X: The Xavier Magazine - Summer 2022

As you read this edition of X magazine, I hope you'll find excitement in our future plans. There are many areas to review that include the accomplishments of our students, faculty, and alumni. Great things are going on at Xavier, and it's exciting to be a part of it.

SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION

Phillip Riley, Jr. | PRESIDENT

Bob Biebel | VP of ADVANCEMENT

Tara Pearce | VP of ADMISSIONS

Trena Larson | VP of FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION

John Ravizza | SUPERINTENDENT

Mike Mauthe | PRINCIPAL Xavier High School

Sara Meyer | PRINCIPAL Xavier Middle School

Tina Fairweather | PRINCIPAL Xavier Elementary School Marquette Campus

Alena (Lange) Tapelt ’96 | PRINCIPAL Xavier Elementary School McDonald Campus

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Most Reverend David L. Ricken | CHAIR Diocese of Green Bay

Very Reverend Daniel Felton | VICE CHAIR Diocese of Green Bay

Todd Blahnik Diocese of Green Bay

Reverend Joseph Dorner St. Bernadette Parish

Deacon Mike Eash St. Bernard Parish

Reverend James Jugenheimer St. Pius X Parish

Reverend John Katamba Sacred Heart Parish

Reverend Raja Selvam St. Joseph Parish

Reverend Ryan Starks St. Therese Parish

Phil Riley President

Reverend William Swichtenberg St. Mary Parish

Deacon Lincoln Wood St. Thomas More Parish

Brian Wierzbinski | CHAIRPERSON Board of Trustees

BUILDING A BETTER TODAY!

This past year Xavier was busy making numerous facility improvements and we continue to look ahead at areas which are in need.

Among the many projects completed are:

Xavier High School:

• Student parking lot

• Commons floor- the tile was removed and epoxy applied to provide a cleaner finish

• Scoreboards in Torchy Clark- thanks to a

Xavier Elementary Schools:

• Playground Equipment- there are several new pieces that were installed over the summer at both elementary campuses. These were generously purchased by the Home and School Association from funds raised at last year’s Color Run.

generous donation from the Mike Pfefferle

Memorial Fund, the Xavier Foundation, and the Xavier Booster Club, the scoreboards are now digital and allow for more information to be shared during games and other events.

• 40 BenQ Interactive Display Boards- BenQ boards allow for more engagement in the classroom. Students can cast their screens to collaborate with their peers and teacher, and have Google Classroom integration.

• 30 updated computers- updated in one of the computer labs which will enable students to use more advanced programs.

• HVAC system upgrade

• Concrete Pad on Discus Area

• Business and distance learning center

Xavier Middle School:

• Tennis courts repaired

• Parking lot- cracks sealed

• Updated plumbing in fifth grade restrooms

• Additional set of doors (McDonald St)- a set of doors were added on the main hallway of the school past the Fellowship Hall to add security between the school and parish during parish functions and funerals.

• Sensory path (McDonald St)- a gift from Celebrate’s Cookies for a Cause, students can use this when they have time and need sensory output before returning to learning.

• Parking lot (both campuses) Additionally, many spaces at each campus have been enhanced, making areas brighter, more inviting, and age-specific. Security features have been added at all four campuses regarding Network Security and Wifi systems to better protect against ransomware.

Welcome to the Xavier team!

Gosia

Alumni Updates

1960s

Alumni, tell us what’s new! Whatever you have been up to, we would like to hear about it! Share your story via email: xmagazine@xaviercatholicschools.org, by mail to 1600 W Prospect Ave, Appleton WI 54914, or, on our website: xaviercatholicschools. org/alumni/share-your-story. We look forward to hearing from you!

Jim Sensenbrenner '65 graduated from Marquette University and continued his education to receive an MBA. He divides his time living in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Appleton and Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Wherever he lives he writes, with five books published since 2004 - Dogging It in the Big Easy, CRACKED SIDEWALKS, A NOVEL (a New Orleans mystery), Dogging It in New Orleans,THE LOVE OF HUNTING and THE LOVE OF HUNTING LOG. The books are available at selected retail outlets and under his writing name, J.B. Sensenbrenner, on Amazon.com. He recently had stories published in the Badger Outdoorsman and the Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine. He's also written several songs with "CARLOTTA CARLOTTA!" recorded by national recording artist Paul Sanchez.

1970s

Tom Wiltzius ’65 was inducted into the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce Business Hall of Fame.

“In large part, I attribute much of my success and effectiveness in our community to life lessons that are rooted in the Xavier tradition, and what I learned at Xavier High School. God tells us that we are to go beyond simply treating others as we would be treated, to actively model Jesus’ love by seeking out opportunities to give time, talent or treasure, and to do so collaboratively when and where possible. While I may be the first Xavier alumnus to be recognized with the particular award, I have worked with many of my fellow alumni to help others during my journey, for which I am grateful. Many blessings to all of you who continue the Xavier tradition.”- Tom

Earlier this year, John Casey Hurley ’70 had his second book, Improving Instructions: Best Practices Told Through Teacher Stories, published by Rowman and Littlefield. This book builds on the the first one--The Six Virtues of the Educated Person. Teachers described how the six virtues were the key to improving their classrooms. John is now retired from Western Carolina University (Cullowhee, North Carolina), where he was a professor of Educational Administration for 31 years.

Tim Weyers ’01 has lived in Los Angeles with “my wonderful family for the past 15 years”. He and his wife, Heather, have two sons, Max and Ollie, who keep them very busy. Tim works for Netflix and Heather works for Hulu. Tim has “had the pleasure to work with great people managing production on films such as The Hangover franchise, Dark Knight trilogy, The Town, Bad Moms and Hustlers.”

Mary Kay

Christopher Pazdernik '04 recently joined Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre, an award-winning storefront theatre in Chicago, as their Managing & Casting Director. He encourages anyone from the XHS family to check them out (theo-u.org) if they are ever in the Windy City!

Kermit

Daniel

(Van Dinter)

Connie (Geiger)

Jane Gilbert

Ronald Gresl

Tim Fisher

Timothy Killoren

Congratulations to Chris DeMarco ’04 and the Golden State Warriors on winning the 2022 NBA Championship title!

Chris is in his ninth season with the Warriors, serving as an assistant coach and director of player development. To hear more about Chris’ relationship with the players, and the impact he has made on the team, scan the QR code to view the YouTube video “The Fighting Spirit, presented by Modelo | Chris DeMarco”.

Alexandra (Suprise) Collins ’08 married John Collins at Saints Faith, Hope, and Charity Church in Winnetka, Illinois, in August 2021.

After graduating from Xavier, she went on to earn her Bachelors degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and then law degree from Marquette University Law School. She is currently employed as a Senior Broker at Aon PLC in Chicago, after formerly having served as an Investment Associate at the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) in Madison. Her husband, John Collins, earned his Bachelors from Northwestern University and his MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. He is employed as Partner and Director of Trading Strategy at Belvedere Trading, a hedge fund in Chicago.

Jeffrey Nack

Paul Sherman

Kevin Weber

Lisa (Kwitek)

Gregory Schuh

Beth (Oettinger)

Chris Johnson

Kenneth Foegen

Kevin Kasperek

Mark Wirkes

Amy Vizek

Adam McCormick

Dominic Hall

John Biese

Michael Schermerhorn

Michael Lopez

Alumni Updates

2010s

Congratulations to Danielle (Hansen) Sutton

’12 for graduating with her Masters of Science in Nursing-Leadership from Grand Canyon University in April. Danielle and her husband, Owen, recently purchased their first home in Charlotte, North Carolina.

