January 23, 2009
Catholic Schools Week 2009: Celebrating Service
By MARY ANN HUGHES (Message staff writer)
Catholic Schools Week is al-ways filled with all-school Masses, student-teacher volleyball games, sock hops and prayer services.
This year, using the national theme of “Celebrating Service” and the diocesan theme of “Building God’s Kingdom,” students will also be collecting canned goods and other food items for the poor.
The annual celebration begins Jan. 25 and runs through Jan. 30 in Catholic schools throughout the United States. This year, teachers at Holy Rosary School in Evansville have come up with a service project that “happens to go right along with our theme,” said Joan Fredrich, principal.
They are inviting all the Cath-olic schools in the Diocese of Evansville to join them in collecting non-perishable items for the local food pantries.
On Saturday, Jan. 31, students will bring their items to Wash-ington Square Mall on Evansville’s east side. At the mall, each school will use its canned goods and other food items to build a village. This might in-clude building a “church, a school, a hospital or a grocery story,” Fredrich said, “nothing fancy. Hopefully requiring very little pre-planning — and hiring architects is not allowed.”
She stressed that “this would not be a competition, but all building the kingdom together one can at a time.”
Donna Halverson, interim director of schools, said, “Schools in our diocese will be planning special prayer services and Masses as well as activities and programs in celebration. This week gives an opportunity to pause and express our gratitude to our school pastors, principals, teachers, parents and the extended community who support Catholic education in the Diocese of Evansville.”
This year’s theme is “perfect for our students and teachers! Putting our faith into action is not optional for Catholics; it is integral to our faith life. In each of our schools, service to the community is part of our Cath-olic identity. Our schools have a strong tradition of serving others.”
Halverson noted that Catholic school students are “engaged in Habitat Home building (even building homes in New Or-leans on spring break), filling food pantry shelves, supplying Birthright with needed items, cleaning parks and planting trees, writing to servicemen and women who serve overseas, working with numerous nursing homes and just recently providing Christmas presents to families in need. I am always amazed at the depth and diversity of school service to our communities!”
She said that when she talks with students about their service “they really glow with ex-citement over what they have accomplished! We not only excel in academics and athletics, but we are also very successful in providing opportunities for students to help others as we ‘Build God’s Kingdom.’”
EVANSVILLE/ VANDERBURGH COUNTY
• Eighth graders will lead the school in prayer each morning during Catholic Schools’ Week, according to Sandy Lasher, principal at Christ the King School, Evansville.
During the week students will bring in donations for the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry, and parents are invited to attend Mass with the students on Wednesday. On Thursday, seventh graders will serve lunch at the Christian Life Center, and Friday there will be a pep assembly.
The students will be participating in the “Building God’s Kingdom” program at Washing-ton Square Mall on Saturday.
• Marty Craig, principal at Corpus Christi School in Evansville, said her students will have activities every day during Catholic School Week.
Monday is Student Appreci-ation Day; students are allowed free dress and are treated to milk and donuts. Tuesday’s theme is “With God As Our Leader, We Won’t Get “Mixed-Up,” and Wednesday is Teacher Appreciation Day. That day, students may dress like their favorite teacher and a special lunch will be provided for the faculty and staff
On Thursday, Liturgy Appre-ciation Day, the students will attend Mass together, and on Friday, which is School Appre-ciation Day, the eighth graders will face the teachers in a volleyball game.
Friday evening has been designated “Volunteer Appreci-ation Night. We will have a parents’ night out for all our parent volunteers from 6 to 9 p.m. There are several fun activities planned for the children in grades PreK through five while their parents enjoy an evening out!”
• Good Shepherd School students will “stand up and be a part of service to school” on Monday as they begin their canned food drive. Their goal will be 1,500 pounds. There will be an all-school Mass on Wednes-day, and a luncheon for the faculty.
Friday is a day to be “comfy and cozy” as students spend time with their Good Shepherd School family, according to Judy Van Hoosier, principal.
• Marianne Webster, principal at Holy Redeemer School, Evansville, said, “We have the kickoff assembly with Father Chris Forler speaking to the children on service in our school, our church and our community.
“The faculty will also play Family Feud with all of the survey questions being about service to others. Tuesday is a special Mass celebrating service. Thursday is the talent show, and Friday is the big volleyball game.”
• Joan Fredrich, principal at Holy Rosary School, Evansville, said the week kicks off with green and gold day. “Students can show their school spirit by going ‘green and gold!’”
A Catholic Schools Week Mass will be celebrated on Thursday with the bell choir, and Friday there will be an assembly.
The Holy Rosary students will join other diocesan students at Washington Square Mall on Saturday, and the evening will feature a pizza party and family game night.
• Nancy Mills, principal at Holy Spirit School, Evansville, said, “We are kicking off Cath-olic Schools Week on Sunday with a chicken dinner after the 10:30 Mass. The teachers will be serving our families and thanking them for supporting our Catholic schools.
