SAHS, SAGS Announce Plans for 2015 Catholic Schools Week

Published on January 23 2015 6:55 am
Last Updated on January 23 2015 6:55 am
Written by Greg Sapp

St. Anthony High School Principal Greg Fearday and St. Anthony Grade School Principal Brandi Borries announced the schools will feature a variety of events to recognize National Catholic Schools Week.

Students attending both schools will participate in activities as part of the annual celebration of National Catholic Schools Week. The theme for this year’s National Catholic Schools Week is “Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service” and will be celebrated from Jan. 25 to 31.

“Each year, we join Catholic schools across the nation to celebrate Catholic education,” said Fearday. “We will spend the week focusing on the value of Catholic education and what that education provides to our young people, our church and our community.”

The Day of Fellowship, set for Wednesday, Jan. 28, is one of the week’s highlights with students from St. Anthony schools, Sacred Heart School in Effingham, St. Michael School in Sigel, St Thomas School in Newton and St. Mary School in Paris attending Mass at St. Anthony High School. The Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Thomas J. Paprocki and con-celebrated by chaplain Fr. Zachary Edgar, along with the area parish priests.

“The Day of Fellowship brings students from Catholic schools across the region together to celebrate Mass,” said Fearday. “It gives our students the opportunity to meet other students from other communities and to learn about the other Catholic school programs in our area.”

Following the Mass, St. Anthony High School students will lead the fifth through eighth grade students from the other grade schools in activities. Younger grade school students will return to their school to participate in games and activities.

Other activities planned at the high school that week include:

Jeans Day for Chloe Bockhorn – High school students will be allowed to wear

jeans during the week for a minimum donation of $5 to Chloe Bockhorn’s

family, who is continuing her rehabilitation after a car accident.
Day of Service – High school students will visit healthcare centers after

school.

Day of Worship – High school students will attend the 8:30 am weekly school Mass, with Eucharistic Adoration to be held all day in the Holy Angels Chapel at the high school.
Volleyball Tournament – High school students will participate in a class volleyball tournament through the week, with a championship match with students verses the staff.

St. Anthony Grade School students will also be participating in a variety of events to celebrate the week.

“Since our students are younger, we incorporate some fun activities and games to go along with the message of the week,” said Borries.

Events schedule for grade school students include:

BINGO – Grade school students will play Bingo in the gym on Monday, with

grandparents and senior parishioners invited to join in on the fun.
Appreciation for the Religious – Grade school students will make cards and

pictures to send out to the seminarians and those called to the religious life; invite the parish religious to lunch; and clean the church, parish center and gym.
Community Appreciation – Grade school students will pair up and pray together, then play games. They also will make blankets to be distributed to the cancer center.
Parent Appreciation – Grade school students will participate in a talent show, with parents and students encouraged to perform together. Parents will also receive donuts during morning drop-off, as a thank you for all of their efforts.

National Catholic Schools Week is the annual celebration of Catholic education in the United States. It starts the last Sunday in January and runs all week. To learn more about Catholic Schools Week, visit the National Catholic Educational Association at www.ncea.org.

St. Anthony Schools are Catholic, co-educational schools that provide a learning environment steeped in tradition and committed to excellence in education. Founded by St. Anthony’s parish and originally ran by the School Sisters of Notre Dame, the school system offers a comprehensive curriculum where students are encouraged to discover and develop their individual talents and potential, while confirming values and living in faith.

To learn more about St. Anthony’s schools, visit the school’s website at http://www.stanthony.com/ourschools.