| Good afternoon, It is great to finally be back in school after our "midwinter" break. Our students have quickly adjusted and our preparing for exams, which will take place next Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, March 4-6. If you see me in the near future, you will notice that I am attempting to grow a beard (somewhat unsuccessfully). I am doing this, along with many students, faculty, and staff, as part of Mustache March. Proceeds will benefit The Karen Wellington Foundation, which supports families living with cancer. Thank you to Matt Keith and Student Council for organizing this event. The Language Honor Society that was cancelled last week has been rescheduled for Wednesday, March 10. Congratulations to all the young men who will be honored. Thanks to Greg Lamping and the other members of the Language department for planning this event. Good luck to our swim team who is competing at the OHSAA championships today and tomorrow in Canton, OH after winning the District championships last week. Thanks to Jim Brower and his coaches for their excellent leadership. Freshman parents received an email last week and a reminder this week asking them to complete an iPad survey. Please take five minutes to complete this survey. The data will help us we continue to look to improve the program. Thanks for your continued support. Terry Tyrrell Principal
X-TRAVAGANZA NEWS 
New in 2015: Student Internship Online Auction A limited number of student internships will be offered for online bidding from March 8 - 16, with the proceeds benefiting X-Travaganza. Watch for more information next week on this opportunity for students to gain real world perspective on potential careers! 2015 Grand Raffle In addition to the chance for cash prizes, your Grand Raffle ticket purchase directly benefits tuition assistance. This year, funds benefited 34% of our students, helping to make a St. X education available to many deserving students who may not otherwise have this opportunity. Grand Raffle tickets can still be purchased online or by mail until March 13. The Grand Prizes of $20,000, $10,000 and $5,000 are awarded during the X-Travaganza event on Saturday, March 14. Winners need not be present to win. Only 2500 Grand Raffle tickets are sold. Purchase your tickets online by March 13: Grand Raffle Tickets. Join us for X-Travaganza weekend: Opening Party March 13 and X-Travaganza March 14
Opening Party (formerly called First Night) is Friday, March 13, 7 - 10 p.m.
Opening Party tickets are still available online until March 10!
X-Travaganza may be sold out, but you can still join us for some superhero action at Friday evening’s Opening Party! Themed “X Supermen” for 2015, Opening Party offers food, drinks, basket raffles and silent auction items, and also includes a performance from some of St. X’s real supermen – the St. X Drumline. Enjoy a Lenten buffet dinner, desserts and beverages, including wine, beer and soft drinks, while connecting with old friends and meeting new ones. The Basket Raffles include a Lottery Ticket Tree, a Restaurant Gift Card Tree, a Bourbon Basket and many others. Additional raffles include the Reds Box Raffle (suite seats!), Reverse Raffle, Split the Pot, Rapid Raffle and a new $1000 Tuition Credit Raffle, sure to be a hot ticket. As with all X-Travaganza events, proceeds fund educational programs to directly benefit the students.
Opening Party admission is $30 per person if purchased by the online registration deadline of March 10. Tickets will be available at the door for $40 each. Registrations for Opening Party can only be placed online at: www.stxavier.org/openingparty. Thank you for supporting X-Travaganza!
X-Travaganza 2015: Saturday, March 14 -- SOLD OUT!
Thanks to an overwhelming response from St. X parents, alumni and friends, X-Travaganza 2015: SUPERHEROES: Xploring Truth, Justice and the Jesuit Way has sold out in record time! For those lucky enough to snag seats, you can start planning how to score some of this year’s out-of-this-world Live Auction items:
- 10-day Italian Holiday for four
- OTR Pedal Wagon Pub Crawl for 15
- Bengals Behind-the-Scenes Stadium Tour for six
- Romantic Trip to Dromoland Castle, Ireland for two
- 2015 MLB All-Star Event tickets
- Taylor Swift 1989 World Tour Concert Suite for 18
- Bourbon Trail for 10
With more than 500 items, Silent Auction includes something for everyone, from a “Fighting Irish” neon sign; “Big Green Egg” Grill/Smoker; tickets for sports fans, including Reds, Bengals, Notre Dame and more; many restaurant gift cards and one-of-a-kind St. X items. X-Travaganza serves as evidence that superheroes do exist: this incredible event is orchestrated almost entirely by over 900 volunteers and St. X supporters. Thank you for supporting X-Travaganza and St. X! X-Travaganza is now on Facebook (X-Travaganza) and Twitter (@StXTrav). Follow us today! 