“Tuesday will be ‘donuts with dad’ and Wednesday will be “muffins with mom’ in the morning before school starts. Thursday we will be making cards for our service men and women, and Friday is the volleyball game eighth grade versus the teachers.”
• Angie Johnson, principal at Resurrection School, Evansville, said, “Our Catholic Schools Week is full of fun activities and ways to celebrate our Catholic faith and traditions.
“On Monday, we will start the week with a prayer service and then have a sing-a-long in church of all of our favorite church songs. On Tuesday, we will have a panel of priests, sisters and other religious to visit, who will answer questions that the children have made. The Bishop is coming, along with several area priests, sisters and a deacon. We look forward to hearing what they say about the vocation of religious life.
“Wednesday evening we will have a hotdog and chili supper for our families and Thursday is ‘Student Appreciation Day.’ The students have free dress, and the teachers have to wear student dress code. We will have popcorn and a movie that day to celebrate our students.
“We will finish up the week with our annual eighth grade versus staff volleyball game in the afternoon.”
• Theresa Berendes, principal at St. Theresa School, said, “Our plans for the week include a collaboration with other diocesan schools with a canned food drive with a culminating activity at Washington Square Mall to ‘Build God’s Kingdom’ with the cans.”
Other activities for the week include beginning the week with a prayer service, a PJ day with an afternoon movie, and a pep assembly with students presenting a donation to Kom-en Race for the Cure.
“We will conclude the week with breakfast for our parents and students and Mass with Bishop Gettelfinger.”
• Our plans for Catholic Schools Week include a different theme and activity each day,” said Melba Wilderman, principal at St. Joseph School in Vanderburgh County.
“On Monday we are ‘Cheer-ing on Catholic Education’ with crazy spirit dress and a kick-off pep assembly. On Tuesday we are ‘Honoring the Vocations’ by writing thank yous to Father Gene and to the Sisters of our community.
“‘Building Catholic Educa-tion’ is Wednesday’s theme when we will dress as construction workers. Thursday, we will ‘Sport our Faith’ with the annual eight grade vs. staff volleyball game. On Friday, we are ‘Building our Parish Com-munity’ by inviting our prayer partners to Mass and hosting a breakfast for them afterwards.”
• Carol Neisen, a fourth grade teacher at Westside Catholic School in Evansville, reports a “busy week” is planned at her school.
Canned and boxed food items will be collected all week to be used in the diocese-wide display set for Jan. 31 at Washington Square Mall. The students will also be making and sending home invitations for their families to attend the All School Mass on Jan. 29.
On Tuesday, “each student will decorate a paper ‘brick’ as a thank you to the members of our parishes for their support of our school. The bricks will be displayed in the shape of brick walls and hung in the entrances of our churches for the parishioners to see. We want the members of our parishes to know how much we appreciate their support in our education.”
On Wednesday, students will make thank you cards for school board members, PTA officers, Booster Club members and pastors. “It takes the work of all these groups and individuals in this education process.”
Students from all three campuses will meet Thursday at St. Boniface Church for an all-school Mass. “After the liturgy, everyone will be asked to help us join hands to link the church with the school building as we symbolize the connection be-tween the two.”
Student council members will represent the school as they meet with other Catholic schools at Washington Square Mall to “Build God’s Kingdom” with the canned and boxed food items collected throughout the week. All food items will then be donated to the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry.
• Tad Dickel, principal at Ma-ter Dei High School, Evansville, said, “Throughout Catholic Schools Week, we focus our morning and afternoon prayers on Mater Dei and other Cath-olic schools. Mass is celebrated on Jan. 29. The message will be the benefits of Catholic education, primarily the opportunity to come together in a community to express our faith.
“As an outreach, we will have a ‘Night of Praise and Worship’ at Simpson United Methodist Church. This event will feature the Mater Dei Liturgical En-semble.”
The PTO is planning a day to honor teachers with a luncheon, and homeroom teachers will have activities for a “student appreciation day.”
GIBSON COUNTY
Students from the four Gib-son County Catholic schools will gather at Holy Cross Church, Fort Branch, for a Princeton Deanery Mass during the week.
• Tracey Unfried, principal at Holy Cross School, said each day will have a special theme, beginning with “prayer” on Monday. “Students will receive Catholic Schools Week pins, and prayer partners will make brick roads for everyone for whom they have prayed.”
On Tuesday, students will attend Mass together as “school families.” They will make thank you cards for community help-ers, volunteers and parishioners.
On Wednesday students will work in “school families” to make Valentines for the area nursing homes and shut-ins, and on Thursday, they will learn how famous Catholics have helped shape God’s kingdom.
The week concludes with a parent’s night out that will in-clude games, dinner, fun and entertainment.
