Catholic Schools Week Activities at Elementary Schools in the Archdiocese

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National Catholic Schools Week will be observed from Sunday, Jan. 27, through Saturday, Feb. 2. This year’s theme is “Catholic Schools Raise the Standards.” Throughout the archdiocese, schools will be celebrating with Masses, academic and religious events and fun-filled activities. Here is a sampling of what many schools are doing this year.

THE BRONX

At Holy Family, students begin the week with the celebration of a family Mass Sunday, Jan. 27, at 9:30 a.m. The week continues with fun activities including a teacher switch day, jersey day, a science fair and a school-wide Bingo competition.

Immaculate Conception on Gun Hill Road will celebrate with shared reading activities, a dress up day and a crazy word day. Mass will be celebrated for upper grades on Friday, Feb. 1.

At Our Lady of Grace, students begin the week with the Helen Keller ChildSight Vision Screening and glasses distribution. One lucky student will be principal for a day. Rounding out activities are a career day, a school spirit day and a teacher appreciation day.

Students at Our Lady of Mount Carmel will start the week with school spirit with a faculty versus students volleyball game and pep rally. There will be a role reversal day. Students will make a banner. There will be a special assembly on the traditions of Mount Carmel School and a special day of prayer with confessions made available to the students.

At Nativity School, the week begins with a parish Mass on Sunday, Jan. 27, at 9:30 a.m. The students will compete in a spelling bee, and have some fun with a silly tie and sock day. There will also be a teacher appreciation day.

Students at St. Frances de Chantal will display their science fair projects on Monday, and also observe technology lessons. Students will compete in a Junior Olympics-type event. A special breakfast will be held for grandparents. On literacy day, older students will read to younger students.

The week begins at St. Francis Xavier with celebration of a family Mass on Sunday, Jan. 27, at 11:15 a.m. Students will have parents as visitors one morning. Older students will read to younger students on “Lounge with a Good Book Day”; all will enjoy hot chocolate and cookies.

At St. Theresa of the Infant Jesus, the week begins with celebration of a family Mass Sunday, Jan. 27, at 10:30 a.m. Fun includes a scholastic book fair, crazy hat and sock day and pajama day, and a spelling bee for older students. There will be special appreciation days for parents, principal, pastor, teachers and staff. On student appreciation day, no homework or tests will be given! Saturday, Feb. 2, a father-and-son bowling outing will take place.

At St. Simon Stock, students will raise money for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. There will be special lunches throughout the week for parents and grandparents. There will be a parents and teachers and student volleyball game. School Mass will be celebrated Feb. 1.

Students at Santa Maria will enjoy a scholastic book fair, an international food day and a school visitor day for parents. Another fun event is an early childhood movie viewing and indoor picnic for prekindergarten through first-grade students and their families.

At Villa Maria Academy, the week begins with a spirit day at the new Barclays Center in Brooklyn for the basketball teams and cheerleaders. Students will serve as principal and assistant principal for a day. There will be academic competitions, a book-reading event and activities focusing on math. Students will write appreciation letters to their pastors. Fifth-graders will use iPads for activities related to Catholic Schools Week. Students will lift up the spirit of other students by writing HappyGrams to students in schools damaged by Hurricane Sandy.

MANHATTAN

At Ascension School, the week begins with celebration of a school Mass on Jan. 28. The week includes an alumni versus faculty basketball game, a religion and math bowl, and a talent show. An honors assembly will round out the week, including cookies and ice cream for students. On parents day, parents can read to children and participate in hands-on activities and science experiments.

At Corpus Christi, the week begins with the celebration of Mass on Monday, by Father Raymond Rafferty, pastor. The week includes a religion bowl competition, a speech contest and a visit from storyteller Jonathan Kruk. A mini-Olympic style event will take place.

At St. George School, students will engage in a public-speaking speech contest. There will be a concert for parents and friends on Thursday. First Friday Mass will be celebrated Feb. 1 at 8:30 a.m., ending with an appreciation of priests, faculty, staff and administrators.

