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Special week promotes world of Catholic schools
SIKESTON - "Catholic Schools: Making a World of Difference" is the theme for this year's observance of Catholic Schools Week, an annual campaign promoting Catholic education.
The St. Francis Xavier, St. Denis and St. Henry schools are among those in this area joining with the National Catholic Educational Association and United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in this effort.
"The challenges this country has addressed during the past year underscore the importance of having a better knowledge and appreciation for the world community," said Daniel Curtin, executive director for the Chief Administrators of Catholic Education at the NCEA. "Catholic schools encourage this understanding."
Susan Long, principal at the St. Francis Xavier School and Cassandra Limbaugh, a teachers aide at the school, said Catholic Schools Week activities at St. Francis Xavier begin today when some of the student essays on what a Catholic education means to them will appear in the church bulletin. Monday will be "Community Helper Day" at St. Francis Xavier.
"We've got banners that we have made and all our students have signed them," Limbaugh said. The banners will be delivered along with some baked treats to various "community helpers" including the Department of Public Safety, city staff, library staff, church priests and area merchants.
Students have also been asked to bring dog or cat food for the Humane Society in exchange for a "dress down" pass.
All students will get to dress down for "Student Appreciation Day" Tuesday, and seventh and eighth graders will teach a 30-minute art lesson to the pre-K through sixth grades.
"Also, they're going to be treated to a movie and popcorn because it's their day," Limbaugh said. A trip to Pizza Hut is also planned.
National Appreciation Day is Wednesday. St. Francis Xavier school will start the day with a flag ceremony performed by Boy Scout Troop 270.
All students are asked to wear a red shirt on this day and will make Valentine cards for those serving in the military.
"Also, all Catholic schools go to Notre Dame in Cape Girardeau for an afternoon Mass," Limbaugh said. Grades 4-8 from St. Francis Xavier will attend the service.
Volunteer parents will be honored for "Volunteer Day" Thursday.
"We're going to be honoring them at our Mass and also serving them a breakfast at our school," Limbaugh said.
Also, older students will read to younger students "as a volunteer act," Limbaugh added.
The week's activities end at St. Francis Xavier school Friday with Teacher Appreciation Day. "We're going to be treated by getting out at 1 p.m. that day," Limbaugh said.
Activities scheduled for St. Denis School in Benton:
* Today students participate in choir and readings during the 10 a.m. Mass as part of the "Making a World of Difference in Our Parish" theme.
* Monday students will write letters to local military personnel and Diocesan seminarians for "Making a World of Difference in Our Nation" day. Both school and parish families are also invited to a Trivia Night in the gym.
* Tuesday St. Denis students will return thanks to school and community members who have given their time and talents to the school for "Making a World of Difference through Our Volunteers" day.
* Wednesday the theme is "Making a World of Difference in Our Families." A family breakfast with coffee cake and hot chocolate is scheduled for 7:20-7:45 a.m.
Families will be asked to turn off the TVs, open their Bibles and work together on a trivia game with answers and certificates to be awarded Thursday.
* St. Denis staff will be honored with a breakfast Thursday morning as they celebrate "Making a World of Difference through our Teachers" day.
* The week's activities will culminate Friday for St. Denis School with an all-school Mass at 8 a.m. as "Making a World of Difference through our Students" day is observed. Students will dress in blue and gold to show their spirit, and will go bowling from 12:15-2 p.m.
Activities scheduled for the St. Henry Catholic Church School in Charleston:
* "Monday we're having Grandparents Day - we're inviting our grandparents in," said Kay Glastetter, principal at the St. Henry School. "The kids are doing a music video extravaganza for entertainment."
* Tuesday students will repeat their music video extravaganza for their parents who are invited to a picnic lunch. Also, a Home and School Association meeting will follow the activities with the students.
* Wednesday is Student Appreciation Day at St. Henry. Grades 3-8 grade will travel to Cape for bowling and lunch.
"And then at 1:30 we'll join the other kids in the area for Mass at Notre Dame," Glastetter said. "The younger kids that same day are going to Pizza Hut to make their own lunch and they'll have an afternoon of fun after that."
* Thursday, St. Henry's students will recognize volunteers by inviting the Knights of Colombus and others to an appreciation lunch at the school.
Each class will also make gift baskets and cards to distribute to some of the area merchant school supporters.
* Friday will end the week by honoring the teachers. "We'll have volunteer certified substitutes that will come in and take the teachers classes, and the teachers will go out to lunch courtesy of the students," said Glastetter.