In May, William Hansen ’16 graduated from Notre Dame with a Masters of Science in Engineering. William also received the honor of being named “Inventor” on a U.S. Patent issued in March of this year. Attending his graduation was brother, Ian ’23, mom, Lisa, brother, Alec ’10, sister, Caroline ’19, and father, Brad (in spirit was his sister, Danielle Hansen Sutton ’12). William relocated to North Carolina, joining his two older siblings who reside in Charlotte. William will share his engineering talents with the company, Lenovo, located in Durham.

In December, Analiese Bradshaw '17 graduated from New York University with a degree in drama - she walked in her formal graduation ceremony both at Yankee Stadium and at Radio City Music Hall. During her time at NYU, Analiese wrote and produced two short films, and helped co-create and star in a mini series called "Asleep, Awake," which will be submitted to film festivals nationally and internationally in the upcoming months. Since graduating, Analiese now works as a Production Assistant for the late night show, "Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen" at the TV network Bravo. She also is a working actress, voiceover artist, and freelance writer in New York City, and is excited for future artistic endeavors that will soon be coming her way!

On May 14th, Gretchen Ortner '18 and Preben Rasmussen ’18 celebrated their graduation from University of Wisconsin Green Bay (UWGB)! Gretchen graduated cum laude with a major in Elementary Education and Preben graduated magna cum laude with a major in Psychology and a minor in Sociology.

New Hawk in the nest?

Let us know and we will send you a bib as a gift from Xavier Catholic Schools! Contact Lisa Pfaff at lpfaff@xaviercatholicschools. org to share the news.

During their time at UWGB, both were active members of Phoenix Catholic. Gretchen was the president of Phoenix Students for Life, the prolife student organization, from 2019-2022 as well. Gretchen will work with children with autism and other special needs at Fox Valley Autism Treatment Program for the summer. After that, she may stay at the company, as she really loves it there, or may take a teaching job.

Preben will be working at Camp Tekakwitha for the summer before going to Riverwest Food Pantry in Milwaukee for a year.

Charissa (Wallace) Rathsack '18 and Matt Rathsack '17 were married in May of last year. Matt obtained a year-long job teaching English in Japan and left in August 2021, Charissa was finally able to join him in November. They enjoyed their adventure and returned to Wisconsin in August 2022. Matt now teaches at Xavier Middle School. Everyone in the picture is either a Xavier alum or a current student.

This spring, Eliana Tetzlaff '18 was voted by the head coaches of the Sun Conference as the Women's Golf Champion of Character. Eliana plays for Ave Maria University and was the first female golfer in the school's history to receive an individual conference award. Off the course, Eliana was a member of the Mother Teresa Project, the Student Athletic Advisory Committee, accounting club, Habitat for Humanity mission trips, and often served meals with the Missionaries of Charity at the Miami Soup Kitchen. Eliana graduated in May with a degree in accounting. She will be going back to Ave Maria in the fall to work towards an MBA while continuing to play another year of golf.

Hunter Plamann ’18 and Nick Otto ’19 played for the University of Wisconsin- Oshkosh men’s basketball team this season. The team is part of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and ended the 2021-2022 season with a 24-4 record, finishing as regular and post-season conference champions, and ranked eighth nationally among Division III schools. Nick is majoring in communications at UWO. Hunter is majoring in marketing and is the marketing manager for Millennium Construction.

2020s

‘18. Each are also Eagle Scouts from Troop 2. Peter and Andrew graduated on April 30 from Michigan Tech University. That same day, Andrew was commissioned in the US Air Force as a Second Lieutenant. There is an honored tradition that a new Second Lieutenant presents a silver dollar to the first enlisted service member who salutes him. Andrew asked his fellow Xavier classmate, Justin, to join him at MTU for this ceremony as Justin is proudly serving as a Corporal in the US Marine Corps.

Christian Casimir '20 currently attends Wisconsin Lutheran College in Milwaukee. She is majoring in Marine Biology and Environmental Science and is a member of the WLC women's soccer team. In May, she spent 11 days on a research trip with other students and professors to study the various coral reefs in Grenada. This trip is organized every year to regularly monitor any benthic and fish growth and/ or deterioration. The same reef locations are studied annually to compare any changes in the health of the reefs. Although the main goal was to obtain further data on the reefs, the group also went into the rainforest with Billie Harrison to get information on Grenada's local boas and frogs. These outings included logging information on the local boas. In addition to logging the snakes, groups went out to tag individual Grenada frogs while also measuring their size and location. See her photo on the Xavier Pride Worldwide spread on page 39.

Pictured are Xavier alumni Andrew Zampaloni ‘18, Justin Clemons ‘18 and Peter VanDerKolk

Making a difference

Casey Higgins ‘04 has always been driven. Since her early days at Xavier she was always fine tuning the skills of accomplishing things while working collaboratively. Those two skills have played a key role in her successful legal career. Higgins was recently named to Billboard magazine’s 2021 Top Music Lawyers list. The accolade was earned as the result of her critical role in securing passage of the “Save our Stages” Act by Congress. This Act provided emergency relief to music and arts venues and their associated businesses in the wake of COVID shutdowns. Passage of this Act required significant bipartisan support in both the House and Senate. Higgins championed this bipartisan support effort by working with both Minnesota Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar and Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn.

Getting this legislation passed was a major victory for independent music as well as associated vital economic activity all across the country from small towns to major metropolitan areas. For Higgins, it was only part of a journey that has taken her in a number of different directions and helped her make a positive impact in politics and law while always being a strong advocate for bipartisanship.

Higgins graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2008 and went on to earn her Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Catholic University in 2011. While in law school, she began working on Capitol Hill, serving as a law clerk to the House Committee on the Budget and working with members of Congress on a number of key pieces of legislation.

Meeting with Bono

Standing along the Western Wall in Jerusalem

From 2015-2019, Casey served as the Assistant to the Speaker for Policy and Trade Counsel for then Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan. Her work focused on issues such as immigration and border security, crime and terrorism, Homeland Security, and campaign finance reform. In addition, she served as a liaison between the Obama and Trump administrations, as well as the House and Senate leadership all on behalf of the Speaker.

Higgins currently serves as Senior Counsel for Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, LLP an international law firm and the United States’ largest lobbying firm. Her areas of expertise include legal reform, public law and policy, and cybersecurity. She is a regular contributor to the Akin Gump podcast and has appeared on C-Span and is quoted in numerous media publications.

Higgins is quick to recognize Brian Borchardt, Jim Pfefferle, Monica Jones, and Marnie Centen as a few teachers that left a memorable mark on her while she attended Xavier. Higgins and her husband Juston are the proud parents of a daughter Salirse, who was born on the 4th of July.

Casey with former Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu

With Paul Ryan on the Speaker’s balcony at the United States Capitol

Outside the United States Embassy in Berlin, Germany

In front of the Speaker’s plane

Xavier Alumni Reunions

The very first graduating class, the class of 1962 celebrated their 60th reunion on Thursday, September 8th at Pullmans restaurant.

The class of 1977 celebrated their 45th class reunion the weekend of August 12-14. It was three days of activities with the main event taking place on Saturday, August 13 at Pierce Park. The reunion was shared with alumni from Appleton West and Appleton East classes of 1977, many of who attended grade school together and grew up within the same neighborhoods.

The class of 1982 had a wonderful reunion celebration on August 13 at the Appleton Yacht Club.

