Diocese’s schools gear up for Catholic School Week

Students in Catholic schools all over the diocese , including these in Yuma, will show they appreciate their education.

Catholic School Week will be celebrated Jan. 29-Feb. 4 and schools throughout the Diocese of Tucson are acknowledging the occasion in myriad ways.
The theme is “Catholic Schools: Faith, Academics, Service,” focusing on three priorities that make Catholic schools stand out.
Here are some of the ways the schools are celebrating:

Immaculate Heart School, Tucson
On Monday, teachers and staff will be provided coffee and pastries and students will write letters to one past teacher telling how he or she made a difference in their lives. Tuesday, students will be celebrated with no homework and students may wear silly hats and socks for the day. Wednesday will be devoted to thanking God for parents/volunteers, Thursday for the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and Friday for the students’ grandparents.

Lourdes School, Nogales
On Sunday, Jan. 29, at noon an Honor Roll Mass will be celebrated in the Lourdes Chapel. Monday will be Parents Appreciation Day with an assembly at 8:15 a.m. and a prayer service by Sister Esther and Sister Barbara. At 6 p.m. there will be a conference for parents, open to the public. An elementary grades scavenger hunt will be held on Tuesday, Student Appreciation Day on Wednesday (a half day), a talent show on Thursday and all-school Eucharist on Friday at 10:15 a.m. in the gym (also a half day).  On Saturday will be the third annual Nun Run beginning at 9 a.m.

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School, Tucson
On Sunday, Jan. 29, there will be a Parish Appreciation Day, Book Fair and Science Fair, followed on Monday by a Diocesan Appreciation Day. Tuesday will be Pastor/Associate Appreciation Day, Wednesday Teacher/Staff Appreciation Day, Thursday Volunteer Appreciation Day and Friday Student Appreciation Day.

SS Peter & Paul, Tucson
On Jan. 29 there will be an open house/education fair and re-registration begins. On Jan. 30-31 the Science Fair Exhibition will be held. Wednesday will be Teacher Appreciation Day, Thursday will be Student Appreciation Day, and Friday will be Volunteer/Parent Appreciation Day with Mass and an open house at the school.

St. John School, Tucson
The school will engage in prayer partners with members of RCIA and other parish groups, create and display various depictions of academic and lifelong goals – college and Heaven, and participate in an essay contest to show what it means for Catholic schools to be places of Faith, Academics and Service.
Service projects will include making blankets for cancer patients and writing letters to elderly in nursing homes. There will be a special Mass for parents and students will tell why they enjoy attending Catholic school.

St. Joseph School, Tucson
Students will collect items (baby food, clothes, toys and diapers) for St. Elizabeth of Hungary Clinic during the week.  There will be select days to recognize volunteers, parents/grandparents, staff and maintenance with cards and good wishes, and a student appreciation day (no homework and a skating party) and a teacher appreciation day on Friday.  The Student Council will organize Spirit Days, fun activities to go with the week.

Santa Cruz, Tucson
On Monday there will be a special prayer experience for all grades. Wednesday will be College Shirt Day.  An “Academic Showcase” night will be held on Thursday, beginning with a family prayer in church and a family meal in Carmelite Hall. Friday there will be an all-school Mass at 8 a.m. and the “Kids Helping Kids” groups will continue the tradition of making sandwiches and delivering them to the guests at Casa Maria Catholic Worker House. Each family will receive a color page sent home with the theme of Catholic Schools Week, and parents will be asked to write their thoughts about what they appreciate in their child’s education at Santa Cruz regarding “Faith, Academics, Service.”  The responses of the parents will be posted at school and used as school promotional material published in the parish bulletin.

Our Mother of Sorrows, Tucson
On Jan. 29 there will be an open house for prospective parents. There will be a book fair Jan. 31-Feb. 3. On Thursday will be a Teacher/Staff Appreciation Lunch, followed on Friday by a school Mass at 10 a.m. and a parent/student BBQ hosted by the administration, staff and faculty.

St. Augustine High School, Tucson
Kicking off the celebration will be a Diocese of Tucson Middle School Leadership Conference on Friday, Jan. 27, hosted by St. Cyril School and St. Augustine Catholic High School for students leaders in grades 6-8. On Jan. 28-29 St. Augustine hosts the Diocesan Varsity Sports Tournament. On Monday, the focus will be on faith and service with reflections on projects accomplished.  Jan. 31 to Feb. 3 will be Kairos for Seniors at La Purisima. On Tuesday, the focus will be on faith and academics. Wednesday’s focus will be on service, with students writing thank-you notes to staff and key volunteers. There will be a faculty/staff appreciation lunch. Friday will be a free-dress day and a wrap-up of the theme at chapel, welcoming back the Kairos students.

