CHARLOTTE — Students, teachers and parents are marking their calendars and getting pumped for the most festive school days of the year, Catholic Schools Week.
This year will greet the largest turnout the Diocese of Charlotte has ever seen, with enrollment numbers soaring to 8,350 students spread across 20 schools spanning from the mountains to the Piedmont. This year’s theme is “United in Faith and Community,” and it is set for Jan. 26 to Feb. 1. The week will be packed with a fun-filled schedule of faith, service and fellowship.
Catholic schools across the nation have participated in this event since 1974, joining together as one united Catholic student body to spread a message of unity and hope.
“Catholic Schools Week is an opportunity to shine a light on the impact Catholic education has on the formation of not only our students, but those in Catholic schools across the nation,” said Tara Hackman, advancement director for the diocese’s Catholic schools.
Students will have opportunities to dress silly, play games and sports, go on service field trips, pray and celebrate Mass and give back to the community.
While every school has unique events, here are some of the highlights: Starting off the week, Christ the King High School is hosting eighth-graders from Our Lady of the Assumption School, St. Mark School and Sacred Heart School to give them a glimpse of what high school is like, while Bishop Michael Martin will deliver a special prayer.
On Wednesday and Thursday, students will venture off-campus to serve people suffering from brain injuries at the Hinds Feet Farm in Huntersville.
On the other side of Mecklenburg County, Charlotte Catholic High School will have its annual 3-on-3 basketball tournament. The last teams standing will test their skills in the gym on Friday against faculty.
On Thursday, a special Mass will be celebrated in honor of vocations. Father Brian Becker, alumnus and diocesan vocations promoter, will preside, and afterward, local seminarians and sisters will share their vocation stories.
Service drives and projects are also planned throughout the week.
St. Patrick School kindergartners will travel to Dilworth Soup Kitchen, while the upper grades will bus over to Catholic Charities’ Charlotte food pantry for a service project. Community speakers such as Anne Gildea from Dilworth Soup Kitchen, Martin Jackson from Charlotte Rescue Mission and Joe Hamby from Roof Above will inspire and inform.
On Friday, parents are invited to attend Mass, visit classrooms and watch a basketball game between faculty and fifth-graders.
Over at St. Ann School, alumni will come back as “Mystery Readers,” teachers and students will face off in a volleyball game, and parents are invited to talk about their vocations with different classrooms.
Our Lady of the Assumption School will start the week with Mass at the parish church on Sunday morning, featuring the OLA Band. Students are encouraged to don their spirit wear.
On Tuesday, a school-wide bingo game will be held in the gym, and students will show off their talents on Friday at a talent show.
St. Gabriel School will host a breakfast for volunteers on Monday, a luncheon for teachers on Tuesday, and on Friday play games such as “Are you Smarter than a 5th Grader” and “Where is Bishop Martin?”.
St. Leo School in Winston-Salem starts off the week by having students serve and speak at Sunday Masses. On Monday, they’ll hear from local religious organizations and nonprofits about their roles in the community.
Superintendent Dr. Greg Monroe, who will be visiting schools all week to share in the fun, is excited. “This is a great opportunity to celebrate the very best of our schools and our communities.
It has always been a joyful opportunity to find the true meaning of what makes Catholic schools, Catholic schools,” he said.
— Lisa Geraci