January 25, 2019
Local schools gear up for Catholic Schools Week
SIKESTON — For St. Francis Xavier Catholic School eighth graders Hayes Evans and Jonathan Madigan, Catholic Schools Week is a time they look forward to every year. “We have fun activities throughout the whole week,” Hayes said. The week kicks off with students performing duties in the weekend Masses at St. Francis Xavier Church in Sikeston on Saturday and Sunday. Then on Monday, students and staff honor individuals who volunteer at their school throughout the year with a token of appreciation...
SIKESTON — For St. Francis Xavier Catholic School eighth graders Hayes Evans and Jonathan Madigan, Catholic Schools Week is a time they look forward to every year.
“We have fun activities throughout the whole week,” Hayes said.
The week kicks off with students performing duties in the weekend Masses at St. Francis Xavier Church in Sikeston on Saturday and Sunday. Then on Monday, students and staff honor individuals who volunteer at their school throughout the year with a token of appreciation.
For Hayes and Jonathan, Tuesday, which is devoted to celebrating the students, is their favorite day. They’re treated to a pancake breakfast prior to school and it’s also pajama day. In the afternoon, each teacher will show a movie in their classrooms, and students can choose which “theater” they want to attend. Plus, there is a no-homework policy that day.
The community is the focus on Wednesday, and students can dress as a community helper, such as a fire fighter, police officer, doctor or teacher. Students and staff also deliver cookies and cards to local businesses that support them.
Nation is the theme for Thursday, and students are asked to wear red, white or blue uniform shirts. They will end the day with a special assembly which will be led by their guest, Lisa Walter.
Friday is all about the faculty, who will be recognized at the morning Mass. There’s also an early dismissal at 12:10 p.m.
The week is a celebration, and Hayes and Jonathan said they definitely take time to remember what they’re celebrating: that they can practice and learn about religion every day at church and in class.
And they said they like how supportive the students are to each other by attending volleyball or basketball games to cheer each other on. Even students who don’t play come out and show their support, Hayes said.
“Even though we’re a big school with about 156 students, we all know everybody by name, and everybody is like a family member,” Hayes said.
Jonathan agreed.
“We care about each other and are just like family,” he said.
This year’s theme is “Catholic Schools: Learn. Serve. Lead. Succeed.” Other Catholic schools throughout the area have also planned activities to celebrate. Here are what some have scheduled for this week.
St. Henry’s Catholic School
Amy Galemore, principal at St. Henry’s Catholic School in Charleston, calls Catholic Schools Week an opportunity to create a sense of community between the town and the school as they invite people to visit and see what the 52 students are doing.
“It is a celebration of our school as we have a day to honor those people who support our school,” Galemore said. “We honor our grandparents, parents, teachers and the students — all the people that make our school possible.”
The week-long celebration kicks off with an 8 a.m. Mass at St. Henry’s Catholic Church. Following Mass, donuts, coffee and juice will be served in the school gym and the Scholastic Book Fair will open.
Monday is Student Appreciation Day with students dressing up in 1950s attire and treated to popcorn and a movie.
On Tuesday, the students will show their appreciation to their parents who are invited to a 2 p.m. talent show. The students will be grooving as they dress like the 1960s.
The students will turn their attention to their community in an effort to show their appreciation on Wednesday. A free breakfast of pancakes and sausage will be served by the school staff from 7:30-8:30 a.m. and students will be encouraged to dress in 1970s attire.
Students will be back in uniform as they show their appreciation for their grandparents. Grandparents are invited to join the students at Mass Thursday morning at the church with refreshments served after Mass and a talent show beginning around 10 a.m.
It will be an opportunity for students to dress like the 1980s and show their appreciation for their teachers on Friday. School will dismiss at 12:30 p.m.
Immaculate Conception School
Students at Immaculate Conception Catholic School in New Madrid will celebrate this year’s theme of “Catholic Schools: Learn. Serve. Lead. Succeed.” by showing just that throughout the week.
The week will open Sunday with a Mass featuring the students, who will read the scriptures, walk in the processional, sing, and assist in other ways. According to teacher Allison Fowler the school’s 58 students reflect a variety of denominations and all are invited to take part in the special service.
“That is part of what we teach at the school - everyone is welcome, Everyone is invited no matter who you are, no matter what religion you are,” she said.
A light lunch will be served at the school following Mass.
A “Penny War” throughout the week will have the school’s preschool through eighth grade students gathering their pennies to benefit their classrooms and to raise money for good cause in the community. Fowler said at the end of the week after the money is totaled the students will choose a mission to which they will donate the money.
Describing the event as a spirit week, Fowler explained the activities are designed to be fun while incorporating learning and sharing.
Monday is career day when students dress as their future career while Tuesday is Bible character day. On Wednesday, students will celebrate their nation while Thursday they will celebrate the religious vocations.
The week will end with a celebration of faculty, staff and volunteers. The day will will include a pancake breakfast.
St. Eustachius Catholic School
Many of the activities at Portageville’s St. Eustachius Catholic School during Catholic Schools Week center on the values taught every day in the class rooms, according to Tricia Rone, principal. Activities will enable students to show their appreciation for their families, their community and their teachers.
“Basically we focus on the value of Catholic education and what Catholic education brings to others in the community, to our church and our nation,” Rone said.
She added by welcoming others to the school during the week, the public will come to understand what Catholic schools stand for such as “ what we are about, our morals and our teachings and that we are here to make future leaders in our communities and hopefully faith-filled disciples as well.”
On Sunday the Home and School will host family bingo at 4 p.m. A small meal will be served, followed by bingo. The school will show its appreciations of parents on Monday by serving a breakfast of biscuits, sausage and gravy along with coffee in the Parish Center from 7:20-8 a.m.
To celebrate the vocations, on Tuesday, students will pray a living rosary in the gym for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Throughout the week, students will work on Valentines for veterans to send to the Veteran’s Hospital in Poplar Bluff.
Wednesday, students are asked to bring $1 and dress down in their sweatpants and sweatshirts. The money raised will be given to families in need in Kennett. The day will also include trivia and games.
The school’s annual chili supper is set from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday as the students celebrate their community. On Friday it will be faculty and staff who will be honored.
The week will end with a children’s Mass at 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2, for all the school children and their families.
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