MOTHERS' CLUB FRESHMAN MOMS CLICK HERE - TODAY is the deadline to apply for a Class of 2018 Mothers’ Club board seat. We share our time and energy with the St. X community for the purpose of supporting our school and we form long-standing friendships with each other, faculty, staff and administration in the process. We are looking for the most diverse Board possible – talents, geographical locations, backgrounds, experiences, and sons’ interests. Don’t miss the opportunity - your only chance to apply is your son’s freshman year. What can the Mothers’ Club Boutique create with your donated wine bottles  and tiles? Lanterns, candles, and coasters! To donate your empty wine bottles (especially unusual designs) or black tiles, please contact Pam Rieke at Pam_r@fuse.net. Mark your calendar for Spring Boutique on Wednesdays (April 15 through May 20) from 8 a.m. until noon on South Campus. Sophomore moms SIGN UP NOW to help feed 400 hungry sophomores! The St. X Navigators provide a light breakfast for their sophomore homerooms and they need LOTS of donuts, fruit, and orange juice. Donation drop off is the morning of Thursday, March 12, but we appreciate your commitment now. Xperience the community! Upcoming dates of note: 1. Friday, February 27 - Class of 2018 Mothers’ Club Board Applications due – see above for details. 2. Monday, March 2, 8:15 a.m., Chapel of the Holy Companions – Mothers’ Club Mass & Coffee. Please join us! All are welcome – no RSVP needed! 3. Thursday, March 12, 7 a.m. – 9:15 a.m., Main Lobby and Ellis Gym Lobby – drop off for Sophomore Homeroom Navigator Breakfast Have questions? Please e-mail mothersclub@stxavier.org. Join us on Facebook at St. Xavier Mothers’ Club and Twitter @XMothersClub!
COMMUNITY SERVICE NEWS
Thanks to everyone who brought-in clothes for the annual Winter Clothing Drive. Dozens of large bags of clothes were collected for those in need. Final Mission Trip rosters will be distributed following exams. Service program reflections continue throughout the second semester. These are good opportunities for your sons to process their experiences of working with people in need. As always, thanks to our many parent chaperones who help to make the service programs successful. We are grateful for your support. NEXT WEEK'S MISSION COLLECTION (Tuesday, March 3rd) will benefit the work of the Jesuit Missions in Africa, India, and Peru. Thanks in advance for your support.
PARENT & ALUMNI BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP The Joy of the Gospel by Pope Francis will be presented and discussed  on Feb. 19 (Intro, Ch. 1), Feb. 26 (Ch. 2), March 5 (Ch. 3), and March 19 (Ch. 4-5) from 7:30-9 p.m. at St. Xavier H.S. You may download the document on the vatican.va website, or purchase the book on your own. E-mail Fr. Paul O’Connor, SJ at poconnor@stxavier.org if you can attend one or more of these sessions. You will definitely enjoy this experience!
FAMILY MENTORING UPDATE
Many thanks for your willingness to volunteer to mentor new families as they transition into St. Xavier High School. Sixty-one amazing families expressed an interest. Unfortunately, this email was sent out prematurely and the school had not identified who is responsible for running this program and other issues around size and scope have not been discussed yet. Therefore, the administration has decided to cancel the program for next school year.
