GREENVILLE — St. Mary’s School in Greenville will be celebrating Catholic Schools Week, starting Saturday.
The National Catholic Education Association (NCEA) selects a theme and each school plans activities around this theme. The theme this year is “Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service.”
“At St. Mary’s School, Catholic Schools Week is a celebration of all the elements or the school that makes it such a great place — students, parents, faculty, staff, friends and the entire parish community,” said Principal Vernon Rosenbeck. “Please join our Catholic Schools Week celebration. Encourage friends and neighbors who may be considering a Catholic school for their children to visit St. Mary’s We are very proud of our school. Please check us out.”
Friday and Sunday, students will participate in all Masses. The Children’s Choir will sing at the 10:30 a.m. Mass, with refreshments in the school cafeteria to follow all Masses. Everyone is welcome. The daily theme is “Faith, Knowledge and Service in our PARISH.”
Monday’s daily theme is “Faith, Knowledge and Service in our STUDENTS.” The day will begin with a prayer service with fifth grade to lead, while prayer will be given by Fr. White at 9 a.m. Greenville Mayor Steve Willman will present the school with a proclamation. From 9:15 to 9:25 a.m., Bubble Wrap will kick off the beginning of Catholic Schools Week, and from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. students with the last initials of K to Z will have lunch with parents/grandparents. Students, it was noted, may bring in fast food or pack a special lunch to share with their family. Students with last names beginning with A-J must pack their lunch. Montage will offer pre-ordered lunches. The clothing theme for the day is: Favorite color.
Third- and fourth-grade students will lead the prayer service at 7:40 a.m. on Tuesday, and at 9 a.m., the sixth grade will be going to Lehman High School. The daily theme will be “Faith, Knowledge and Service in our STAFF,” and the theme for the day will be Hat Day.
Wednesday’s activities will start off with first- and second-graders leading the 7:40 a.m. prayer service. A geography bee is set for 9 a.m. At 10 a.m., featured will be the ringing of church bells and the lower-grade students will also ring hand bells. Also featured will be Get Up and Dance throughout the Day. Today, students whose last names start with A-J will be having lunch with parents/grandparents from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Students may bring in fast food or pack a special lunch to share with their family, while students with last names beginning with K-Z must pack their lunch. Montage, again, will offer pre-ordered lunches. The daily theme is “Faith, Knowledge and Service in our NATION,” with the clothing theme being Pajama Day.
The 7:40 a.m. prayer service Thursday will be led by sixth-graders, while students in grades K-4 will be attending Victoria Theatre from 8 to 11:30 a.m. The daily theme is “Faith, Knowledge and Service in our FAMILIES.” The clothing theme will be Sports Shirts for grades 5-8. Those attending the Victoria Theatre, however, are to be in school code clothing…no jeans or spirit wear.
At the 8 a.m. Mass on Friday, there will be the Blessing of the Throats, while the seventh- and eighth-graders will lead prayer during Mass. Special Person Day will be celebrated from 8 to 9:45 a.m., with a special person, such as a grandparent, aunt/uncle, neighbor, etc. being able to attend Mass with the students. Pictures will be taken and refreshments offered after Mass. For the rest of the day Friday, there will be Buddy Bingo from 10 to 11 a.m., regular pizza lunch or packed lunch from 11:20 a.m. to noon, and a movie sponsored by the student council from 12:15 to 2:15 p.m. Theme of the day is “Faith, Knowledge and Service in our COMMUNITY.”