Campus-wide service projects mark Catholic Schools Week celebration

By Ambria Hammel | February 2, 2009 | The Catholic Sun

Students, families and educators marked the Jan. 25-31 Catholic Schools Week by embracing its theme, “Celebrate Service,” with food and clothing drives and other fundraisers, among the many other fun, educational and prayerful activities.

Blessed Sacrament Preschool and Kindergarten in Scottsdale was one of several schools that collected items and money for Maggie’s Place, a home for pregnant mothers in need. The students donated used books to the 16 moms and 10 babies living in a Maggie’s Place home.

Blessed Sacrament students also raised funds for The Foundation for Children with Cancer during a “Hats on Day for Cancer.” An estimated 12,400 kids under the age of 20 are diagnosed with cancer every year, according to the foundation.

“Part of our faith is to reach out to others even if you’re 3 and 4 and 5,” said Heather Fraher, director. Fraher liked the idea of hat day because it was a service project that her students could independently do without help from their parents.

Teachers at St. Anne’s Little Flower Montessori School in Gilbert brought Shel Silverstein’s classic story, “The Giving Tree,” to life for the students to illustrate the idea of service.

Eighth-graders at San Francisco de Asís School in Flagstaff promised to continue to live out the cardinal and theological virtues beyond graduation during a school-wide commitment ceremony.

Students at Seton Catholic High School in Chandler continued their year-long focus on determination by holding a walk-a-thon to benefit the local Lost Boys of Sudan. Several of the Lost Boys ran the track with them.

Students also spent the week in prayer and fellowship.

Many schools kicked off Catholic Schools Week by hosting open houses at their respective campuses between Masses.

Most Holy Trinity reported 25 prospective families visiting the school Jan. 25. St. Matthew School didn’t get an exact count, but said a few families plan to enroll next year.

Nearly 300 grandparents joined their Sentinel grandchildren for a special Mass Jan. 27 at St. Andrew the Apostle Parish in Chandler. Students without a living grandparent signed their relative’s name in a memory book that was taken to the altar during the offertory.

Many schools took a break from the daily grind to play games and create art projects. Others held special breakfasts, lunches and dinners in the spirit of fellowship and appreciation for parents, staff and the community.

Students at Notre Dame Preparatory in Scottsdale spent the week offering prayers for each other.

Junior Becca Wraith helped come up with the idea of sending prayer-grams to fellow classmates. Student government worked with one of the school’s art teachers to create six different types of prayer cards for the students to share.

“They’re all different messages of why you’re thankful for them,” Wraith said.

Student representatives from every Catholic school in the state showed their appreciation for state legislators Jan. 28. That’s when they gathered on the lawn of the state Capitol for the Catholic Schools Week rally.

Students made signs and cards for the legislators thanking them for tax-credit legislation. They also put on a talent showcase and took tours of the Capitol.

The celebration also marked National Appreciation Day for Catholic Schools. Students from the diocese’s elementary and high schools filled Ss. Simon and Jude Cathedral for Mass with Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted and Tucson Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas.