Over the last school week (Jan. 25-Jan. 31) Cathedral Prep, along with every Catholic School across the United States, celebrated National Catholic Schools Week. National Catholic Schools Week is the annual celebration of Catholic education in the United States. It was first started in 1974, and it always begins on the last Sunday of January. Schools typically observe the annual celebration week with Masses, open houses and other activities for students, families, parishioners and community members.
Through these events, schools focus on the value Catholic education provides to young people and its contributions to our church, our communities and our nation. Each year, a new theme is chosen to reflect on throughout Catholic Schools Week; this year’s theme was “Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service.”
During Catholic Schools Week, Cathedral Prep held several events each day, for both students and teachers to enjoy. The week began with “Student Appreciation Day,” in which the students were able to come to school Monday in their favorite athletic jersey. For lunch the students were given Pizza Hut pizza!
Tuesday came along, and the students were allowed to participate in a second dress down, this time sponsored by Key Club, and the teachers were provided a buffet lunch in the cafeteria, for “Teacher Appreciation Day.”
On Wednesday, the students were able to attend a Mass that had a focus on Catholic School Week, and the theme we are trying to live out; students were also encouraged to wear silly ties and suit jackets. After Mass, students flooded the cafeteria, getting ready to eat, while a representative from each grade gathered onto the stage, and a Chicken Finger Eating Contest took place.
As Friday came around, and the School Week came to a close, the students were encouraged to help others and write letters to soldiers expressing their gratitude to them. Over the week, students participated in activities that helped them to reflect on their Catholic faith, themselves and others alike. This marks another successful Catholic Schools Week for Cathedral Prep and the Catholic Church.
Check out the photo gallery for images from Catholic Schools week at Cathedral Prep: