Catholic Schools Week kicks off next week, running from Jan. 26 to Feb. 1. This special week celebrates Catholic education, students, and staff while highlighting the reasons these institutions continue to flourish.
Catholic schools across Philadelphia and the nation will celebrate the week with a variety of activities that honor Catholic education. These events include Masses, open houses, and other programs designed for students, families, parishioners, and community members. This year’s theme is “Catholic Schools: United in Faith and Community.”
The National Catholic Education Association highlights many reasons to choose Catholic schools, starting with their commitment to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all. Additional reasons include fostering a sense of service to others, effectively incorporating technology to enhance learning, and offering a well-rounded academic curriculum that seamlessly integrates faith, culture, and life.
The National Catholic Education Association and The Annual Statistical Report on Schools also note that there are 5,905 Catholic Schools nationwide — of those 1,807 are urban, 476 are inner-city, 2,379 are suburban, 1,216 are rural, and 4 are virtual.
Throughout a student’s time at Catholic Schools, they prepare students to be “productive citizens and future leaders” and “emphasize moral development and discipline on top of showing children respect of selves and others.” Catholic Schools Week tries to showcase all that through open houses and assemblies to show off students’ work.
Each day of Catholic Schools Week has a theme, and here’s what you can expect next week.
Sunday: Celebrating Your Parish
Catholic schools benefit all year long from the religious guidance, prayers and support parishes provide. Many parishes join in the National Catholic Schools Week celebration by devoting a Mass to Catholic education. Schools start the week by inviting parishioners and community members to parish-centered events and school open houses that feature their outstanding academic programs, religious education and service opportunities.
Monday: Celebrating Your Community
A central aspect of Catholic education is learning the importance of service to others. When students take part in service activities – both local and beyond – they demonstrate the values and faith they gain through their Catholic education and learn how to make the world a better place. When they observe how others serve the community, they gain an appreciation for how they can continue to serve others their entire lives.
Tuesday: Celebrating Your Students
Schools celebrate students during National Catholic Schools Week by planning enjoyable and meaningful activities for them and recognizing their accomplishments. They encourage students to reflect on the benefits of Catholic education and how the grounding in faith, knowledge and service it provides will help them throughout their lives.
Wednesday: Celebrating the Nation
On National Appreciation Day for Catholic schools, students, families, educators and other Catholic school supporters communicate the value of Catholic education to government leaders. They share information with leaders on the significant contributions Catholic schools make to the nation and their role in preparing students to be good citizens. They pray for the nation and recognize all those who serve.
Thursday: Celebrating Vocations
By focusing on faith, knowledge and service, Catholic schools prepare children to use their God-given talents to the fullest later in life. National Catholic Schools Week offers an opportunity for students to explore the many life paths that enable them to use their talents well in the service of God and others.
Friday: Celebrating Faculty, Staff and Volunteers
Teachers are the backbone of Catholic schools. On this day, schools honor teachers, as well as administrators and staff who support teachers in their important work, and thank the parents, grandparents, alumni, parishioners and school board members who provide volunteer service.
Saturday: Celebrating Families
Parents, guardians and other family members play a vital role in Catholic education. Not only do they volunteer at the school, they instill values and expectations for academic excellence in their children at home. Catholic schools acknowledge the role of families in Catholic education and celebrate their contributions to the success of schools on the last day of National Catholic Schools Week, and all year long.
For more information on National Catholic Schools Week, visit ncea.org/csw.