Students at St. Joseph’s in Yorkville begin the week with an alumni reunion for all graduates on Sunday, Jan. 27. A school-wide Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday. There will be a parent appreciation day and a fun-filled international day—with their own special passports.

The week begins for students at St. Paul’s with a slide presentation on the Year of Faith, followed by a community parade with a balloon launch. Fun includes dancing, a balloon pop obstacle course and a shuttle race, among others. First Friday Mass will be celebrated Feb. 1. A jeopardy competition will test students on their knowledge for Christian doctrine, liturgy, prayer and the saints. On Feb. 5, students will hold a closing ceremony with awards.

Our Lady Queen of Angels will celebrate with a “buddy” prayer service, a school spelling bee, a creative hat day, and a book fair. There will be a special breakfast for grandparents.

STATEN ISLAND

At Blessed Sacrament, the week includes an invention convention, a book fair and a book swap. Students will be able to dress as historical figures. Parents will read stories. The week ends with the celebration of First Friday Mass Feb. 1.

Students at Our Lady Help of Christians will celebrate with a book fair. Special themed days include crazy sock and tie day, school spirit day, pajama day and a grandparents’ day.

Our Lady Star of the Sea begins the week with a prayer assembly on Monday, Jan. 28. Events include character day, a cranial crunch event, a Chinese New Year activity and teacher appreciation day. First Friday Mass will be celebrated Feb. 1, followed by a closing prayer for the week.

At Sacred Heart, the week includes parents’ day and alumni day. On grandparents’ day, students will perform a Broadway musical review for grandparents and parish seniors. There will be a school spirit day. Students will participate in math and science discovery activities. Throughout the week, the students will engage in a service project focusing on random acts of kindness. The week concludes with celebration of First Friday Mass on Friday, Feb. 1.

At St. Adalbert’s, activities include a career day, a math day and a pajama and breakfast day. There will be scavenger hunt. The week concludes with a remembrance ceremony for the four Army chaplains of different religions who died in 1943 during World War II on the sinking of the U.S. Army Transport, the Dorchester—this year marks the 70th anniversary of the event.

Students at St. Clare’s will participate in a crazy hat and sock day. A special older family member and grandparent prayer service enables students to pray with older family members and perform songs, followed by a light breakfast. There will be an eighth-grade reflection ceremony. Students involved in the senior and junior robotics teams will present their research. First Friday Mass will be celebrated.

At St. Christopher’s, students will take part in an alumni career day and a book sale. Eighth- graders will take on both the faculty and their parents in volleyball games. There will be a teacher recognition day.

At St. John Villa Academy, each class will invite two professionals to speak about their profession. An international day will be celebrated with food from different cultures.

Students at St. Joseph’s Parochial School will take part in fun activities including making their own t-shirts. There will be a Scholastic book fair. Other activities include a competitive match game, a kindergarten author’s tea, and a marshmallow and spaghetti architecture event. The week concludes with an assembly to show appreciation for teachers and staff.

At St. Joseph Hill Academy, a school-wide Mass will honor the Daughters of Divine Charity, who are celebrating 100 years in the United States.

At St. Joseph-St. Thomas, students will gather to play board games, participate in a dress-down day for a charity of the students’ choice. Students will begin to create a “Small Acts of Kindness” wall. First Friday Mass will be celebrated Feb. 1, with parents and family.

At St. Rita’s, students will participate in a crazy sock day, a crazy hat day, teacher and parent appreciation days, and a student spirit day. Eighth-graders will lead the school in morning prayers each day. Classrooms will create banners depicting a Catholic symbol, academics and drawings on the theme “Catholic School Raises the Standards.” The week includes a campaign against hunger with a food drive beginning on ”Souper Bowl” Monday, during which each student will bring in a can of soup.