The significant response from families has not been lost on us. The great interest has identified an area that the school needs to explore to see if a future parent mentoring program is needed. It is important that the school takes the needed to time to determine the size and scope of a future program so that new programs are not duplicating the efforts of already established initiatives.
Please contact John Ravenna jravenna@stxavier.org if you have any comments, questions or concerns.
ORDER YOUR X-RAY YEARBOOK TODAY!
X-Ray Yearbook Each of the past four years the X-Ray yearbook has sold out. Families who wanted a copy have not been able to purchase one, because they waited too long to place their order.
If you place your order by April 20, you are guaranteed a copy of the 2015 X-Ray. Go to www.YearbookOrderCenter.com to order your X-Ray now. You can use our order number (13609) or the name of the school to begin your order.
SUMMER COURSE REGISTRATION
PE Summer Course for current St. X students
This course is only offered to current St. X freshmen, sophomores, and juniors. Students were given information in their classes this year as well as scheduling assemblies. The dates are May 29-June 18. For more information, have your son see Don DiGiacomo with any questions.
Physical Education Summer School Form
Summer Advancement Math Courses for current St. X students
Students may take Geometry in the summer to advance levels in mathematics (teacher permission is required, please have your son see his Math teacher for more information).
The dates are as follows:
June 1-July 3: Session #1, 11-2pm
June 29-July 31: Session #2, 9-12pm
Cost: $350
THE ST. XAVIER ADVANTAGE Men for Others Congratulations to the Culinary Club who raised $171 through a Chocolate  Bake Sale! The proceeds from the sale go towards the purchase of food for the club members to prepare dinner at the Ronald McDonald House. | | To report a student absent please dial 513-761-7815. Choose option number 9 then option number 1. UPCOMING SCHEDULES
Wednesday, March 4 – Exam Day Thursday, March 5 – Exam Day Friday, March 6 – Exam Day Thursday, March 12 – Late X Day Friday, March 13 – Late Y Day UPCOMING EVENTS Monday, March 9 – Faculty In-Service Day – no classes Friday, March 13 – X-Travaganza Opening Party Saturday, March 14 – X-Travaganza SCHOOL CALENDAR
THIRD QUARTER EXAM SCHEDULE Third quarter exams will take place March 4-6. Read the schedule HERE.
IGNITING OUR VALUES
Igniting Our Values is an online program of prayers, Scripture, and reflections that explores our Ignatian tradition. This program is only during Lent and many people from St. X are participating in this prayer. Last year more than 20,000 people across the U.S. participated in the Jesuits' online Lenten program. Visit http://www.jesuit.org/ignite to have the online prayer emailed directly to you.
CAMPUS MINISTRY
Attention JUNIOR Parents: the April 21-24 Kairos retreat has openings for 30 juniors. If your son is interested in going on Kairos, this is a great opportunity to go early. Applications will be available during the last week of February or the first week of March; your son should listen to the daily announcements for details. Please note, a student must have completed his Junior retreat prior to March to be eligible to go on Kairos as a Junior. (Please be advised, St. Xavier High School has no requirement for Seniors to go on a retreat in their final year; participation on any Kairos is optional.)
GUIDANCE INFORMATION
Junior and Senior Parents: Attached you will find the nineteenth college scholarship bulletin. Please take time to read this attachment. Junior Parents: College is more selective and expensive than ever, but a great ACT® score can open doors to funding and admission. If your son is trying to get into the college of his choice or obtain scholarship money, and you’re worried his ACT® score might hold him back: There is hope. TorchPrep™ is offering an innovative test training program. Through strategy-driven training focused on repetition, customization, and student motivation, TorchPrep™ will help your student overcome the ACT®. WEEKENDWARRIOR – Prepares for April Test on 4/18/15 @ Royalmont Academy - Mason Four Total Sessions: Saturday, 3/28: Noon – 7:30PM Sunday, 3/29: Noon – 7:30PM Saturday, 4/11: Noon – 7:30PM Sunday, 4/12: Noon – 7:30PM Weekend Warrior Early Registration Deadline: 3/23/2015 SIGN UP HERE www.torchprep.com 888.382.8174 Info@torchprep.com All Parents: In an effort to help any student or family that is struggling with grief through a loss, Fernside has given us a list of professionals whom many of their families have found helpful. Please see this attachment if you or anyone in your family needs therapeutic help during the grieving process.
