Once a year, both staff and students look forward to the events that remind them of why St. Joe’s and other Catholic schools have a purpose.
There are many traditions involved with celebrating Catholic Schools Week at St. Joe’s. Each school day is set aside to acknowledge an important group that makes St. Joe’s the best it can be.
On Monday, “Our Country Day,” DeWitt Mayor Don Thiltgen attended the morning patriotic prayer service and provided the school with a proclamation for the week. The school followed this service by creating Valentine cards for area shut-ins and the military reminding them they are integral to the faith community.
As the snow rolled in on Tuesday, the students gathered as a community to watch a movie and eat popcorn. Other activities planned for the week were postponed because of the snow, but were or will be rescheduled.
On Feb. 9, the students invited their grandparents or special friends to attend the all-school Mass and stay for a pizza lunch. Some children invited guests to their classrooms where the visitors could reminisce about their own education and how everything has changed for the better. The evening was spent with a potluck supper put on by the Home and School Association with a meeting to follow.
On Feb. 10, teachers were treated to a home-cooked meal provided by St. Joe’s Home and School Association.
On Feb. 14, the entire school walked to the local referral center and donated canned goods. Members of the St. Joe’s community were slated to show school pride Feb. 15 by wearing school colors and attending the “pack the gym” night in support of the boys’ basketball teams.
To keep wellness alive in school, an all-school “paintball” (colorful rubber balls) tournament will be held in the gym at a later date. Also, the annual bingo afternoon will be scheduled later in the year.
A well-deserved break from the rigor of academics becomes a time of faith, family and fun.
