Schools to explore faith, fun and service

Published: January 22, 2015

Five teachers at St. Vincent de Paul School in Rogers got into the spirit of Catholic Schools Week in January 2014. For Student Appreciation Day, the students were allowed to wear casual clothes and crazy hair. The middle school staff, however, wanted to surprise the students with their own version of “free dress.” The students were amazed that Suzie Perry, Melissa McCarty, Kim Wary, Sean Grom and Carol Brophy wore school uniforms.

National Catholic Schools Week will be celebrated in the Diocese of Little Rock Sunday, Jan. 25 through Saturday, Jan. 31. This year’s theme is “Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service.”

Conway

St. Joseph

During weekend Masses, St. Joseph School band flutists will join the music ministry and play a song for the parish, the 2015 senior class banner will be presented and students will bring up the gifts during the offertory. Teachers will pass out a special treat on Tuesday for student appreciation. Grandparents are invited to school Mass and living rosary on Wednesday, followed by lunch and shopping at the book fair. Volunteers will be sent thank-you notes on Thursday. Students will enjoy an all-school assembly on Friday, highlighting school clubs and programs. Saturday, Jan. 31 will be the H.O.O.K.S. (Helping Out Our Kids’ School) 10th Annual Fish Fry and Auction.

Fayetteville

St. Joseph

The week will begin with a children’s Mass Jan. 25. The students will greet parishioners, read the Scriptures, cantor and sing in the Angel Choir. During the week students are invited to dress as their favorite book character, bring in items to “accessorize” their school uniforms, wear red, white and blue to show their national pride, wear a favorite team shirt to show off their interests and finally participate in the Super Bowl to close out the week.

During the Super Bowl, students will break into teams and compete in quiz bowl-type activities. Students are treated to their favorite lunches all week and get to order pizza on Friday.

Fort Smith

Christ the King

A PTO pancake breakfast will be served from 8 to 11:30 a.m. followed by a children’s Mass at 11:30 a.m. and open house from 12:30 -1:30 p.m. On Monday, 40-hour service challenge to benefit St. Jude Research Hospital will be held. On Tuesday, second through sixth graders will take a field trip and a Brian Kinder concert will be held for preschool to first graders, with special lunch desserts provided by the PTO. On Wednesday Sister Kimberly Prohaska, OSB, and Brother Francis Kirchner, OSB, will visit. Staff and volunteers with more than 10 years of service will be honored Friday. The Amazing Race fundraiser for the annual appeal starts at 5:30 p.m.

Immaculate Conception

CSW starts with Mass at 10 a.m. Jan. 25 and then a brunch for parishioners and school families in conjunction with the Second Annual Art Show. The school has two art teachers, Rebecca Johnson and Brent Pickens, and many talented students. The art show will showcase the students’ work. there will also be an open house from noon-2 p.m. at the school.

Trinity Junior High

A free chili supper will be served in the cafeteria Sunday, Jan. 25 from 5-6:30 p.m. On Monday students get to wear pajamas and sleep in. Students being dropped off early will meet in the gym and will be served donuts. School starts at 9:15 a.m. Students will get to watch “When the Game Stands Tall” at the Movie Lounge. On Tuesday students get to wear a “claim their cause” T-shirts with jeans or khakis. Wednesday, seventh-grade students will wear red, eighth graders will wear white and ninth graders wear blue. Students and faculty will be served hamburgers for lunch. Any family member serving in the military is invited to join the students.

On Thursday students will celebrate spirit day and wear their favorite cross jewelry. Sister Kimberly Prohaska, OSB, and Brother Francis Kirchner, OSB, will visit the religion classes. Students will be served dessert during lunch. On Friday it is free dress day. Popcorn and drinks will be served.

Hot Springs

St. John

St. John School will kick off Catholic Schools Week on Monday with a consecration to the Sacred Heart. There will be a pep rally that afternoon in the gym to launch the “Mercy and Me” service project for a local charity, which will continue through Lent. On Tuesday, there will be a Family and Friends Appreciation luncheon followed by Quiz Bowl. Wednesday is Super Sports Day. There will be games and activities for the students in the morning and the annual volleyball tournament. The winners will play the teachers in the afternoon. Thursday will be Mercy Day beginning with confessions. It will also be Warm and Fuzzy Day. In the afternoon students will watch “Soul Surfer” or play board games with snacks provided by the PTO. On Friday after all-school Mass, the students will have a talent show. School will dismiss at 11 a.m. and students will attend the annual party at Hog Wild Events Party Center.