Destined for the stage

My dad built a stage in my backyard when I was around seven years old. Seen regularly on those few pieces of plywood was a chubby-cheeked, wide-eyed second grader. It was no Radio City Music Hall or Fox Cities Performing Arts Center, but it was somewhere he could pour his growing heart into. My sister, Samantha ’12, had done every Xavier musical offered. A 7-year-old me attended every single show. From 2011’s Fall Musical The Music Man (1) on, I had the privilege of growing up and participating in every single Xavier High School Theater and Xavier Theater Academy production. In addition, I participated annually in Christmas Stars. My parents found it quite daunting that I wanted to do four productions a year, but supported me regardless of the scheduling challenges. I wrapped myself in these opportunities not because I felt like I had to do so, but because it was natural for me to crave the pure joy I had pursuing them within such a community as Xavier Theater. In addition, I also grew up surrounded by many older influences involved with Xavier Theater who set a standard of performing arts by which I was blown away. This influence is a key factor in my motivation for this postCOVID year alone and why it has been so worth it to finally be back on stage performing.

Being granted the opportunity to play roles like Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors (2) on the Xavier stage gave me the chance to give back to that younger me. To show the different-feeling kids that I am one like them. To show them that even though in the halls at school they may seem to be the only one humming “Popular” from Wicked, there is a 6’1” high schooler at Xavier with that same exact passion performing as the lead in his senior year musical. This is why I started a kids' theater summer camp, why it means so much to me to represent Wisconsin in the 2022 Jimmy Awards in New York City, (3) and why I’ve decided this year that I want to explore this beautiful art medium as a career. Xavier Theater taught me so much but has validated me even more. It has validated the path on which I am headed. I have felt nothing but feelings of love and support throughout my time at Xavier. This is from this theater community that young me chose to surround myself with. Whether I am performing on my backyard stage, the Fox Cities P.A.C. stage, or Broadway’s Minskoff Theater, I know that this gift of my Xavier Theater family the last 11 years is something I will cherish forever.

There are a variety of cords a graduate may don at the graduation ceremony. The different colors represent a specific honor. At Xavier, students proudly wear cords to recognize their hard work and dedication in the following areas:

National Honor Society

Cord color: gold Students who have qualified for NHS through their GPA, service hours and other membership requirements.

Gallon Grads

Cord color: red, white, & black Students who have generously donated blood eight or more times while at Xavier.

World Language Honor Society

Cord color: red

Maintain a 3.5 grade point average in the target language, complete activity service hours, and be a member for three years.

Highest Honors

Cord color: blue, white, & silver

3.75 GPA or higher

Forensics

Cord color: burgundy & silver

Students who successfully compete at speech and debate tournaments earn points and degrees which can lead to the advanced degree status of “Special Distinction” from the National Speech and Debate Association.

Girl Scout Gold Award

Cord color: green & white

The highest honor a Girl Scout can accomplish.

Eagle Scout

Cord color: red, white, & blue

The highest ranking a Scout can achieve.

The Herb Kohl Excellence Scholarship has been awarded in Wisconsin since 1990. The winners are selected for their "demonstrated academic potential, outstanding leadership, citizenship, community service, integrity and other special talents," according to the program's website. Just how prestigious is this scholarship? Only 100 seniors are selected each year to receive the award in Wisconsin!

In the thirty-two year history of the Kohl Scholarship, Xavier has had 20 students recognized as winners. This year, the Class of 2022 produced three Kohl Scholarship recipients, meaning that three of the 100 most outstanding seniors in the state came from Xavier. Congratulations to Cecelia Wasco, Patrick McGreevey and Allison Matzek on their Kohl Scholarships.

Carly

Sam Hawkins

Lauren Walkowski, Charlie Pfefferle, Caidia Coolidge, Jacob Miller, Thomas Gear, Bryce Hafner, Zach Ferris, Ethan Gosling, Nick Lueck, Caiti Simon, Brayden Lamb, Caleb Ryno, Grace Hyde, Rebecca Much, Matthew Flannery, Brady Schmidt, Marie Kaufman, Brendan Rochon, Ashley Ebben, and Carly Bomier. Not pictured: Isaiah Janke and Sam Hawkins

Ethan

Simple Simon Bakery has been Appleton’s sweet spot since 1967. Xavier is blessed to have generations of Simon family members as Xavier students. You’ve likely been treated to a Simple Simon cookie or cupcake if you’ve been to a Xavier function. Dawn Simon Ebert ’87 reached out with an idea that would beautify their storefront while simultaneously giving Xavier art students a canvas to showcase their talent. The result is a beautiful mural (with a subtle hint of Xavier pride) and great experience for Xavier art students.

Ebert’s idea was to have a mural painted on Simple Simon’s storefront and she wanted to give Xavier students the opportunity to do it. Her vision was that she wanted students to submit designs that incorporated the bakery’s goods along with a few hints of Xavier. Several students submitted designs. Ebert narrowed them down and then had the bakery’s fellow Wisconsin Avenue business owners vote on the designs. The design was finalized and once the Wisconsin winter weather subsided, work commenced. Shannon Ortner ’23 and Autumn Severson ’23 were the two primary students who worked on the project under the guidance of art teacher, Melanie Balthazor. Other students helped and many hours were put in over the spring.

Now and for years to come, bakery customers and passersby have a beautiful mural to greet them. It is colorful, whimsical, and includes a hawk shout out to Xavier, which was important to Ebert. In appreciation for the collaboration, Simple Simon awarded Ortner and Severson scholarship dollars for Xavier and gave Balthazor a donation for the art program. It was a win-win-win that Ebert and Simple Simon Bakery, as well as the students, and community, will be able to enjoy for years to come. Treat yourself to a delicious sweet treat and check out the mural commissioned, designed, and painted by our very own!

Five track and field athletes qualified for State: Carsyn Stempa ’24 placed third in the long jump; Lilie Fouts ’24 placed sixth in the 1600 meter and fifth in the 3200 meter; Braedey Picard ’22 placed ninth in shot put; Luke Slaats ’22 placed seventh in the 400 meter, and Ben Olvey ’24 competed in the 110 meter high hurdle.

The boys' golf team qualified for state and was state runner-up! The team, made up of seniors, Matthew Draheim ’22, Ryan Draheim ‘22, Joshua Draheim ’22; juniors, Dawson Fish ‘23 and Eddie Oelfhafen ’23; and sophomore, Jon Bertram ’24; finished just five strokes over Edgewood Sacred Heart.

The boys’ tennis team was conference champions and had six individuals compete at state: Mark Steinlage ’23, Nick Bittner ’24, Nate Hall ’24, Josh Horak ’24, Nana Kofi Norman ’24, and Sean Utrie ‘24. Nick and Nate placed fourth in the doubles competition.

Calvin Keesler ‘22 signed a letter of intent to play baseball for St. Olaf and Luke Slaats ’22 signed with University of Wisconsin La Crosse Track and Field.

Two Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) teams, comprised of all seniors, competed in Nationals in Chicago, Illinois. Ryan Draheim ‘22, Andrew Minorik ‘22, and Charlie Janu ’22 competed in the Entrepreneurship category while Brendan Rochon ‘22, Michelle Lopez ‘22, and Haley Bridges ‘22 took on Website Design. They competed against over 60 other teams in each event and should be so proud to of made it to Nationals.

The VEX robotics team won its fifth state championship and qualified the school for the13th time to compete at Worlds. This year, the Worlds competition was held in Dallas, Texas, and representing the 531C team from the high school was Nolan Fors ’22, Jacob McGovern ’24, and Caden Bast ’22.

After a few years where the Arts in particular were overwhelmingly curtailed, Xavier Fine Arts took all of that pentup talent and let it shine brightly this year. Students were grateful to grace the stage once again and audiences were appreciative to see live performances! In addition, visual art students had art showcased and accolades earned.

While there were practically countless opportunities to take in the performing and visual arts this year, we only have so much copy space! You are encouraged to support the Fine Arts by attending any and/or all performances and showcases—you’ll have plenty to choose from.