WESTCHESTER COUNTY

At St. Joseph’s in Bronxville, the week begins with the celebration of family Mass Sunday, Jan. 27, at 10 a.m. The students will work on a project to raise awareness of hunger in Westchester ending with the students collaborating with the St. Joseph Parish Youth Ministry Midnight Run.

A children’s Mass will be celebrated Sunday, Jan. 27, to kick off the week for students of Holy Name of Jesus in Valhalla. Fun activities include an international food day, a spirit day and a crazy hat dress-down day. There will be a science presentation on Thursday, Jan. 31. First Friday Mass will be celebrated Feb. 1. A ziti dinner will be held at 6:30 p.m.

At Immaculate Heart of Mary School in Scarsdale, the week includes a vocation day for grades six, seven and eight. Msgr. Dermot Brennan will perform a magic show for the students.

At Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Pelham Manor, the week includes a food drive and a crazy hat and sock day for students who bring in a new pair of socks or a hat for the less fortunate. There will be an international day and a Bingo competition. On pajama day, older students will read to younger students. There will be an eighth-grade pinning ceremony. Students will participate in a senior citizen breakfast and create valentines for those in nursing homes.

The week begins at St. Augustine’s in Ossining with the celebration of Mass on Sunday, Jan. 27, at 10 a.m. Activities include a school-wide assembly, student and teacher appreciation days, and a crazy hat and hair day. The week concludes with a spirit day pep rally.

At St. Columbanus School in Cortlandt Manor, students will be treated to an ice cream social. There will be a student versus teacher challenge. First Friday Mass will be celebrated and there will be an eighth-grade pinning ceremony.

At St. Anthony’s in Yonkers the week begins with a school-wide Mass celebrated at noon on Sunday, Feb. 3.

The week begins for St. Eugene’s School in Yonkers with the celebration of Mass Sunday, Jan. 27, at 9:30 a.m. followed by a breakfast hosted by the Home School Association. There will be special appreciation days for students and teachers. An eighth-grade pinning ceremony will be held. First Friday Mass rounds out the week, followed by a school-wide assembly.

At St. Peter’s in Yonkers, the week begins with a blood drive sponsored by the New York Blood Center, Sunday, Jan. 27, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. There will be a career day, a pep rally and a student versus faculty volleyball game during the week. Guest readers will read to each classroom. First Friday Mass will be celebrated Feb. 1.


ROCKLAND COUNTY

At St. Anthony’s in Nanuet, the week begins with the celebration of Mass Sunday, Jan. 27, at 9 a.m., followed by breakfast. The week includes a spirit day, a faculty versus students volleyball game, a science fair and a Jeopardy-like tournament. There will be a readathon and a Bingo competition.

St. Margaret’s School in Pearl River begins the week with a celebration of a school-wide Mass hosted by the kindergarten class. Throughout the week, activities include a spelling bee, and a crazy auction and athletic competition. There will also be a “Dance Through History” assembly for students that includes the Twist, Waltz and Mashed Potato, among others. The week concludes with a prayer partners meeting to collaborate on community projects, and the celebration of First Friday Mass, followed by a breakfast with parishioners. The school will participate in the “Feeding Our Neighbors” program with a collection for St. Aedan’s Food Pantry in Pearl River.

At St. Paul’s in Valley Cottage, students will act as guest principals for the day. There will be basketball competitions and spelling and math bees. There will be a pastor appreciation letter- writing day. Students will create Valentine’s greetings for men and women in the armed forces. Piñatas will decorate the halls, and eighth-graders will bury a time capsule. The week concludes with the celebration of Mass.

At St. Peter’s in Haverstraw, the week begins with the celebration of Mass Sunday, Jan. 27, at 11:15 a.m. with a presentation of the Father Eugene Hamilton Awards to eighth-grade students, followed by a Communion breakfast. Other activities include a crazy hat day, a literacy day, a make your own sundae at lunch event, and seventh-grade versus eighth-grade volleyball game. The week ends with a Mass on Friday, Feb. 1.

