“I think the students are really excited to be coming back,” Administrative Assistant Marie Braychak said Monday as she was folding and sorting senior polos and quarter zip sweaters with the seniors’ last names on them.
“And we’re excited, too.”
Meanwhile, across from the gym, in a glass-enclosed case resides a message to all students arranged by Student Activities Council (SAC) moderator and Administrative Assistant Lisa Keereweer. On one side are the words: Love, Kindness, Mercy, Sympathy, Sensitivity, Consideration, Compassion, Concern, Pity, Understanding, Gentleness, Empathy, Care. These are qualities we all strive for, and qualities Xavier tries to reinforce in each student.
On the other side is a sign of the times. “We can’t mask how excited we are to welcome you back!” The words are surrounded by masks.
“This year the administration decided to choose one of the Xaverian values to spotlight during the year and this year was compassion, so I looked for something that would best represent Compassion and found the wordle,” Keereweer said. “For the mask side, I figured we are all excited and perhaps nervous about the new school year, and I think we need to look to the positive and just run with the new normal.”
There are changes in the building … a yellow line down the center of the hallway with one-way traffic on each side … hand-sanitizing stations throughout the building … directional signs in the hallways and on the walls next to staircases. Morning safety checks at home, maintaining social distance and wearing masks are just a few of the protocols listed in an addendum to the Student Handbook.
Yet many things remain the same, starting with the commitment to all students from the staff and faculty. There are four new faculty members: Mrs. Esti Garria (Spanish teacher), Dr. Donna Griffen (math-science teacher), Ms. Melissa Peterson (guidance counselor), and Ms. Jessy Stanavage (visual arts teacher). The Guidance Department also has added Mrs. Allison Wadowski as an administrative assistant.
Some important dates in the reopening of Xavier.
Aug. 27, 28, Aug. 31: Faculty/staff retreats and meetings.
Sept. 1: Senior orientation, 8:15 a.m. School store open 7:45-8:15 a.m., 2-3 p.m.
Sept. 2: Junior orientation, 8:15 a.m. School store open, 7:30-8 a.m., 2:30-3 p.m.
Sept. 3: Sophomore orientation, 8:15 a.m.
Sept. 4: Freshman orientation, 8:15 a.m.
Sept. 7: Labor Day (school/offices closed)
Sept. 8: First day of classes for all students, 8:15 a.m.-2:26 p.m.