LENTEN MORNING OF PRAYER
The province’s Lenten Morning of Prayer is scheduled for Sunday, March 8 at St. Xavier High School. Fr. Walter Deye SJ is presenting and all are welcome to attend. A copy of the invitation is attached for your convenience.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Mark Maxwell (mmaxwell@jesuits.org), regional director for Cincinnati.
MUSIC NOTES Spring Music Competition The final payment for the spring music competition of $175 is due this Tuesday, March 3. The first draft of the trip itinerary is available here. Choir Concert - Save the Date - Saturday, March 28, 3:00pm Come hear the best choirs of Cincinnati’s best institutions! The XMen and Ensemble X Choirs will perform with the men’s choirs from The University of Cincinnati and Xavier University. This special event is a rare and unique opportunity to see our choir groups perform with university level vocal groups. You won’t want to miss it! Where: St. Xavier High School: Walter C. Deye, SJ Auditorium When: Saturday, March 28, 3:00 p.m. Cost: $7 – Ticketing information forthcoming. Michael Benson Concert - Save the Date - Sunday, May 3, 2 p.m. Come to the 16th Annual Michael Benson concert and see Don Braden, a world class musician and recording artist with 18 CDs. Don plays tenor and soprano saxophone, flute, alto flute, piano and other instruments. He has played with many of the great jazz masters including Wynton Marsalis and Betty Carter. The Michael Benson endowment brings world class artists to the Walter C. Deye, SJ Performance Center each spring, who perform in memory of former St. Xavier High School student Michael Benson who died suddenly in a car crash after his graduation in 1999. Check back for ticketing information as the event draws closer.
PARENTS ACROSS CULTURES
The Parents Across Cultures board is currently accepting nominations for new board members from the Class of 2018. We plan and host great activities for the St. Xavier community throughout the school year. PAC works cooperatively with the school leaders by providing detailed input on the school's strategic plan to increase diversity in our student body, faculty and administration.
If you are interested in serving on the PAC Board, please complete the attached application and email to PAC@stxavier.org. The application deadline is Monday, March 2. If you have any questions, please contact PAC President, Paula Lampley pauladlampley@fuse.net or at (513) 910-6066. We look forward to serving with you!
CLASS OF 2015
| * Graduation yard signs and party goods can be purchased in the Bookstore/Spirit Shop. * Keep the St. Xavier tradition and order your son a Senior Class Graduation Mug. Senior mugs are $30. They are a 24oz. ceramic tankard, personalized with your son’s name and graduation year. Mugs can be ordered for any graduation year. Orders (with payment) are due in the Bookstore/Spirit Shop by April 14 for pick-up in the Bookstore/Spirit Shop on approximately May 11. GRADUATION MUG ORDER FORM *Graduation Announcement pick-up will take place on March 12 during flex in the new gym lobby. * Cap and gown pick-up will take place on Tuesday, April 28 during flex. Seniors are to pick up their cap and gown from the new gym lobby. The fee for cap and gowns has already been paid through tuition/fees. |
IGNATIAN LENTEN SERIES
The Ignatian Lenten Series at The Jesuit Spirituality Center in Milford occurs March 4, 11, 18.
St. X is supporting this Series of fantastic speakers and offers St. X parents / alumni a dinner and a presentation for $25, or $15 for the presentation only. See http://jesuitspiritualcenter.com or call 513-248-3500 for more details and any questions.
DID YOU KNOW? St. Xavier alumni Patrick Osborne '99 won an Oscar for his short film "Feast." Read more here! |
