The Daily Press

Variety of activities planned as Catholic Schools Week gets underway

- By Becky Polaski Staff Writer

Catholic Schools Week kicked off on Sunday with this year’s theme being “Catholic Schools: Faith. Excellence. Service.” The Elk County Catholic School System (ECCSS) has a variety of activities planned for throughout the week at all of its schools as part of the annual celebratio­n of Catholic education.

While most activities vary by school, this year will once again feature a system-wide Mass for students at all schools throughout the ECCSS, which will be held on Tuesday at 10 a.m. at Queen of the World Church in St. Marys. Bishop Lawrence Persico will celebrate the Mass, which will be attended by students from St. Marys Catholic Elementary School, St. Marys Catholic Middle School, Elk County Catholic High School, and St. Leo School.

A look at the tentative schedule for the week at each of the schools in the ECCSS follows. The schedule is subject to change without notice.

St. Marys Catholic Elementary School

Catholic Schools Week gets underway today at St. Marys Catholic Elementary School with a celebratio­n of the 100th day of the 2022-2023 school year. Students will be taking part in a variety of 100th day of school activities and will also be making a handprint rainbow as part of a Noah’s Ark display. Students in each grade level were also assigned a color to wear for the day. Additional­ly, donations are being collected for the Fireworks Fund.

Elementary and preschool tours will also be taking place at 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.

On Tuesday, students will participat­e in the system-wide Mass at Queen of the World Church.

Wednesday is scheduled to be an ECC Spirit Day, with students encouraged to shine bright in their maroon and gold. There will be a pep rally and school excellence assembly, with cheerleade­rs leading the pep rally to help raise school spirit. Awards are also set to be presented to recognize students’ accomplish­ments. Students will also enjoy a game of bingo.

Thursday is Groundhog Day, and students will be getting in on the fun of guessing what Punxsutawn­ey Phil will predict this year. Those who think Phil will predict six more weeks of winter are asked to dress in white, blue, or a winter-themed shirt with a scarf tousle cap. Those who think Phil will predict an early spring are asked to wear yellow, green, orange, or a summer-themed shirt, along with sunglasses and a baseball or beach hat.

Thursday will also feature a Carnegie Science Center performanc­e. Students in kindergart­en through second grade will attend at 10 a.m., and students in third through fifth grade will attend at 1 p.m.

The week will wrap

up with a focus on Noah’s Ark on Friday. Each classroom will attend a reading of the Bible story of Noah’s Ark and then watch an age-appropriat­e movie on the topic. Students will be able to bring a blanket to lay on for both the story and movie and will also be able to wear school-appropriat­e pajamas and slippers for the day.

Throughout the week, students will also be able to enjoy a photo booth, learn fun facts about their teachers, and create valentines for the community.

St. Marys Catholic Middle School

Catholic Schools Week will get underway today at St. Marys Catholic Middle School with students spending the afternoon watching the movie “Kindness Matters.” They were also asked to bring in items for the Crusader Kindness Closet.

Additional­ly, today is also a dress down day at St. Marys Catholic Middle School, with students able to wear their favorite sport-themed shirt.

On Tuesday, St. Marys Catholic Middle School students will join students from throughout the ECCSS for the system-wide Mass at Queen of the World Church. They will also participat­e in a Kindness Rocks & Smiles activity.

Seventh and eighth graders will have the opportunit­y to take part in a ski trip to Holiday Valley in Ellicottvi­lle, N.Y. on Wednesday. Sixth graders and those not attending the ski trip will take part in an engineerin­g activity.

Thursday will be Math Day at St. Marys Catholic Middle School, with students in all grades working on a special math activity. Students will also enjoy a special ice cream sundae treat at lunch.

Middle schoolers will also have the opportunit­y to wear their favorite hat and flannel or fleece with their uniform on Thursday.

Catholic Schools Week will wrap up on Friday with an ECC Spirit Day featuring a special cinnamon roll breakfast, school-wide art project, and pep rally.

Each day throughout the week, middle schoolers will also offer prayers for their families, friends, students, staff, community, and nation.

Elk County Catholic High School

Catholic Schools Week gets underway today at Elk County Catholic High School with students taking part in a school-wide kindness activity and bringing in items for the new Crusader Kindness Closet. Today is also a dress down day, with students able to wear their favorite sport-themed shirt.

On Tuesday, ECC students will join with students from throughout the ECCSS for the system-wide Mass at Queen of the World Church. High schoolers will also participat­e in a Kindness Rocks & Smiles activity.

Wednesday will be an activity day at ECC, with students also enjoying a relaxed dress day.

On Thursday, ECC students will be able to wear their favorite hat and flannel or fleece with their uniform. There will also be a special ice cream sundae treat for students at lunch.

Catholic Schools Week will wrap up on Friday with an ECC Spirit Day featuring breakfast bingo and a pep rally.

Throughout the week, high school students will also offer prayers for their families, friends, students, staff, community, and nation.

St. Leo School

St. Leo School’s celebratio­n of Catholic Schools Week began on Saturday with students asked to wear red and white, or their school uniform, to the 5:15 p.m. Mass at St. Leo Magnus Catholic Church in Ridgway. The children’s choir was scheduled to perform for the occasion, with students also acting as readers and servers.

Today is a spirit dress day for students, and donations are being collected to benefit a child battling Ewing’s Sarcoma. Students will also be working with their prayer buddies to make placemats for the upcoming grandparen­ts’ lunch.

On Tuesday, students will join with the rest of the ECCSS for the system-wide Mass at Queen of the World Church in St. Marys.

Wednesday will be a movie day for students at St. Leo, and seventh and eighth graders will have the opportunit­y to participat­e in a ski trip to Holiday Valley in Ellicottvi­lle, N.Y.

There will also be a daddy/daughter social on Wednesday evening for girls in kindergart­en through third grade. Reservatio­ns are required.

Adoration will take place on Thursday, with students asked to give thanks for their parents sending them to a Catholic school.

Thursday will also be the grandparen­ts’ lunch. Students in kindergart­en through fourth grade will attend from 11:15-11:50 a.m., and students in fifth through eighth grade will attend from 12:05-12:45 p.m. Reservatio­ns are required.

Catholic Schools Week will wrap up on Friday with a schoolwide Mass, as well as the blessing of the throats for the Feast of St. Blaze. There will also be a school-wide bingo.

Tours of St. Leo School will be available by appointmen­t for new families throughout Catholic Schools Week.

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