school parking lot to cheer graduating 8th graders on during a drive-thru graduation ceremony (9, 10). • High school staff visited each graduating senior’s home to hand-deliver bags including caps and gowns, awards, honors, and letters (11). • High school staff invited students to drive through and pick up a carnation to carry on the flower tradition portion of the Baccalaureate Mass (12, 13). • Graduation was postponed until August to honor graduating seniors’ wishes of holding it in person so they can be together.

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I want to write just one more essay to give thanks to each and every single one of you for how amazingly you have affected my two-year experience in the United States. Everyone, from teachers to the staff, has impacted me and my time as a Xavier student in many positive ways, and that is something I really need to thank you for.

Every single teacher I have had the pleasure to be a student of, counselors, and every member of the Xavier Community has bettered my days…. And even though you have taught me many things related to class, I believe I have learned much more about myself and others from you. Thanks to all of you, I have learned things I could not have learned any other way and I will take those lessons with me forever. Thanks to you, I will forever keep this amazing memory. And thanks to you, I am a better, happier, and wiser version of myself.

Every day, I am thankful to my parents for giving me this amazing opportunity, but I am also grateful for having this experience at Xavier because it could not have been any better somewhere else. I will always and forever remember and be thankful for all of you and all the memories I have made as a Xavier student.

Warm virtual hugs for everyone, God bless you,

Martina Olaizola ‘20

International student from Spain

To the Xavier School Community,

I feel compelled to write this letter, in appreciation for the support and efforts put forth by all of the faculty and staff of St. Francis Xavier Catholic School System during these unprecedented times.

Faculty and staff at Xavier did an exemplary job of making the transition from teaching in the classroom to teaching from a living room or a dining room. Teachers were given the Herculean task of changing how they deliver their lessons to students, and of making sure that their students felt like they were still very much having an experience as close as possible to being at school, knowing full well that so many aspects on the receiving end of their efforts was out of their direct control. Everyone worked as a team, and the Catholic faith remained front and center through it all. …When I look back over the past two months of distance learning, I see how truly rich of an education my children are getting. They have had so much support from their teachers, both on an educational and an emotional level. My kids were encouraged to not give up on learning. My kids were still exposed to the Catholic faith through online prayer services led by people in our school community. My kids learned that they can adapt to change and not only survive, but thrive.

I know that my children have been able to grow and develop just as much, if not more, during this time of distance learning, because they did have to remain conscious of what it means to be a proud, successful student. Not only were they held to the same standards as when they were all learning in school, but they also got indirect lessons on how to be more self-sufficient, personally responsible, and self-determined.

The Xavier school system understands and stresses the importance of a well-rounded, faith based education, and not even a global pandemic can stop them from doing their job, and doing it well.

God Bless, Katie Leicht

CONNECTING XAVIER STUDENTS

Connecting During COVID

As the decision was made to close Xavier schools in March, students emptied their lockers and gathered their backpacks to go home to begin e-learning. Jonah Blohowiak ‘21 quickly realized that socially, this was going to be hard. It would be extremely hard for many Xavier students who are very involved in their churches, sports, theater, dance and clubs. This was going to be a drastic change not seeing their teachers, coaches and friends.

Jonah, within the first few weeks, came up with an idea. Why not be available for kids who may be lonely or scared or bored? He proposed the idea to Mr. Mauthe and Xavier counselors, got approval and put together a group of students who were approachable and could talk to anyone. With the help of his mom, Mary Blohowiak of b.creative design, he created a logo, graphics and student videos that would be distributed via middle/high school emails and though social media. Students are available for one-on-one conversations. They also take turns setting up Zoom meetings where they host dance, trivia and game parties. “It has been so fun seeing everyone and just laughing!“ said Blohowiak. “We are all going through this together. Everyone is feeling isolated, and it is a great way to connect. Right now we are focused on the difficulty of coping with isolation and remote learning, but my hope is that we can expand the Connect Project to include suicide prevention, family counseling, victim assistance, food aid, academic support and more.”