Meet Our New President!
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ANNUAL REPORT EDITION THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE XAVIER FOUNDATION MEET OUR NEW PRESIDENT! CHRIS MCCARVILLE (R97) COMES HOME TO TAKE THE REINS AS XAVIER’S PRESIDENT 2018-2019 DONOR LISTINGS NEW WEBSITE: XAVIERSAINTS.ORG ALUMNI NEWS & MORE 2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT EXPERIENCE OUR NEW WEBSITE: XAVIERSAINTS.ORG XAVIER FOUNDATION | FALL 2019 COMMON THREAD | 2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT 1 FROM THE FOUNDATION BOARD CHAIR THANK YOU! As I reflect back on the past As these challenges come to completion and the weather year it can be said that it’s begins to change we put away our football cleats and put had its share of challenges. on our dancing shoes as we get excited for another night of But often it’s these challeng- Dancing with the Saints. Heidi Brown has done an incredible es that push us to succeed job in organizing this wildly successful night. Last year’s event and become better. From raised over $150,000 for Xavier High School’s teachers and finding a new president to staff benefits. figuring out how to rebrand an appeal to staying up to I’m always amazed at the generosity of the Xavier community. date on our facilities wants Without your support and generous giving, Xavier wouldn’t and needs. Yes, challenges be able to offer the high level of catholic education it does. were all around us. I believe Xavier is truly blessed. God helped us meet and exceed these challenges – all for the greater good of Xavier With a year of the new president/principal model under our High School. belts, both Xavier boards agree that it has been very success- ful. The communication between the Foundation Board and A couple highlights from the past year include the hiring of School Board has aligned us in a way to better identify and Xavier’s 2nd President. As we acknowledge and thank outgo- meet the challenges Xavier faces. The president and principal ing president, Tom Keating, we welcome in new president, have very distinct and different job descriptions that at their Chris McCarville. Chris is an extraordinary individual with true core, instill “total Catholicity” throughout the school. passion for Xavier. We’re excited about Xavier’s future with Chris at the helm. We also recognize the issues Xavier will be facing in the future. We’ve helped to identify them and we’ll be rolling out Late last fall, our Development Director, Mary Harken, came our 2030 vision that will help guide us to meet these upcom- up with the idea for rebranding our Alumni Appeal into For- ing needs. The Xavier Foundation Board is active and full of ever Saints Day. With the help of a volunteer sub-committee, energy, always striving to figure out how to meet today’s chal- this idea turned into a plan which was implemented in April: lenges while keeping an eye on tomorrow! A one-day livestream marathon at Xavier. It was a huge suc- cess and generated over $80,000….in one day! On behalf of the Xavier Foundation Board, thank you for being so generous! Throughout the year important maintenance needs were met. These included a new roof for the school and a new parking lot for students/faculty and staff. A big facility project includ- David Schimberg (R91) ed the installation of new field turf on Saints Field which will Chair, Xavier Foundation Board benefit the football team, marching band, dance team and soccer teams. 2 EXPERIENCE OUR NEW WEBSITE: XAVIERSAINTS.ORG XAVIER FOUNDATION | FALL 2019 COMMON THREAD | 2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT FROM THE PRESIDENT THANK YOU! THE XAVIER DIFFERENCE As Xavier enters it’s 21st But perhaps what I’m most proud of as president is Xavier year of existence, we are stands for Jesus. We are the only high school in the Cedar now at a point in our history Rapids metro area centered around Christ. There is no other where our record speaks for high school in the area which has Jesus as the core of every- itself. Be it academic excel- thing it does. In a world which increasingly needs more of lence, unparalleled extra Jesus’ presence, Xavier provides that atmosphere. Teenagers and co-curricular activities, today are bombarded with messages contrary to Christ. We or certainly, continuing to are proud to be steadfast in our mission to develop the total build God’s Kingdom here person in a Catholic environment. on earth, Xavier unmistak- ably stands out. As a 1997 graduate of Regis High School, and former theology teacher Read our How do our students per- at Xavier, I’ve enjoyed seeing our form academically? Xavier’s average ACT score is 23.9, with school blossom into one of Iowa’s Q&A 91 percent of our seniors taking the exam. 60 percent of our best. The message I’ve continually with juniors and seniors are enrolled in AP level courses. In addi- delivered since starting my posi- President tion to AP courses, our students have the opportunity to dual tion this past July is simple; “Be the McCarville on enroll and earn credits at St. Louis University, the University of absolute best.” This is the reputation Iowa and Kirkwood Community College. We are proud of the we’ve earned dating back to 1998. I Page 30 reputation Xavier has earned over the years as one of Iowa’s look forward to Xavier becoming even top academic schools. stronger as we continue to fine-tune our “Vision 2030” 10-Year Plan. It’s hard to get “lost in the cracks” at Xavier. 