Catholic Schools Week coming soon

Catholic schools throughout the United States will celebrate the work they do while raising awareness about the education they provide from January 27 through February 2 during the annual Catholic Schools Week.
The event, which is held by the National Catholic Education Association and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, has been taking place for about 30 years. This year’s theme is “Catholic Schools Light the Way.”
“As a result of excellent, multi-faceted education they are receiving today, our students will ‘light the way’ to a brighter future through their leadership in our communities, government, businesses and families,” said Dr. Karen M. Ristau, the president of the National Catholic Educational Association.
Catholic Schools Week will be marked by Masses, community service projects, academic showcases, artistic showcases, athletic events, family events and open houses. At St. Kevin’s in Flushing, the school will begin the week with a mass and open house. Some of their other activities will include a math bee, science fair, teacher and student appreciation day and winter family fun night.
School secretary Lorraine Klingbeil said that this is a very important event for St. Kevin’s, adding that along with bringing students and faculty together it gives them a chance to open their doors to the community so that they can see what the school is all about. As a school of 285 students, she said that the size can be a huge benefit while educating the children.
“I believe that the benefits, because we do offer a small environment, are more personal touches for the students and there’s more of an open door policy for the parents and the students,” Klingbeil said.
The National Appreciation Day for Catholic Schools will be on Wednesday, January 30. Students, faculty and parents from various Catholic schools will travel to Washington, D.C. where they will promote awareness of Catholic schools and the educations they provide.
“With their emphasis on academic excellence and moral values, Catholic Schools enjoy high satisfaction among students and parents and high achievement rates, including high school graduation rates of more than 99 percent,” said Marie Powell, the executive director of Catholic Education at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. “This is a message we want to share with our nation’s leaders.”
In recognition of Catholic Schools Week, the National Catholic Educational Association has released a list of 10 things that parents can do that week. Among them are writing appreciation notes to children’s teachers, parish priests, and to a person’s own former teacher. Other suggestions include volunteering to assist during school events, donating materials to a school library, and inviting friends and family members to the events.
For more information on Catholic Schools Week, visit the National Catholic Educational Association’s website at www.ncea.org/news/CatholicSchoolsWeek.asp.