Salpointe Catholic High School, Tucson
Salpointe will host the 20th annual Elizabeth Ann Seton Award Breakfast on Monday, Jan. 30, to celebrate leaders in Catholic education in Southern Arizona. On Tuesday, the school will host “Coffee with the President and Principal,” giving parents the opportunity to speak with Salpointe leadership in a relaxed and casual setting. On Wednesday, Salpointe will honor students who exemplify Catholic values with a continental breakfast. Parents are invited and each honored student is individually recognized. On Friday, Salpointe will hold an all-school liturgy, planned by our students, choir and Campus Ministry department.

San Miguel Catholic High School, Tucson
San Miguel High School will continue its five-year Catholic Schools Week program of focusing on service by taking on two projects.  In the early part of the week, students will expand their horizons by placing an academic focus on who our neighbor really is and why, particularly in light of an interdependent world economy and ever-increasing migration.  In the second part of the week, students will take time away from class to serve neighbors, particularly in the south Tucson community, by providing academic assistance to Catholic and public schools in the area and cleaning the neighborhoods.  The week will conclude with a prayer service bringing together service experiences and learning.

Immaculate Conception School, Yuma
During Catholic School Week, students, staff and parents will celebrates the mission of our school: faith, academics and service.  A school wide prayer service will open the week giving thanks and praise to God for the gift of Catholic education and Immaculate Conception School.  The week proceeds with many activities, including: Student Council Pep Rally, Special Dress Days, Scholastic Book Fair, Penny Drive for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, Family Luncheon, Fun Filled Field Day and All Catholic Schools Mass (Immaculate Conception, St. Francis, and Yuma Catholic).

Yuma Catholic High School, Yuma
Sunday, Jan. 29, there will be a Family Mass at St. Francis of Assisi at 6 p.m. On Monday, local religious leaders will be invited and recognized, with a talent show in the afternoon. On Tuesday, parents and members of the Mothers Guild will be recognized. Wednesday there will be recognition of local service agencies. The student body cross photo will be taken on Thursday, with free burgers and dessert, a student-teacher volleyball and dodgeball tournament and pizza and trivia games at 6:30 p.m.  On Friday, special recognition will be given to staff with Years of Service awards and other gifts, and a staff appreciation lunch will be hosted by St. Francis of Assisi School at 1 p.m.

St. Cyril, Tucson
St. Cyril and St. Augustine High School will sponsor a diocesan Middle School Leadership Conference Jan. 27.
On Jan. 29 a parish Mass will celebrate Catholic schools. On Monday, students will be honored and this will also be spirit week for the students.  Each day they will dress differently and honor one of the “Fruits of the Spirit.” On Tuesday, CTSO donors will be honored with a breakfast, and Feb. 1 will be Grandparents Day with a Mass and breakfast. Feb. 2 is Open House day and on Feb. 3 the school will honor all volunteers with a special breakfast.

Sacred Heart School, Nogales
On Monday the student body will take part in a Walking Rosary, while on Tuesday there will be a faith-related skit by grades 3, 4 and 5.  A Prayer Circle with links by kindergarteners through eighth graders will occur on Wednesday and another faith-related skit is planned by 6, 7 and 8th graders on Thursday. Friday there will be pastor presentation to the student body.

St. Ambrose School, Tucson
St. Ambrose will be celebrating and honoring everyone who makes the school a better place each and every day.  Activities will include Sunday Brunch with parishioners, picture drawings, letters and poems to parents from the students, a special treat for the Diocese from the school and parents, a luncheon for staff, and early dismissal for students along with fun games for the entire school.  As part of the celebration, the school will incorporate a community service for the local food bank.

San Xavier School, Tucson
Each class will choose one model of faith (a saint or person from the Bible) and create a poster board to decorate their door. On Tuesday, students will make rosary bracelets to hand out to visitors. Students will each decorate a “quilt piece” to make a school pride quilt on Wednesday.  Thursday will be school clean up day, and on Friday there will be an all-school Mass, with students encouraged to wear traditional dress.

St. Charles School, San Carlos
St. Charles School will open the week with a school liturgy and dedicate the week to all the friends and benefactors who help to keep the school alive and possible for 130 students.  A second cup of coffee will be held on Tuesday, teacher appreciation on Wednesday, Grandparents Day on Thursday and Student Appreciation Day on Friday.  Each grade is organizing a service project in the community for this week.

All Saints, Sierra Vista
Sunday Mass will be attended by faculty and students, with open house and tours of the school to follow. On Monday there will be a special lunch for students, and on Tuesday “Muffins with Mom” will include an art project. There will be an open house for parents and grandparents. On Wednesday “Donuts with Dad” will be followed later in the day by two benefit concerts for the school one at 2 p.m. and another at 8 p.m. Thursday is Career Day, and on Friday a Mass will be celebrated at 8:15 a.m.