Xavier Jazz Bands held their annual Dan’s House of Hope concert fundraiser this past winter and added a spaghetti dinner this year. It was a throwback to spaghetti dinners the band held years ago. Attendees were treated to great live jazz music and a wonderful meal all while supporting a worthy cause.

The XHS choir was one of four area high schools invited to perform in the spring Masterworks Concert with the Dudley Birder Chorale. In addition, Isabella Cerdan ’22 was selected as this year’s winner of the Bush Scholarship Award for Vocal Excellence. Cerdan performed her winning piece at the annual concert at the Weidner Center. In addition, she, as well as choir teacher Anna Van Eperen, each received a cash prize. In addition, the high school received a monetary award for the music library.

The XHS Orchestra participated in the Solo and Ensemble competition this spring. They competed in sixteen events for strings, nine of which qualified for State, including the entire orchestra class! May ushered in a spring concert with guest artist Carrie Grusellle, a nationally known string composer and arranger. Ms. Gruselle’s music was featured in the concert. The concert also featured the seniors in concerto performances; Haley Bridges ‘22 on violin, Gillian Ulrich ‘22 on cello and honorary senior Simon Schwerdtfeger ‘23 on cello.

The Xavier Theatre Program was part of the National Center Stage Awards program this year. If you were fortunate enough to be able to see Xavier’s production of "Little Shop of Horrors", you won’t be surprised to read that Xavier Theatre was nominated for eight awards, including Best Orchestra and Best Ensemble, so literally every eligible performer in the show was nominated as "best" in their category. Josh Thone ’22 was awarded the region’s Best Actor award, an extraordinary honor. This award and honor included participation in the Jimmy Awards on the stage of the Minskoff Theatre - home of the Lion King on New York City’s Broadway in June.

The Art program also enjoyed a full and successful year. Accolades abound for visual art students as well. XHS Art teacher Melanie Balthazor encouraged and helped students submit art for a variety of competitions, including the annual Congressional Institute competition. Each year, the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the nation and in each congressional district. Carly Bomier ’22 was awarded second place for the 8th district. Bomier’s exquisite oil painting entitled "Starlight" will be hung in the office of Congressman Mike Gallagher for the next year. Students also exhibited their art from Green Bay to Oshkosh. Shannon Ortner ‘23, Katia LaBash ‘23, Addison Clinefelter ‘25, and Ava Gilligan ‘25 were chosen to have their art displayed in a juried art show as part of the 47th Annual UW Oshkosh High School Student Art Day and Randi Jo Hofacker ‘25 won as part of the 2022 Fox Valley Area High School Glass Exhibition. In addition to seeking opportunities for her students to compete, Balthazor seeks out opportunities for her students to give back. This year that included students decorating chargers for the annual Chariman’s Gala for the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center.

The arts are alive and well at Xavier. We welcome you to enjoy the talented work of Xavier students at shows, exhibitions, and concerts. You will not be disappointed and we would love to see you!

By: Jennifer Much

Navigating high school and finding a balance between studies and a social life can be stressful for students. Even more, starting a job or making a plan for college and a future career can stir up extra anxiety. Luckily, thanks to guidance counselor, Lori Schuh, and her passion for helping others, there is now an extra helper on staff to lend a paw of support.

One Special Lady

Lori Schuh had envisioned bringing a therapy dog to school for quite some time. She felt it could help students cope with anxiety and stress. In early 2019, she approached principal Mike Mauthe with her plan, and he approved. Not long after, Schuh began searching for the perfect canine companion.

"I had many volunteers in various rescue organizations looking for a dog with the correct temperament," said Schuh, "I told them it didn't matter how old the dog was; male or female, and breed didn't matter as long as the dog had a calm, confident demeanor."

pass ten different tasks and challenges.

After a wellrounded introduction with the basics, the pair began working with Ideal Dog, LLC, which prepared Lady to get certified as a therapy dog. In March 2020, after a lot of hard work and dedication, she was certified. "She is a very calm dog and when she has her red leash on, she knows she is working," Schuh said.

Like any successful student, Lady continues to take additional courses. "We have undergone a 'manners' course as well as a novice 'tricks' course," added Schuh, "it's good for dogs and handlers to continue to learn together."

A Valuable Resource

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, Lady can be found in the guidance suite and eagerly awaits students. "Students love to see her," said Schuh, "many make a point to stop in and see her when she is at school." On days Lady is in, an 'in' sign hangs on the door.

"We also try to be in the gathering space to welcome students in the morning," Schuh added. Lady can often be found in the halls between classes and visiting students before exams. "Struggling students see her as they stop in the counseling suite throughout the day," said Schuh.

Lady spending time with Katrina Baer '21

Soon, Schuh found Lady, a young Lab/ German Shepard mix.

Originally from Texas, Lady was rescued by Saving Paws Animal Rescue in Appleton. "It took me quite a while to find Lady," said Schuh. Despite her naturally-sweet nature, Lady went through extensive training with Schuh, including an initial puppy class geared for rescues when she was two. "After that, we began working toward earning our Canine Good Citizenship Certification," said Schuh. Training required her to

Having an on-site therapy dog is a valuable resource for students. "Lady is able to tell when people are stressed out," explained Schuh, "her only job is to cuddle, make kids smile, and to help reduce stress."

As a counselor, Schuh sees the substantial impact Lady has on the students. "All you have to do is see the smiles from students when they see her in the halls to know that she helps, even if they don't stop to pet her!" said Schuh. There are many students who regularly visit Lady. "I will often have students say, 'she is just what I needed today,' when they stop for a pet in the hallway," said Schuh.

In the entire Fox Cities vicinity, only a small handful of schools have on-site therapy dogs, with Xavier being one of them. While Lady has visited the Xavier Middle School campus, she primarily remains on-site at the high school. "I get calls often from people who are interested in the process of getting a therapy dog program started at their schools," Schuh said.

Not only is Lady an adorable addition to the school, she is an important tool. "Stress and anxiety are very real for many students in our high school and we recognize this," noted Schuh, "we are trying to do anything we can to help students navigate high school and that includes Lady."

Off the Clock

When the school day is done, Lady is off the clock and heads home with Schuh. "When I get her home, she is sassy, jumps and acts especially goofy," said Schuh. "She loves food, cuddles, and loves to touch someone while she is sleeping."Now 5-years-old, Lady and Schuh share a special bond. The pair have trained together for countless hours and worked as a team to help students. The Xavier community has also been a big component in Lady's care, especially helping with her costs.

Monetary donations obtained through the Celebrate event help cover the cost of liability insurance as well as one class a year, totalling $400. While help with these costs are greatly appreciated, more goes into Lady's care and well-being.

"All other expenses for Lady, including medical, food, bathing, and toys, are covered by myself," said Schuh. "We [also] utilize a lot of lint rollers!" Schuh

jokes.

While Schuh cares for Lady full-time, having a therapy dog available at school is rewarding. "I don't know that you could talk to anyone in our building who wouldn't say that having Lady at school is a very positive thing," said Schuh.

Mrs. Schuh and Lady are quite a team!

Individuals looking to contribute to Lady's care can do so by donating gift cards for Pet Supplies Plus for grooming and bathing, which would be greatly appreciated. Alternatively, they can make a tax-deductible donation to Saving Paws Rescue at www.savingpaws.com

Thank you for your time, service and commitment to the Xavier family, Lori and Lady; we give you two paws up!