Little Rock

Our Lady of the Holy Souls

Students will collect shoes for their service project for the Ozark Water Project. The Ozark Water Project will export the shoes overseas, where they are resold. Funds are used to build water wells in Haiti. The opening Mass will be 10 a.m., Sunday, Jan. 25. On Monday it will be free dress for student and pizza for lunch. The eighth grade vs. teacher basketball game will also be held.

On Tuesday Donuts with Dads will be served in the cafeteria in the morning before school. On Wednesday a special luncheon for teachers and staff will be held, and parents are invited to come to adoration with their children.

On Thursday Muffins with Moms will be served in the cafeteria in the morning before school. Junior high students will present the living rosary for the school at 2 p.m. On Friday Bishop Anthony B. Taylor will celebrate the closing Mass. Family and special friends are invited to have lunch with the students. A talent show will begin at 6:30 p.m.

St. Edward

The week will begin with Mass followed by a pancake breakfast sponsored by the Men’s Club. Students will participate as lectors, altar servers and ushers. Alumni and friends of St. Edward are invited to share their St. Edward School experiences with classes on Monday. Students, parents, teachers and parishioners will enjoy the book fair all week. Parents are invited to have lunch with their children and visit classrooms on Wednesday for open house. The annual teacher vs. student volleyball game will be played Thursday afternoon.

The principal will serve ice cream sundaes during lunch periods on Friday and a pep rally in the afternoon will conclude the week. Students will bring in pennies throughout the week to compete in “Penny Wars” in support of research for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Morrilton

Sacred Heart

Students will lead all ministries at the 10:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday. On Monday, all students will work together on craft gifts for the local senior citizen center and hospital patients. Tuesday the school will hold mini-courses giving students the opportunity to learn about careers and other fun activities. On Wednesday an all-school Mass will be held and on Thursday students will attend a living rosary. On Friday, students will attend “Movies in the Gym” and be treated to popcorn and soft drinks.

North Little Rock

Immaculate Conception

A PTO pancake breakfast will be held Jan. 25 for the parish and school community. On Monday, the eighth-grade boys and the school faculty will meet on center court for the first CSW 8th Grade Boys vs. School Faculty Volleyball Game with eighth-grade girls coaching and refereeing. Students will make appreciation cards for pastors and deacons Tuesday. Wednesday is “Teacher/Class Choice Activity Day.” On “Souper Bowl Thursday” each student will bring in a can of soup to be donated to local food pantries through Soup Sunday. The annual school talent show takes place on Thursday as well. All-School Mass on Friday morning will be followed by the annual school conga line around the school campus. An open house for prospective families will be held Feb. 1 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The school will be working together to purchase an “ark” through Heifer International in January with each class working to raise enough to cover a certain portion of the ark.

Paragould

St. Mary

The book fair will be held throughout the week. Parents and grandparents are invited to lunch Monday through Thursday. School night at Pizza Inn will be Thursday with fourth- to sixth-grade students waiting tables. Students will be treated to a karaoke hour Friday afternoon with snacks. Volunteers and community members are invited to a nacho buffet lunch Friday, Jan. 30. Mass on Saturday, Jan. 31 will conclude the week. Students will serve as lectors, ushers, gift bearers, servers and choir members.

Stuttgart

Holy Rosary

Monday, Jan. 26 is the 100th day of school. Students will be dressing as 100 year olds, bringing 100 things or wearing 100 things. Tuesday the science fair will be held and Wednesday there will be a talent show and hotdog meal for the families. On Thursday morning, donuts and juice will be served to the families, and students will visit a nursing home and sing for the residents. On Friday each class will have put together a basket of goodies to give to community helpers.

Subiaco

Subiaco Academy

Students will assist during the 10:45 a.m. Mass Jan. 25. The Jazz Ensemble will perform at St. Boniface and Christ the King in Fort Smith. On Tuesday Renaissance Day will be held and on Wednesday, there will be a teacher appreciation luncheon and student ice cream social in the cafeteria. The Boiled Egg Roulette game will be played Thursday with prizes for the winning class. On Friday students will watch “The Way.” After lunch students will make a pilgrimage to St. Anthony Church in Ratcliff.

Click for the Catholic Schools Herald January 2015 index