National Catholic Schools Week begins this weekend on Jan. 27 in the Diocese of Cleveland and in parish communities across the country. The week is dedicated to celebrating Catholic education. It concludes on Feb. 2.
For schools, Catholic Schools Week typically incorporates Mass and open houses within a five-day time span. This year the diocese encouraged schools to plan activities for students, families, parishioners and community members to showcase how their school is rooted in faith, committed to academic excellence and building student character.
At St. Gabriel School in Concord Township, the PTU incorporated a Bible Scripture from 2 Timothy, Chapter 1 that encourages students to “stir up the gift of God which is in you.” Students may submit poems, posters and coloring pages that are compiled for an all-school display that will reflect the types of individual gifts they share with one another. Each grade level is organizing a service project to benefit citizens of Lake County. This includes making rosaries to sell with proceeds to benefit the St. Gabriel Food Pantry. The school will welcome WKYC meteorologist Matt Wintz for Career Day when the students explore their local community and vocations. The week concludes with a spirit day that welcomes the Cleveland Cavaliers Scream Team.
St. Barnabas School in Northfield will host a special appreciation breakfast for parents. The breakfast features an early start time of 6:30 a.m. to connect with parents before the start of the work day and provides menu items hand-delivered to cars in the morning drop-off line. The morning goodies will be baked and prepared by teachers from St. Barnabas. On Student Appreciation Day, Saint Awards will be presented to students and a special surprise food truck will be on site to cater lunch.
Elementary and high schools will partner in fun, interactive ways throughout Catholic Schools Week. Holy Trinity School brings the circus to Avon as members of the St. Ignatius High School Circus Company kick off the weeklong events centered around student success, learning about vocations, parish and community appreciation. The junior high Student Council will host a carnival for the primary school students with special guests, the St. Edward High School Trash Talkers.
Across the county, St. Mary’s school in Elyria will welcome members of Elyria Catholic’s Godsquad for a performance as the week comes to a close. Godsquad is group open to any student who wishes to share their musical/vocal gift that God has bestowed on them.
Gesu in University Heights, placed prayer intention cards in church pews. Parishioners have been asked to complete a prayer intention card that the students will add to the intention to the morning prayer broadcast during the week.
“The events taking place at schools across our diocese for Catholic Schools Week demonstrate the commitment of many individuals at all age levels that are willing to support academic environments that thrive on encouragement, prayer and worship, celebrating success,” said Frank O’Linn, interim superintendent of Catholic schools in the diocese. “I encourage anyone to take time this week to celebrate their parish or local Catholic school."