98 percent of our students are involved in a co-curricular activity and all of our Thank you for your support in helping to provide this amazing students perform community service each year. Our Perform- experience to our students. Current parents, former parents, ing and Visual Arts are Division I caliber. And since opening in alumni and countless benefactors sacrifice so much to give 1998, Xavier has averaged nearly two athletic championships our students the best possible high school experience. Your each year. The expectation at Xavier is to be involved and continual generosity does not go unnoticed and we are most contribute. We want our students to experience the livelihood appreciative. and tradition of excellence we’ve developed over the years. May God continue to bless you and Xavier High School. Go Saints! Chris McCarville (R97) President, Xavier High School @CRXPres | [email protected] View regular video updates from President McCarville in the “President’s Corner” at XAVIERSAINTS.ORG/PRESIDENT EXPERIENCE OUR NEW WEBSITE: XAVIERSAINTS.ORG XAVIER FOUNDATION | FALL 2019 COMMON THREAD | 2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT 3 UPDATES FROM XAVIER HIGH SCHOOL FIRST ON THE TURF DONOR-FUNDED RESURFACING PROJECT FOR SAINTS FIELD IS NOW COMPLETE. Aerial shot by Caleb Howard (L97) of Saints Field from the first home football game played on the newly- resurfaced Saints Field. Xavier defeated Iowa City Regina 35-0 in the contest. On August 30th, the Xavier community celebrated the official unveiling of the much-anticipated resurfaced Saints PASSION & RESOURCES: Field as Xavier Football defeated Iowa City Regina by a A COMBINATION FOR A LASTING DIFFERENCE score of 35-0. This project was made possible through the generosity of multiple generous donors. Beyond the Xavier is always looking for ways it can further improve its obvious visual appeal, the new field offers a multitude of offerings for current and future students. If there is a benefits to Xavier athletic, fine arts and fitness & wellness student-oriented program you are passionate about and would like programs in addition to an annual savings on mainte- to be a part of enhancing or creating at Xavier (or you would like to nance costs. Ground was broken on May 6th and, despite learn more about the current needs Xavier has), we encourage you a wet spring, the project was completed in time for the to reach out to us! Please contact Chris McCarville, XHS president, 2019-2020 school year. at 319-294-6635 or [email protected] to find out how you can make a difference. 4 EXPERIENCE OUR NEW WEBSITE: XAVIERSAINTS.ORG XAVIER FOUNDATION | FALL 2019 COMMON THREAD | 2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT RESPECT LIFE DISPLAY October is “Respect Life Month.” This school year, XHS seniors “walked for life” as part of Respect Life ac- tivities at Xavier. Each senior was given a set of blue and pink flags to plant in the ground. Each of the 4,000 flags planted represents a life lost daily due to the failure to uphold the sanctity of human dignity (in any condition and at any stage). Each senior was asked to reflect quietly upon the “lives” in his/her hands as they walked silently ... and how he/she can be a “Saint in the world,” serving as a voice for the voiceless and a force for the disenfranchised. MARCHING SAINTS EARN SEVENTH-STRAIGHT DIVISION I RATING AT STATE The Xavier Marching Band earned its seventh consecutive Di- LIGHTING THE NIGHT FOR HOMECOMING! vision I rating at the 2019 state band competition with a score Xavier celebrated its 2019 Homecoming with a series of festivi- of 83.5, a school record for scoring. ties including a “glow-in-the-dark” pep rally and traditional bonfire that was lit by our 2019 Homecoming queen Ellie Tanko The 2019 Marching Saints also established another school (X20) and king, Noah Fischels (X20). Members of the dance record by earning the program’s first outright top finish at team, cheer squad, football team and the entire marching band a band competition. The Saints placed first at CR Prairie’s visited Xavier Catholic School elementary and middle schools “Bands Across the Prairie” event.