The COVID-19 pandemic affected student learning and school systems more than anyone could have predicted. While the virus raged through school communities, it also forced departments to reassess what they were teaching and what curriculum is truly essential. Along with this opportunity to reassess, there is no doubt that the needs of students have changed greatly over the last decade. These conclusions empowered departments to look at their class offerings for the 2022-2023 school year and we are excited to announce the birth of several new classes, most notably a freshman seminar class which will be required for all incoming freshmen in their first term. This team-taught class will cover the basic requirements for written and verbal communication, collaboration, and conduct of a Xavier student while developing life skills, studying the history and traditions of Xavier, and considering practices for overall wellness. We are excited to offer our freshmen more support as they make their transition into high school. Another notable addition is Architecture and Interior Design - the most requested new elective class. Students will explore how to read and create basic home plans, including with digital software. Additionally, they will learn about basic measurement skills needed to sketch or make blueprints. More than 65 students have requested the class so far.

While these classes are exciting, we are so pleased to offer the following additional new courses:Duel Enrollment Leadership, Art and a Balanced Mind, Probability and Statistics, Technical Theatre: Stagecraft, Forensic Science

For a full list of XHS offerings for the 2022-2023 school year please scan the code to visit the course catalog.

Twenty-one students and three teachers involved in fine arts at Xavier High School capitalized on the school’s spring break week to visit some iconic places known for music. What follows is a brief trip recap as well as recollections shared by Megan Schmidt ’23:

First destination: Memphis.

First stop: Graceland, including a tour of Elvis Presley’s mansion as well as the multiple museums dedicated to the King of Rock ‘n Roll. The group then explored Memphis seeing important spots such as the hotel where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. That was followed by a visit to Sun Studios where the group got to hold the very microphone that many famous singers (among the likes of Johnny Cash, BB King, and Elvis) have used to record their hits.

Next stop: Nashville.

First, the group visited the Country Music Hall of Fame. The “Hall” had a tremendous impact on Schmidt who noted, “It was so cool and felt so ominous in there because of some of the incredible names on those walls; breathtaking.” The group then explored Nashville on foot and enjoyed hearing a different country song being played live out every open window. Their next stop was RCA Studio B. Per Schmidt: “That was the studio in which Elvis wrote and recorded over 250 of his songs. We sat in the room with all the original equipment and listened to Elvis sing ‘Are You Lonesome Tonight’ in the dark which was exactly how he recorded it. As a mood singer, he couldn't find the right light for the song, so he turned the lights off. I cried, it was so special to hear him in the place where it was actually recorded and to really just enjoy the music.”

Destination: Opryland.

The group enjoyed a musical riverboat cruise by day and attended a show at the Grand Ole' Opry by night. Schmidt recalled, “Now this was country music heaven. It was a big, beautiful theatre with huge rigging and incredible views from any seat, no matter how high up. It was so big and yet I felt like I was right next to the artist the whole time.”

Undoubtedly, the trip was memorable and filled with amazing experiences. Schmidt summed it up best: “I never knew I could fall in love with music again as easily as I did on this trip. My feelings about this trip involve nothing but gratitude. It was an incredible experience to be able to simply be in those iconic places let alone, touch, feel, and listen to some of the most incredible music, people and places in music history. I will never take this experience for granted and will never forget what it was like to fall in love with the art of music ever again.”

What’s happening MIDDLE SCHOOL

Change. It can be beautiful, hard, inspiring, painful, etc. Truthfully, it can be many things. Get ready, Xavier Middle School (XMS)! The new leadership used the summer to plan for some change. BUT, they are building on a strong foundation— recognizing and leaving what was already done well and making changes where they believe the school can do better, so we’re betting this change will be mostly beautiful and inspiring.

Sara Meyer is the “new” principal as she assumed the role last December after serving as the Associate Principal for the previous four years and as an XMS teacher prior to that. Bill Van Nuland, the new Associate Principal, was an XMS fifth grade teacher prior to his new role.

Together, Meyer and Van Nuland, worked diligently this summer on their vision and priorities for XMS. They are excited and refreshed to be looking forward and planning for the future. Both feel fortunate to have a great foundation from which to start. They spent considerable time evaluating the school’s positives and where they feel they can lead improvement. One main area of concentration will be helping the entire school community (students, teachers, staff, and the administrators themselves) grow in their faith. Meyer and Van Nuland want everyone to have the opportunity to practice being intentional Disciples of Christ. They will continue to place focus on the feast day of St. Francis Xavier and make it a day of service, but they have additional ideas in process.

Spend any amount of time with this leadership duo and you will quickly see that these two are the ultimate role models of servant leadership. They understand the importance of their role in serving the students, the teachers/staff, the parents, and all stakeholders. They truly want to do God’s will and do what is best for Xavier. They aim to build leaders around them; leaders in their staff and in their students. They also fully understand that middle school students are figuring out who they themselves are at this important juncture in their lives. Meyer and Van Nuland embrace their role of being these students’ champions, cheerleaders, and advocates. We all join in to cheer on the new leadership and their students during this pivotal and exciting time.

If we are being honest, we have historically had plenty of information to fill the pages of this magazine with accolades and accomplishments of our high school students. There are simply more opportunities for competition at that level. As we brainstormed for this issue of the magazine, we were blessed to hear a beautifully timed speech by XMS principal, Sara Meyer, who rattled through tons of accolades middle school students had earned last spring. She was beaming with pride as she spoke—pride for the students and their accomplishments and pride for her staff and all they do to support and provide opportunities for students. We are delighted to share that pride here.

XMS students have a long history of entering—and winning literary contests. To her credit, English teacher Jackie Bouchard helps budding writers hone their skills and enter writing contests. Several students were recognized for their writing this year.

Patriot's Pen Essay Contest

Ciara Simon ‘28, Grade 6 -- 1st place locally, 5th in the state

Wisconsin State Organization~Mary Jo Nettesheim State Literary and Illustrator Competition: Vivian Polakowski ‘29, Grade 5--2nd place locally Tessa Wallace ‘27, Grade 7--3rd place locally, 2nd place state Elizabeth Davis ‘27, Grade 7-- 2nd place locally, 3rd place state; Illustrator honorable mention

Catholic Daughters of the Americas Education Contest:

Sarah Zampoloni ‘29, Grade 5--2nd place for art and for essay

The Influential Women's Essay Contest: Mariel Ponte ‘26, Grade 8--1st place

Catholic Daughters of the Americas Scholarship Essay Contest: Abby Ourada ‘26, Grade 8

Regional German Speaking Contest

Not only are XMS students good at English, but they also excel in the German language! Last spring, Kristin Sass’ German language students competed in the Regional German Speaking contest. Students were required to memorize and recite a poem as well as do a spontaneous speaking presentation of information on a card. Twenty-four XMS students qualified for the state competition. In addition, all forty eighth grade students participated in the National German Exam this year. Allison Judd ’26 and Abigail Ourada ‘26, who scored in the 98th and 95th percentile, respectively, were awarded gold medals.

Math League

VEX Robotics

VEX continues to be a very popular extracurricular activity at XMS this past year and, with team successes abounding, that will likely continue into the future. XMS rostered twelve teams which involved 53 students and 24 parent coaches. Eight of those twelve teams qualified for and attended VEX Worlds in Dallas, Texas last spring.

At Worlds, the 5 Pandateers (5th grade team) won the Innovate Award, an award presented to a team with a specific, unique engineering element that demonstrates “outside the box” thinking. In addition, the Macaroons (also a 5th grade team) won the Think Award. This award goes to a team with impressive and effective autonomous programming. Congratulations to these Worlds award winners!

