Values for a Lifetime

Catholic Schools Week is an annual national celebration of the important role that Catholic elementary and secondary schools across the country play in providing a values-added education for America's young people. Dayton area Catholic schools are proud of their educational network that emphasizes intellectual, spiritual, moral, physical, and social values in their students.

The Catholic elementary and secondary schools in the Greater Dayton area will mark the annual Catholic Schools Week celebration from January 31- February 6, 2010, with a full plate of fun and inspirational activities as they celebrate "Catholic Schools: Dividends for Life."  Most schools will have programs every day.

Some examples:

Sunday January 31: Many area elementary schools will hold Open Houses on this day, including St. Anthony, Holy Angels, Mary Queen of Peace in Dayton;  St. Albert and St. Charles in Kettering; St. Christopher in Vandalia; St. Peter in Huber Heights, and in Greenville, St. Mary School. For a complete listing of all area school Open House dates and times, please visit www.cecdayton.org.   

Monday, February 1: It’s Teacher Appreciation Day today at Bishop Fenwick High School. (contact Mark Floyd, mfloyd@fenwickfalcons.org  513-423-0723). At St. Christopher School in Vandalia, parents can join their students for lunch today at 11 a.m. (contact Sister Pat Kremer, 898-5104).   Students at St Brigid School in Xenia will assemble at 10 a.m. to form a cross for an all-school photo. (Contact Patty Harner, 372-3222)

Tuesday, February 2:  At St Peter School, there will be a 2:00 p.m. Student/Staff Volleyball
Game and Pep Rally. (Contact Rita Poole at 233-8710)   At Immaculate Conception School, parents can join their students for breakfast from 7:30 – 8:30 a.m. (contact Karyn Hecker, 253-8831).

Wednesday, February 3: Today is the Catholic Schools Week All-School Mass, including groups of students and faculty from each school in Dayton and the northern Miami Valley area (includes schools from Middletown to Wapakoneta).  The All-School Mass begins at 10 a.m. at St. Henry Parish, 6666 Springboro Pike. Contact Laurie Cross, 422-7948.    

Thursday, February 4:  Today is Awards Day at Our Lady of the Rosary School, 40 Notre Dame Ave in Dayton, 9:00 a.m. (contact Gregg Marino, 222-7231). Today is also Grandparents Day at Precious Blood School, 4870 Denlinger Rd., Dayton. Grandparents join their grandchildren for a special prayer service at 10:10 a.m., followed by lunch. (Contact Dan Mecoli, 277-7231)

Friday, February  5: To close Catholic Schools Week at Incarnation School in Centerville, Music and liturgical dance will be led by Mrs. Sherri Masline, the School’s talented Music Director, at the 8:45 a.m. Mass.  If you are in need of a “faith-lift,” this is the Mass that will do it.  (contact Cheryl Reichel, 433-1051  www.incarnation-school.com ). A great photo/video opportunity will be available at St Albert the Great School in Kettering at approximately 2:15 when the school does its annual Balloon Launch. (Contact Kathleen or Julie at 298-1122 ext. 280 or via cell at 361-4468)

Service Projects

Many schools are doing special community service projects during Catholic Schools Week; this is in addition to the service projects that all of our schools already do during the school year.  

Holy Angels School: collecting games and other items to donate for use by patients at Dayton Children’s (contact Emily Saunders, 229-9598  saundeep@holyangels.cc )

Bishop Leibold School: collecting items for St. Vincent DePaul Hotel during Catholic Schools Week.  The fifth grade students, who, as part of their Social Justice unit are studying about poverty, will be promoting the project.  (contact Kathy Bishop, 434-9343  www.bishopleiboldschool.com)

Ascension School:  Scoops for Troops at Ascension School, 2001 Woodman Dr in Kettering,  – Ice cream will be served at lunchtime for a donation to benefit our military personnel on Feb. 4. Contact Brent Devitt at 254-5411.

Chaminade Julienne High School - Chaminade Julienne students will use Catholic Schools Week 2010 to focus on the life and mission of Sister Dorothy Stang, SNDdeN.  Sister Stang was murdered on February 12, 2005 for her pursuit of social justice for poor farmers of Brazil and for her dedication to the preservation of the country’s environment. Students will learn how Sister Stang’s decision to follow God’s call remains a bright and meaningful example of servant leadership in their lives today. (Contact Tina Wagoner, 461-3740 x238.)

St. Charles Elementary and Alter High School – On February 4, students from these two schools will join to participate in Heels for Haiti, a 1 mile walk to raise money and awareness for Haiti relief efforts. (contact Maggie Collins at St. Charles, 434-4933)

St Luke School, Beavercreek – All this week, the students and staff will collect money for the Hands Together Mission in Haiti.  The money will go to the Becky DeWine School, named in memory of the daughter of former Senator Mike DeWine.  The school was heavily damaged in the recent earthquake. (Contact Leslie Vondrell, 426-8551)

JohnXXIII School Middletown: The students and staff will collect items for donations to St Vincent DePaul. (Contact Brenda Neu at 513-424-1196)