• “We’re proud to be part of the many Catholic schools across our country,” said Michelle Priar, principal at St. James School in Haubstadt. “We’re looking forward to an exciting week!”
The week begins with “Buil-ding our Inner Spirit day,” she said, explaining that “we’ll focus on bringing our inner spirit out to share with others!”
There will also be a pep assembly, a sock hop, and a fundraiser for the American Heart Association. The St. James students will also take the food items they have collected to Washington Square Mall on Saturday.
JASPER
Students at both Jasper Cath-olic schools will attend Mass together at Precious Blood Church on Friday.
• Cathy Mundy, the technology teacher at Holy Family School, said the week will begin with a prayer service led by Father Ron Kreilein. The annual Distinguished Family Award will be presented to Wilfred and Betty Weinzapfel and their family.
During the week, students will have “get up and move” activities, hear about religious vocations, and attend a family skate night. Thursday is Ger-man theme dress day, and the final day for the collection of canned goods for the local food bank.
• Precious Blood School will begin its Catholic Schools’ Week celebration with a special blessing on Monday morning, according to Chad Schnieders, principal.
“On Tuesday, PBS will honor Helen Klem as our Disting-uished Graduate.” On Wednes-day and Thursday, the students will get to participate in activities such as bowling, skating and PE with the principal.
NEWBURGH
On Monday Bishop Gerald A. Gettelfinger and Matt Miller, diocesan director of Worship, will “join us for Mass, followed by a reception for them with the eighth grade,” said Charlotte Bennett, principal at St. John the Baptist School, Newburgh.
Tuesday the students will go roller skating, and Wednesday is a “day to relax and read a favorite book.”
Thursday is “challenge day” with the faculty versus the student volleyball game. “We are also participating in the ‘build a city’ by collecting cans at Wash-ington Square Mall.”
Bennett said the students will also have daily service projects which will include picking up trash, praying the rosary for someone in need and doing random acts of kindness.
POSEY COUNTY
• A highlight of our Catholic Schools Week Celebration this year is a German-American Dance Festival which will be performed by students with audience participation, according to Ron Pittman, principal at St. Wendel School, St. Wendel.
“This will take place during our Parent/Grandparent/Special Person Day on January 29.”
• Monday is “Crazy Day,” at St. Philip School in Posey Coun-ty, according to Andrea Lodato, principal. Penny wars begin, a pancake breakfast will be served by the student council, and the eighth graders meet the teachers for a volleyball game.
A religion bowl will be held on Wednesday, and Thursday has been designated “comfy day” featuring movies for the upper and lower grades.
• Vickie Wannemuehler, prin-cipal at St. Matthew School, Mount Vernon, said students “will perform the various ministries of greeter, lector, gift bearers, musicians and servers” at the weekend Masses. “We will also be collecting canned goods for the diocesan food drive.”
Monday is “Spirit Day. We will have an opening prayer service in church followed by presentations about the saints by the fourth graders.”
An all-school Mass is scheduled for Wednesday, and on Thursday the fourth and fifth grade boys’ basketball team will compete against the teachers.
The week concludes with a sock hop, and the Building God’s Kingdom canned food project at Washington Square Mall.
VINCENNES
• “We have several events planned for Catholic Schools Week at Flaget, said Anne Pratt, principal.
On Sunday, students are to attend church at their home parish wearing their Vincennes Catholic Schools shirts. Students will pass out fliers about the Catholic schools after each Mass.
Monday has been designated “vocation day,” and students will learn about religious vocations and about lay professions.
Wednesday is Patriot Pride Day, and students are encouraged to wear purple and gold clothing; there will a pep rally in the afternoon. Thursday is read-in day, and students may wear sweats or pajamas.
There will be a special Mass on Friday celebrating Catholic Schools Week.
• “Rivet will celebrate a Catholic Schools Mass on Thursday and we will have a food drive all that week,” said Janice Vantlin-Jones, principal at Rivet Middle and High School.
“Students will write an essay on ‘What Rivet Means to Me.’”
WASHINGTON
David Memmer, principal at the three Washington Catholic schools, said, “Students are looking forward to having a God-centered, service oriented, fun-filled week.”
A special service theme and prayer will begin each morning. Students will read a short biography of an individual on on someone who has done a major service for our world, “someone we all could aspire to be,” he said.
During the week, elementary students will be participating in service-oriented activities chosen by the class and/or teacher. The elementary students will have an open house night to share with the school community their service-oriented activities.
The middle school classes will compete to accumulate gently used books for Riley’s Child-ren’s Hospital, and the high school classes will compete to bring in new or gently used coats.
The week’s activities will conclude on Friday with a school-wide pep session “to rally our WC Cardinals for the homecoming basketball event. In addition, the pep session will allow us to come together and share what we have done to celebrate service during the past week.
“More importantly, it will allow us to recognize that service needs to be celebrated the other 51 weeks too!”