Congratulations to these team members (and their coaches!) on winning an award at VEX Worlds:

Isabella Knutson ‘29, Celeste Velasquez ‘29, Natalie Kirchner ‘29, Raya Zurfluh ‘29, Carradee Biesterveld ‘29, Kyle Severa ‘29, Grant Forst ‘29, Jonathan Forst ‘29, Quinten Clinefelter ‘29, and George Baldwin ‘29.

Coaches: Trevor Knutson, Ellen Biesterveld, Brian Severa, and Angie Clinefelter. Xavier Middle School Vex Moderators: Brian McKinnon and Suzie Kroner.

What’s happening ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

The Xavier Community is like a close-knit family, so it's only fitting that when substitute teachers are needed, moms come to the rescue! At McDonald Street campus, many have gladly stepped in to help over the last year. Not only have they happily given their time and showcased their expertise, but they doubled as both parents and excellent role models of servitude.

When Duty Calls

There has never been a greater need for substitute teachers than there is now, especially at the elementary level. For Caitlin Lingg, deciding to help was an easy decision, and ultimately, a very rewarding one.

"Substituting was a great way to do what I love, but part-time, still be able to stay home with my kids, and work around our schedule," said Lingg. Along with being a dedicated mom to Dax ‘34, 6, Eloise ‘36, 4, and Harvey, 1, Lingg holds a Masters in elementary education and an undergraduate degree in psychology.

Having taught first grade in St.Paul, Minnesota for five years, subbing was a great way to return to her core skills. "I knew I would enjoy substitute teaching because teaching is my background and it's where my heart is, outside of staying home with my kiddos," added Lingg, "it ended up being the perfect fit for me."

Like Lingg, mom of four, Michelle Hermus also helped on campus. "I have always thought about substitute teaching once my kids were all in school," said Hermus, "I was a teacher prior to staying home with my four kids and have subbed

by Jennifer Much

for other teachers in my school buildings. This was my first time subbing outside of the schools I worked in."

Hermus, who graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Education, has subbed for all elementary and middle school grades. She also has children who attend Xavier, including Carter ‘26, a freshman, Lauren ‘27, 8th grade, Jack ‘31, 4th grade, and Alexa ‘33, 2nd grade.

"I have really enjoyed the experience," said Hermus, "the staff at all of our Xavier campuses are so welcoming [and] teachers were extremely organized with sub plans which made my job easier."

A Cherished Connection

Both Lingg ('06) and Hermus ('99) are proud graduates of Xavier themselves. Along with sending their own children through the Xavier system, subbing has only strengthened their connection.

"I think sending my son, Dax, to Xavier was already a huge connection back to Xavier," said Lingg, "I would certainly say that [subbing] has connected me even more."

There are also fun memories that bring the experience full circle. "I think my favorite memory from this year is the kids learning who I was, but not always remembering my name," laughed Lingg. "Kids in the hall would just shout, "Hi, Mrs. Dax's mom!"

Most of all, subbing tugged at Lingg's heartstrings. "Dax thought that I was the coolest mom on the planet because I taught in his classroom," she said, "his sweet little face looking at me so proud because I was his mom and his teacher that day…I will remember that forever." Hermus also enjoyed helping at the schools her own children were attending. "There are so many great memories subbing," said Hermus, "the one that sticks out the most is getting big hugs from my own kids in the hallways!"

Praising the Passion

Not only does substituting facilitate learning for students, it can inspire personal growth, instill a sense of accomplishment, and fulfill the passion to help through teaching others.

"It's a great way to stay active professionally while maintaining flexibility for your family," said Hermus, "I would encourage other moms to sub in the Xavier school system."

Lingg agrees."I get to go into a class, have everything planned out and really enjoy my time with the students," she added. "I already convinced one of my friends to start subbing. It's a great opportunity to get to know the staff, the kids that attend your child's school, and it is a whole lot of fun!"

Sometimes, helping requires a shift in dynamics and a little creativity. Both are welcomed attributes at Xavier.

"There was a morning where the school was extra short on substitute teachers, Mrs. Tapelt had sent me a message asking if I could sub for the day, but I didn't have anyone to watch my two younger kids right away," said Lingg. Instead of declining, Lingg asked to briefly bring them with until her sister-in-law could pick them up.

Like a true super mom, Lingg wore her then 9-month-old Harvey, and her daughter entertained herself as things were getting prepared for the day.

"It was really cool of Mrs. Tapelt to be so accommodating," added Lingg.

Both Hermus and Lingg plan to continue subbing and encourage others to become substitutes, too. "Any parent who steps in and helps in the Xavier school community helps children to make faith-filled choices on a daily basis," said Hermus.

"Children learn behaviors by watching and listening," noted Lingg, "what better way to help their faith shine than by your child seeing you in their school, praying, teaching religion, and going to Mass with them."

Those interested in becoming a substitute teacher should speak with the school principal and submit an application on the Wisconsin Education Career Access Network (WECAN) at www.wecan.waspa.org.

moms, you truly are our heros!)

Mrs. Hermus substitute teaching a first grade class.

Mrs. Lingg with her children Dax, Eloise, and Harvey.

Marquette

After 10 years leading the St. Francis Xavier Elementary-Marquette Street campus, principal Mrs. Laura Barnett decided to stay a little closer to home (she commuted from Stevens Point) and enjoy a welldeserved retirement. She looks forward to spending more time with her beloved family and staying off the roads! We thank her for her leadership and care over the years.

Our Xavier community is excited to welcome the new principal, Mrs. Tina Fairweather. Fairweather brings previous experience as an elementary principal, assistant principal, and Kindergarten teacher. She completed her Master’s degree in Educational Administration this past summer. Fairweather looks forward to getting to know all students and families of the Marquette Street campus community and working together this year and for years to come.

Over the past few years, we’ve worked to enhance our STEM initiatives at our elementary campuses. Guided by our mission and our commitment to academic excellence and the individual growth of our students, we’ve sought ways to enhance teaching and learning in the STEM domains of: science, technology, math & engineering. In fact, Xavier has expanded this approach with our X-STREAM initiatives to include: science; technology; religion; engineering; the arts; and math. Our multidisciplinary X-STREAM program seeks to offer rich, hands-on activities that engage students in meaningful learning.

At the elementary level, we’ve integrated Project Lead the Way (PLTW) units at each grade level–kindergarten through Grade 4. For example, in the unit on Animal Adaptations our 1st Graders explore animal adaptations for protection, camouflage and gathering of food. They learn what it means for an organism to be adapted to its environment and how different adaptations can be categorized. Students are introduced to

a design challenge when fictional student, Suzi, announces she is visiting the Sahara and needs to get prepared for her trip. Students are challenged to design the ideal shoe for travelers to wear in extreme environments, applying what they have learned and looking to plant and animal adaptations to guide their designs.

Engaging units are integrated across our elementary grades and help prepare students for PLTW units at Xavier Middle School and our range of Pre-Engineering courses at Xavier High School. In February 2020, to help develop and foster these initiatives, Xavier assembled a STEM Advisory Group. Like so many initiatives, the work of the group was impacted by COVID. However, we look forward to re-engaging and reassembling our STEM Advisory Group in Fall 2022. If you or your business would like to help support our STEM initiatives, please contact our Superintendent, Dr. John Ravizza at jravizza@ xaviercatholicschools.org

"I initiated this multilingual family project in response to societal dynamics in recent years - resurgences of anti-immigrant sentiment, xenophobia, white supremacist activity, and our recent period of blocking many refugees from resettling here. (I never would have foreseen the word 'refugee' eliciting any emotional reaction other than compassion!)