At Sacred Heart in Suffern will enjoy the week with a pajama day, a spirit day and an eighth-grade versus faculty volleyball game. Students can have breakfast with a loved one on Wednesday. The week includes a line-dancing event. First Friday Mass will be celebrated.

UPPER COUNTIES

At Bishop Dunn Memorial School in Newburgh, students will participate in a talent show, a religious education-based game done in the style of the show “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?”

Students at Holy Trinity School in Poughkeepsie will write thank-you notes and give treats to parishioners. There will be a special prayer service. The Home School Association will sponsor an ice cream social. Other events include a day for grandparents, a crazy hat day and a faculty-student volleyball game. Mass will be celebrated. Throughout the week, students will participate in a penny challenge, with funds given to a local charity.

Kingston Catholic School in Kingston will begin the week with a science fair and book fair. Fun-filled activities include a young author’s assembly, a spirit day, a dress-down day, and an eighth grade versus parents volleyball game. The week ends with Mass celebrated at 9 a.m., Feb. 1, with a potluck dinner that evening.

The week begins at Most Precious Blood School in Walden with students speaking at all Masses on Sunday, Jan. 27. There will be a basketball shootout competition, a spelling bee and a day for students to dress as their favorite book character. The parents guild is sponsoring an ice cream social. First Friday Mass will be celebrated Feb. 1.

At Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Middletown, the week begins with a pasta dinner on Saturday, Jan. 26. The week includes an eighth grade versus faculty volleyball game. First Friday Mass will be celebrated Feb. 1, and includes the eighth-grade pinning ceremony. Students will collect soup cans for local food pantries.

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School in Shrub Oak will hold a “Tea with the Setons,” Sunday, Jan. 27, at 10:30 a.m.

St. John’s in Goshen will hold a pancake breakfast on Sunday, Jan. 27, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Students at St. Joseph’s School in Kingston will listen to storyteller Karen Pillsworth and participate in a creative building and creative machine competition. Students will do community outreach with local churches and soup kitchens. There will be a Jump for Joy event at Fun-E-Farm.

At St. Martin de Porres School in Poughkeepsie, students will speak at all Sunday Masses, Sunday, Jan. 27. A pancake breakfast will also be held that day, 7:30-11:30 a.m. Activities include a movie day and a crazy hat and wild socks day. Students will participate in an academic bowl and enjoy an ice cream social. The week concludes with donuts with dads and munchkins with mom event.

At St Mary, Mother of the Church, the student council will host an assembly to show their appreciation for faculty and staff. There will be a food collection for the Fishkill Food Pantry. Mass will be celebrated Feb. 1, 9 a.m., with all welcome.

St. Mary’s Little Lambs in Port Jervis, an early childhood learning center, will celebrate the week with a Scholastic book fair.

At St. Mary’s in Wappingers Falls, the week begins with the celebration of Mass Sunday, Jan. 27, at 9 a.m. During the week, students will enjoy making their own sundaes, a no-uniform day and a faculty versus students volleyball game. Students will treat grandparents, special relatives, senior citizens and school bus drivers to refreshments and a performance. There will be a teacher appreciation day with a special meal sponsored by the St. Mary’s School Mothers’ Guild. There will be a special event based on the television show “Cupcake Wars.”

At St. Peter’s Regional School in Poughkeepsie, the week begins with a family breakfast. There will be a talent show, a faculty versus eighth-graders basketball game, and a school-wide Bingo competition. First Friday Mass will be celebrated Feb. 1.

At St. Peter’s Regional School in Liberty, the week begins with the celebration of Mass Sunday, Jan. 31, at 11:30 a.m., followed by a coffee hour provided by the Knights of Columbus. There will be a morning prayer service on Monday. Other events include a parent appreciation day, cultural diversity day and communications day with local media visiting the school. Each class will adopt a saint for the week and report on that saint during a school assembly. A local company will showcase birds of prey, including eagles and owls, on raptor day.