Action Item: Legislative Alert - Education Savings Accounts in Iowa
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Xavier parents,
The Iowa Senate has passed Senate File 2369 and sent it to the House. The bill includes Students First scholarships (Education Savings Accounts) to help some parents afford tuition to a nonpublic school, and the "Parents' Bill of Rights." Now’s a good time to contact your member of the Iowa House in support of the scholarships.
It would allow public school students (including all incoming kindergarteners from Catholic preschools) with a family income of less than 400% of the federal poverty level to apply. Public school students with an individualized education plan would also be eligible. There would be a limit of 10,000 scholarships statewide at about $5,400 per child.
Every child that switches from the public school to the nonpublic school saves the state money because the scholarships are only 70% of the average state per pupil aid.
The governor’s plan limits state spending on Students First/ESAs to about $54 million ($5,400 x 10,000 scholarships). You can compare that to the $6 billion spent annually on K-12 education from state aid, property taxes and federal dollars. Please go to https://www.votervoice.net/ICC/campaigns/93662/respond and rewrite the sample message in your own words from your own experience and keep your comments positive. If you have a preschool student in a Catholic school, make sure you mention that.
Thank you for sharing your support!
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Dear Xavier Families,
Xavier High School strives to fulfill our mission of educating the total person in a Catholic environment and we want to know about your experience as a parent or caretaker of a Xavier Saint.
As such, we invite you to share feedback in our Climate Survey. The survey includes questions about your student’s learning, school safety, Catholic identity, interpersonal relationships, as well as your perceptions of the school environment and your personal involvement in school. Your feedback, along with that of students and faculty and staff, will be used to determine areas of strength and areas to focus improvement. Your responses are anonymous. As you respond to each survey item, please think about your own personal experiences as a parent, caregiver or guardian at Xavier.
Please complete your survey response by April 15. Thank you for your time and your continued partnership in supporting the Saints and Xavier.
Sincerely,
Angela Olson, Principal
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New: FSD 2022 - Engaging Our Current Students and Families
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LaSalle-Regis-Xavier FOREVER SAINTS DAY
A ‘Day of Giving’ that celebrates the past, present and future of Catholic education!
Together as one. Forever Saints.
Thursday, April 7, 2022
Noon to 7 p.m. (CST)
Livestream From XHS & All-Alumni Reunion at Parlor City, NewBo
All early gifts will be entered into a drawing for your chance to win one of ten early bird prizes.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND PRAYERS FOR A SUCCESSFUL FOREVER SAINTS DAY!
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Updated: FSD Adoration - Volunteers Still Needed!
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As part of the Xavier Foundation’s annual Forever Saints Day on Thursday, April 7th, we are offering Eucharistic Adoration in the chapel as an additional opportunity for prayer. This is a great time for parents, grandparents and alumni to spend an hour with Jesus in the Eucharist for prayers of thanksgiving and petition for our Catholic school community. Thank you for considering this opportunity!
Several time slots still need to be filled, particularly 12:00pm-1:00pm & 1:00pm-2:00pm
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Reminder: State Testing Days
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State testing continues this week.
- 9th, 10th & 11th grades testing Tuesday & Wednesday, starting at 7:50am.
- Seniors start at 9:50am Tuesday & Wednesday.
- NO early dismissal on Wednesday, dismissal will be at 2:45.
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Reminder: Free Meals for All Students Ends with the 2022 School Year |
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When the 2021-2022 school year ends, so do free meals for every student. While the federal government funded a program that allowed all students access to free meals during the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress recently declined to continue funding this program. This means all families will need to carry a positive balance in their children’s school meal accounts when school begins next fall.
We understand this change may cause you to worry. There are important steps you can take today to make sure your student receives the meals they need next year.
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Complete An Application for Free and Reduced Meals NOW. If your student qualifies for free or reduced meals, they can still receive them next year, but you must take action to make it happen.
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Complete the 2021-2022 application for free and reduced meals before the end of this school year if you have not already filled out an application for the 2021-2022 school year. This will give you a 30-day grace period at the start of the 2022-2023 school year to complete another application for next year.
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Then, fill out the 2022-2023 online application which will be available on the Xavier website after July 1, 2022. Even if you complete the 2021-2022 application, you will still need to complete the 2022-2023 application as well.
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Budget for the Cost of School Lunches (if you do not qualify for free and reduced meals). Families that do not qualify for free or reduced meals can start depositing money into their student’s account to prepare for the cost of school lunches next year. Information on meal prices for the 2022-2023 school year will be available in the near future.
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Pay Off Negative School Lunch Balances. If your student has a negative lunch account balance, we encourage you to pay that as soon as possible and then begin depositing money into your student’s account to prepare for the 2022-2023 school year.
To apply for free or reduced meals, please go to the Xavier website to find an application. For assistance completing the application or for questions, please contact Lorraine Gaffney; Food Service Director at lorraine.gaffney@xaviersaints.org or call 319-294-6635 x339.
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Reminder: STO Deadline Approaching |
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The Our Faith, Our Children, Our Future School Tuition Organization (STO) and Xavier High School are pleased to once again provide tuition assistance to qualifying families. The STO program will be utilizing FACTS Management in Lincoln, NE to assist in determining the level of assistance to be awarded. FACTS Management has an application that all families need to complete to be considered for assistance. Your personal information will be held in strictest confidence at all times. If you have a child at more than one Archdiocesan School, you will only need to complete one application form. If divorced parents each pay a portion of the tuition bill, then each household needs to complete an application for a possible award towards their portion of tuition. There is a $36 non-refundable processing fee for the online application payable to FACTS. WE DO NOT HAVE PAPER APPLICATIONS THIS YEAR.
The FACTS application needs to be completed no later than April 15, 2022. The application is available online at online.factsmgt.com/aid in both English and Spanish. In addition to your completed application, you must include a copy of 2021 current wage and tax information.
The second round FACTS applications are due July 1st.
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Reminder: Attn: Junior & Senior Parents - Post Prom |
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Just a reminder that prom is only a month away (April 30)! We are excited about this year‘s event and are still looking for donations to make this post prom a fun, safe and memorable one.
If you would like to make an individual donation, or if you know of a business that would like to donate, please do so by:
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making the donation through the 8to18 app
- mailing or dropping off any monetary donations to Xavier (marked Attn: Post Prom).
- contacting Janel Shimak at 319-270-4404
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Reminder: Progress Reports |
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April progress reports and eligibility grades will be pulled on Monday and released on Wednesday, April 6th.
Eligibility rules for progress reports state that a student will be considered ineligible to participate in games, competitions, performances, etc. if he/she has a failing grade on any progress report. The ineligibility period for April will start on Wednesday, April 6th, and end at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, April 12th.
Make sure to work with your kids and have your kids work with their teacher to get assistance in their academics. Kids should also communicate with their coaches and moderators if they miss practice in order to receive academic assistance.
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Tickets for the Spring Play, “The Play That Goes Wrong” are on sale now! Head to xaviersaints.org/tickets to find your seat. Show times are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday April 7th-9th. Cost is $7 for Adults and $5 for K-12 & Seniors.
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Reminder: It's Busing Reimbursement Time! |
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If you live in the Cedar Rapids Community School District, please return the completed form to the main office prior to May 1st.
If you live in College Community, Linn Mar Community, Marion Independent or any other district, the form must be mailed directly to that district's business office. They must receive it by May 1st.
If you live in a school district that is not listed you will need to contact that school district’s business or transportation department to obtain the form and address to mail it to.
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Website: XavierSaints.org | Phone: 319-294-6635 | Fax: 319-294-6712 |
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