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Xavier High SchoolNews2

The XpressBi-weeklyXavier High School 6300 42nd St. NE Cedar Rapids, IA 52411Volume 15 Issue 5

Editors-In-ChiefAnna Busse

Cassie BuschCopy Editor

Carolina VonKampenNews EditorDaniel Pape

News AssistantQuinlan Moran

News WritersCarolina VonKampen

Maria Efting

Nick Mlodzik

Opinion EditorBryan BanowetzOpinion Assistant

Peyton RosencrantsOpinion WritersHannah Gibbs

Brennan Graeve

CJ Lampe

Morgan Noonan

Gina Reiman

Chloe Streif

Ben Valentine

Student Life EditorJenna Fenske

Student Life AssistantColette Miller

Student Life WriterLauren Lutgens

Mini-Feature EditorAnna White

Mini-Feature AssistantAmeena Challenger

Mini-Feature WriterRachel Brady

Feature EditorMegan Lynch

Feature AssistantRobbie Thinnes

Feature WriterMary Esker

Health and Lifestyle EditorAnsley O’Brien

Health and Lifestyle AssistantHannah Chute

Health and Lifestyle WriterMolly Vipond

Arts and Entertainment EditorMaddie Smith

Arts and Entertainment AssistantEmma Hunt

Arts and Entertainment WritersLauren VanHoeck

Payton Janney

Meghan Gerke

Ashley Pudil

Sports EditorJohn IngwersenSports Assistant

John RichardsonSports Writers

Alex Fox

Connor Collins

Shannon Mulcahey

Kyle D’mello

Lizzy McWhinney

Backpage EditorNicole Draker

Backpage AssistantMcKenzie Potter

BusinessHailey SojkaDistribution

Brennan Graeve

Xavier hosts International Round Table On November 2, 55 international

students from schools across Iowa gathered at Xavier for International Roundtable. These students came to Iowa from many countries around the world to experience American culture while living with a host family and attending school.

During periods two through four, Xavier students were able to listen to three separate groups of international students speak about their lives, their home countries, and their opinion of American culture. They also answered student questions from the audience ranging from attractiveness of Americans to the recent political race. Junior Ellie Burke, who attended the roundtable during periods two and three, enjoyed the chance to hear the stories of the students. “I thought that it was really interesting to learn what other countries think of Americans,” Burke said.

Senior Carlos Negrin Bolanos, who participated in Roundtable for the first time, had the opportunity to attend last year, but chose not to. “I regret not doing it last year, because it was very enjoyable this year. I was able to connect with

people from my home country of Spain,” Negrin Bolanos said.

Twelve foreign exchange students were from Germany, seven from Japan, five each from Italy and Norway, and four were from China. In addition, three live in Russia and Spain, while two students each came from Denmark, DR of Congo and Finland. Other countries represented were Belgium, Brazil, Egypt, Honduras, Kenya, Macedonia, Mexico, Netherlands, Paraguay, Philippines, Slovakia, Tanzania, and Ukraine, with one student from each respective country.

This year the international participants attended three separate discussions, including an interaction with world language students. The participants also attended a luncheon, provided by Panera. Student senate members coordinated all of this year’s Roundtable. Sophomore student senator Jeff Freiden had a busy day but enjoyed the experience. “There were a lot of things that needed to be done. We had to set up the gym, library, and sound system, get the ice, snacks, and podium, and prepare opening speeches, along

with other tasks. But it was worth it, and it was a lot of fun,” Freiden said.

This year’s Roundtable was the fifteenth in Xavier’s history, with the origins stemming from the days of Regis High School. The event is a yearly tradition at Xavier, occurring every fall, and each year brings new stories, new students, and plenty of excitement.

Nicholas Mlodzik News Writer

Maria EftingNews Writer

Four Oaks Book Drive kicks offXavier students came together

to organize a book drive for Four Oaks, a local non-profit agency. The book drive began on October 26 and will continue through December 10.

The Four Oaks Book Drive is a school-wide effort organized in recognition of Xavier’s 15th Anniversary. It is Xavier’s first major service project of the year.

According to Assistant Principal Angela Olson, the plan for the book drive has been developing for many months. Xavier’s Marketing Director Jessica Schneider met with several non-profit organizations over the summer to discuss large-scale volunteer projects. During the meeting with Four Oaks, the need for books for their centers was discussed, and brainstorming between Xavier and Four Oaks took off from there. A group of students then took control of the project, and different students were assigned to head various committees relating to the drive.

The books collected during the drive will be donated to the reading spaces at four of the Four Oaks locations in Cedar Rapids. Four Oaks is an organization that empowers children and families

Cedar Rapids Washington student Oscar Tinga speaks to the students about his life in Kenya. Meghan Gerke photo

to achieve stability, self-sufficiency and permanency. Xavier decided to partner with them because of their focus on creating successful adults and their emphasis on the importance of literacy for children.

To get the project started, the entire Xavier student body viewed

a video about the book drive on Community Service Day. Students were told they could bring new or gently used books for children ages 12 and under. There is a collection box in every classroom, and several days a week the books are collected during third period by the students coordinating the book drive.

Senior Peyton Rosencrants says the children at Four Oaks will benefit from the book drive. “We’ve all had the opportunity to enjoy the books we are donating while we were younger. We are putting them to good use by giving them to children who are not as fortunate and who will take pleasure in them now,” Rosencrants said.

Olson agrees. “This is an opportunity for Xavier students to see a need in the community and fill it. There is no incentive other than helping others,” Olson said.

Students interested in volunteering with the book drive should contact senior Kristen Schuster. Volunteers are needed to sort and catalogue the donated books.

Junior Cameron Junge places a book in the Four Oaks donation box. Chloe Streif photo