This year, the theme was "Strong Minds and Strong Hearts." The kids' response was really enthusiastic and fun. Along with figures of students, I posted signs listing benefits of multilingualism, including in logic and problem solving, math, decision making, broader opportunities for making friends and finding jobs, and diminishing risk of Alzheimer's. To add to the "cool" factor, a dozen famous people were also included, such as Malala, Maya Angelou, Einstein, Nelson Mandela, Sonia Sotomayor, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Stephanie Kwolek (inventor of kevlar), Shakira, Aung San Suu Kyi, Tim Tebow, Kobe Bryant, and other human rights workers, inventors, entertainers and athletes. The phrase "Strong Minds and Strong Hearts" was put up in the languages spoken by students at each campus, along with translations of the verse from Psalm 139:14, "I am fearfully and wonderfully made."

These projects capture the center of my heart for my students: as someone who's lived in Slovakia, Chile, and Algeria, where I stuck out as a foreigner, I want students to know that although having an immigrant background brings with it some challenges, being multilingual and multicultural are strengths - and that they themselves are amazing treasures, possessing inviolable dignity, loved by God and a shining gift to those around them."

Byline: Madeline Brege - ELL teacher

Fun

spoken by XCS students' families: Spanish, Kinyarwanda, Kinyamulenge, Vietnamese, Nepali, Twi, Swahili, Polish, French, Hmong, Turkish, Burmese, Swahili, Malayalam, Russian, Farsi, Chuukese, Pohnpei, Tamil, Kannada, Mooré, Tagalog, Filipino, Hindi, Darija, German,

Jeff Stary

Grade Teacher

It has truly been a pleasure and an honor to serve our system for the past 37 years. I began my teaching career at St. Thomas More in 1985, two years prior to the creation of the middle school. Being a part of the formation of St. Joe’s/XMS was exciting and it’s been amazing to see how the system has grown throughout the years. During my time here I have been blessed to have been able to share my faith with our students as well as coaching football and track. I have also had the honor of teaching the children of and working with many former students. I will miss all of you and will cherish the memories of my time here forever.

Lisa Schultz | 35 years, Physical Education- XES McDonald St

The time has come for me to hang up my sneakers and say good-bye to my school family and community. It has been a wonderful career surrounded by wonderful people. Thank you for entrusting me with your children the last 35 years and having them share their love of physical activity with me. I will miss their smiles and laughter and their willingness to try new things. They have been such an important part of my professional life. I have watched for many years my students grow into successful young adults. It has been such a joy now seeing their children growing and maturing in the very same way.

This has been a fantastic job and I am thankful for the privilege of making memories with all of you. God has truly blessed me!

As we go out throughout our lives, may we stay grounded and rooted in His Word. God's goodness is in all of us! Let us continue to share his gifts with those around us! My love for McDonald Street Campus is forever! Until we meet again!

Sonja Giesen | 31 years, Educational Technology Specialist

My journey in the Xavier IT department has been amazing these past 31 years. Being a part of the technology growth and being able to share the technology with the students and staff has been incredibly rewarding. I have truly enjoyed my time with the Xavier System and am so thankful for such a supportive staff and community.

Though I will be sad to be leaving, I am so excited to start the next chapter in my life.

Laura Barnett | 10 years, Principal- XES Marquette St

When I graduated from college, my first job was at St. Francis Xavier Grade School in Cross Plains, WI. As I complete my career, I am proud to do so as the principal of St. Francis Xavier Elementary School— Marquette Campus. As an educator, having St. Francis Xavier stand as the patron and the bookends of my teaching career is a blessing indeed.

I thank everyone for the kindness, support and prayers you have offered to me over these past 10 years. People have often asked me why I would want to drive an hour each way, coming from Stevens Point to work for Xavier Catholic Schools in Appleton. The answer has always been an easy one—when you work in a truly exceptional place surrounded by exceptional students, staff and families, the drive never seemed that long. It has been an honor to be a part of the Xavier family.

Ron Lohse | 28 years, Math Teacher – Xavier High School

I want to say that my 28 years here at Xavier High School have been some of the best years of my life. The opportunity to work and grow with my amazing colleagues has been remarkable. The chance to make an impact on thousands of students during my time here has been wonderful.

Thank you to ALL of you who have made such a positive influence on my life and the lives of all the thousands of members of the Xavier community.

God Bless!!

Debby (Van Schyndel) Welch ‘84 | 16 years, Music- XES Marquette St

Xavier Catholic Schools has been the foundation of so much happiness in my life. I cherish many wonderful memories as an alumna, parent, volunteer, and employee of XCS. I am proud to have worked with so many talented and dedicated administrators, teachers, and aides. I am proud to call them my friends. I am also thrilled to have played a small role in educating such wonderful children during my 16 years of teaching at XCS. The Xavier community is special. While I may be retiring from teaching, I will always hold the Xavier community close to my heart.

O

ver the years, the generosity of the Xavier community has transformed the lives of students by providing amazing experiences. Gifts to support scholarships, academics, athletics, fine arts, technology, and operations have all been central to our commitment of excellence. To ensure this success, we must continue to invest in a wide range of giving priorities, including endowment and annual gifts.

Endowment gifts are a permanent, self-sustaining source of funding that are essential for long-term financial stability. These gifts position Xavier to achieve its potential and thrive both now and into the future. Endowment gifts are housed within various funds through the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Schools Foundation and provide a steady and integral stream of revenue to the system each year. Currently, the Xavier Foundation oversees 101 individual funds with the largest portion of dollars supporting scholarships and tuition assistance.

With the introduction and increase of funding from the Wisconsin Parental Choice Program and with additional scholarship funds made available through donors and outside foundations, the Xavier Foundation feels that funding for scholarships and tuition assistance is strong and that the opportunity to receive a Xavier education is more accessible than ever.

The Foundation feels that now is the time to focus and concentrate on securing long-term resources to support the following areas:

Securing the resources necessary to ensure that Xavier is attracting and maintaining quality teachers and staff is our system's number one priority. This entails offering competitive salary and benefit packages and giving staff the necessary resources of time, classroom support, and other assistance so that they may focus on teaching and making sure that each child is valued.

The challenge Xavier faces in the future is to create relevant learning experiences that mirror students’ daily lives and the reality of their future. Learning can no longer be confined to the years we spend in school or the hours we spend in the classroom: it must be lifelong and available on demand.

Enhancing our facilities will increase our potential. When you take the passion and knowledge of the Xavier staff, and its relevant learning experiences, and empower it with the most up-to-date facilities, it leads to advancement that our community has not seen.

These gifts provide a vital source of revenue to fund the day-today operations of Xavier. They are the critical bridge, filing the gap between tuition and the actual cost of educating a Xavier student. As an annual source of support, they help to finance everything from academic programs to campus ministry, from the arts to athletics, and foster success.

Annual gifts include numerous individual donations that when combined together, form the single largest gift Xavier receives each year. They include all donations that benefactors make to the Xavier Fund, at Celebrate, and on Xavier Day.

The St. Francis Xavier Catholic Schools Foundation wishes to announce that two anonymous donors have recently established a new fund within the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Schools Foundation to recognize the hard work and dedication of our Xavier elementary faculty and staff. Beginning in 2022 the “Xavier Elementary Teacher Appreciation Fund” will augment the pay of teachers and staff at the Xavier Elementary campuses. Each year a portion of the initial gift will be divided among each eligible employee based on their years of service. In making this gift, the generous donors wished to show their appreciation and gratitude to a special group of individuals who are committed to making a difference in the lives of children.

Xavier Catholic Schools is blessed and truly grateful to have individuals willing to share their gifts with others. If you are interested in making a contribution to this fund or establishing a fund within the Xavier Foundation, please contact Bob Biebel at bbiebel@xaviercatholicschools.org or at (920) 735-9380 ext. 5502.

If you would like to make a gift to one of these areas of priority, please visit xaviercatholicschools.org/giving. To make a gift using a digital wallet payment (Venmo, Paypal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay), scan the QR code below.

For a complete listing of the 101 funds within the Xavier Foundation, scan the QR Code or visit to www.xaviercatholicschools.org/giving/xavierfoundation

The Xavier Foundation is thrilled to announce its 101st fund!

Leading a student discussion in 1973

Father Jack Mullarkey has spent his life serving God and Xavier High School was fortunate enough to also have him serve at Xavier for seven of those years. Father Jack came to Xavier High School in 1969 as a Religion teacher. When he began, he taught on both ends of the age spectrum as he had three sections of seniors and two sections of freshmen. It wasn’t long before he assumed an administration role in addition to his teaching duties. He was young and liked the challenge. Brother Henry Powers and Father Jack were co-administrators. Brother Henry was essentially the principal and handled things inside the building and Father Jack was the administrator in charge of items such as finances, recruitment, parish relations, etc. Both administrator roles were probably considered full-time job, but both also still taught half-time.

At the time things were changing quickly and there was a lot of growth in the area. When Xavier High School was started, there were what was considered four core parishes: St. Therese, Sacred Heart, St. Mary’s, and St. Joe’s. Father Jack was focused on how to improve all Catholic education and he went before the Diocesan Education Committee and requested that the eight Appleton parishes support Xavier High School, which was approved. These eight parishes are still supportive today along with sixteen regional partner parishes. Father Jack also helped in standardizing some of the elementary school practices, pay, etc. Those steps really laid the foundation for what would become ACES Xavier Educational System.

In 1971, Fr. Jack was one of four faculty members elected by students to facilitate Community Council

In addition to being an administrator and teacher, Father Jack wore many additional Xavier hats. He was a golf coach, helped with Key club, recruited others to help start Food Fair, an auction, etc. As a golf coach, he took teams to state and he still enjoys playing the game today! Father Jack also started a Saturday basketball league for boys who wanted to play basketball, but not be in the formal school varsity program. Students created their own teams, he placed them into divisions (based on grade) and they played on Saturdays—usually three games at a time as it was a popular activity for about 150 male students. In addition to a busy life around school, Father Jack would help out at local parishes whenever and wherever there was a need.

“I will always treasure my time spent with our Catholic schools. The sacrifices which are made to provide our Catholic schools are an important part of any healthy parish. Thanks for your support in the past and in the future.”

- Father Jack Mullarkey

In 1976, Brother Henry was going to be leaving Xavier. Father Jack was offered to take over all administration, but he missed having a parish, so opted to leave education and go back to having a parish. Dave Hussey was hired as principal, and then in 1985 Bill O’Brien was hired as an administrator, and ACES Xavier Educational System was formed. Father Jack moved to Marinette where he remained the priest for eleven years. He didn’t completely leave school life behind as he coached golf there as well. From Marinette, he went to Holy Cross in Kaukauna for 21 years until his retirement in 2007. Since then he has been a sacramental minister at St. Rose and St. Mary Parishes in Clintonville and Bear Creek. In addition, he was most recently

a priest celebrant at St. Thomas More Parish in Appleton. He has now stepped away from this last role and many refer to him “retiring again”. He is enjoying this new chapter of his life. It remains to be seen if he will stay retired this time or if he will be called to serve again.

Xavier thanks Father Jack for his leadership and service here, for his service at all of the parishes since, and for his unwavering support of Catholic education. Ever the staunch supporter of Catholic education, in his parting bulletin writing as he ended his time at St. Thomas More this summer, he wrote, “I will always treasure my time spent with our Catholic schools. The sacrifices which are made to provide our Catholic schools are an important part of any healthy parish. Thanks for your support in the past and in the future.” Not only is Father Jack’s heart with God, it is with being an advocate for Catholic education. When asked for a final thought when discussing this magazine article, Father Jack said that he looks back on his time at Xavier fondly. He was definitely busy and challenged, but he believed in what he was doing and in “his kids”. Well said by a man whose life is well spent.

Fr. Jack with the boys’ golf team in 1976

The class of 1970 invited Fr. Jack to their 50th reunion last October, which he attended and also provided the prayer before dinner.

Share your next adventure with us! Whether traveling out of state or abroad, make an “X” with your arms, snap a photo and email it to xmagazine@xaviercatholicschools.org. You may appear in the next publication.

Jeff Bettag '17, Carolyn Bettag '18, Sue Briski, Jane Thomas (both retired Xavier teachers), Katie Bettag '22, Anna Bettag '25 show off their Xavier pride at Anna Ma ria Island, Florida while on spring break.

Tom Wiltzius ‘65 visits with Marinus Nijman in the Netherlands. Tom and Marinus became fast friends at The Hague when in the armies of their respective countries. They visit each other with their families every few years.

While visiting relatives in Koudougou, Burkina Faso, William Abraham Rouamba ‘31 and Wyatt Ayden Rouamba ’26 capture a photo in front of the king Palace.

Michaela Lavalle ‘26 snapped this photo while on a whale watching cruise off the coast of Maine. No whales were sighted, but they did see a pod of dolphins.

James Hendricks '67 proudly represents Xavier on a beach at his wife’s former high school location in Moclips, Washington.

Katy Masak (retired Xavier teacher) proudly makes an “X” while on a boat in the Sea of Galilee. Katy visited the Holy Land in February.

Skipp Green '67, who resides in Maine, was visiting his sister, Ginny (Green) McGhee '69, in Appleton over Easter weekend. They proudly took along their Xavier pride at a local restaurant.

Christian Casimir '20 recently studied the various coral reefs in Grenada as part of her studies for Marine Biology through Wisconsin Lutheran College.

In May, Emma Miller '17 who is in the Disney College Program enjoyed a visit from mom, Tricia Miller (not pictured), and sister Sophia Miller '27, along with friends Maggie (Wallace) Reader ‘13, Tessa Wallace ‘27 and Catherine (Colling) Wallace ‘88.

The Flanagan family snapped this photo while visiting Phoenix, Arizona over summer break.

Mrs. Suzie Kroner proudly made an “X” while at the Cliffs of Moher. She and her husband, Dennis, visited Ireland and Scotland this summer.

Owen ’36 and Eleanora Koeppl ’34 are all smiles while making their X’s on the London Bridge in Lake Havasu City, Arizona.

John Lohrbach ’26 makes an “X” at Mt. Nebo while on a trip to the Holy Land.

Maximus Vysotski ‘34 shows off his Xavier pride while vacationing at Atlantis in the Bahamas.

It was a Costa Rican adventure for a group of high school students and Doctora Kempen as they spent ten days learning local culture, language, and enjoying the beautiful beaches and rain forest. This photo was captured with the Arenal Volcano in the background.

In July, a group of Xavier high school students spent a week in San Francisco de Piriati, Panama, with Courts for Kids, a nonprofit which builds basketball courts for local communities in over 30 countries. Scan the QR code to read a detailed reflection written by Olivia Wagner ’23 about the group’s experience.

1600 W. Prospect Avenue

WI 54914

With the online Xavier Spirit Store, you can order your gear at any time! We have partnered with Gunderson Image Wear to provide you with a variety of options for men, women, children, and our tiniest Hawks to display Xavier pride. Choose to pick up your purchase at the campus your child attends, or, you can pay to have it delivered to your home.

As an added bonus, a percentage of every purchase is donated to the Home & School Association and the Booster Club. Thank you Gunderson Image Wear for donating an additional 10% of purchases to each of these support organizations!

SCAN HERE AND BEGIN SHOPPING FOR YOUR XAVIER GEAR!