Catholic Schools: Character. Compassion. Values is the theme of Catholic Schools Week, which begins Sunday.

The week of events, launched in 1974, celebrates education which prepares pupils for a Christian life. Here are observances among West schools:

Bishop Canevin, Oakwood

Opening Mass will be Monday morning and Friday will be a Career Day, with alumni speakers from 12 careers and professions. Pupils will interact with Catholic schools in neighboring parishes throughout the week, acting as lectors at Mass and speaking about the value of a Catholic education. They also will assist with Grandparent Day, a family picnic and a pancake breakfast at Elizabeth Seton School.

Divine Mercy, Beaver Falls

There will be a soup and baked goods sale after Sunday Masses and an open house from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the school. Monday will feature a religion bee; A Gateway to the Arts presentation will be Tuesday morning and a spelling bee will be in the afternoon. Wednesday features a family evening of entertainment with a pizza dinner, open house and talent show. Friday includes a morning Mass, principal's awards and blessing of throats for the Feast of St. Blaise.

Elizabeth Seton, Sheraden

The opening Mass will be at 4:30 p.m. Sunday in Holy Innocents Church, in Sheraden. Bring a Friend to School Day will be Monday. Junior Achievement Day will be Tuesday. Teacher Appreciation Day, open house and registration for next year will be Wednesday. Grandparent's bingo and open house will be Thursday.

Friday will feature a family Mass, a volleyball game and a picnic. The week concludes Saturday with a closing Mass honoring volunteers in Guardian Angels parish and a pancake breakfast.

Holy Child, Bridgeville

On Sunday, the Parent-Teacher Guild will offer coffee and doughnuts after each Mass and there will be an open house from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. in the school.

Monday will be Sports Day for wearing favorite sports team jerseys or hats; Wednesday will be School Spirit Day, when pupils wear the red and white school colors and the day for a Chess club mini-tournament from 3 to 4:30 p.m.

On Thursday, an all-school Mass planned by seventh- and eighth-graders will begin at 8:30 a.m. in the church. Pupils will celebrate Catholic education and the parish feast day. It's school dress up day -- no uniforms.

Friday will be Career Day. Adults will speak about their careers to pupils in all grades.

Holy Trinity

Preschoolers (4-year-olds) will have School Spirit Day and the rest of the school will have Career Day on Monday. Dress Down Day, an open house, a "no-bullying" program for grades 5-8 and a movie for grades K-4 will highlight Tuesday.

Parents will share stories and snacks with 4-year-olds and eighth graders will teach classes Wednesday. On Thursday, the 3-year-old preschool will have a pajama party, volunteers will be blessed at Mass and will receive bookmarks from pupils, the middle school will have a spelling bee, and there will be an information program for parents of future preschoolers at 7 p.m.

On Friday, parents will share stories and snacks with 4-year-olds, middle pupils will go skiing and grades K-1 will go roller skating. The week will conclude with a waffle breakfast Sunday after the 8 and 10 a.m. Masses.

Mount Gallitzin, Baden

Mount Gallitzin Academy, a private school for children in preschool through eighth grade, sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph, will be host to a continental breakfast Sunday morning in the school cafeteria, followed by a liturgy. Afterward, families can tour the facilities and meet the faculty. A second open house will be conducted from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Feb. 7.

Pupils will dress in costumes representing various countries and take part in a special prayer service for peace beginning at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday during International Day of Prayer in the chapel.

On Thursday, youngsters will take part in The Magic of Science, a presentation by Haberman Magic. They can buy books and other items during the Scholastic Book Fair.

Our Lady of Fatima, Hopewell

Pupils and parents will participate in a school Mass and community breakfast Sunday. The annual alumni award will be presented at Mass. Monday will be a Students Shine Day with pupils bringing something of which they are proud, and participating in a talent show in the afternoon. Youngsters will attend a program honoring the life of John the Baptist on Tuesday, while Wednesday will be Teacher Appreciation Day. Student Appreciation Day is Thursday and will include an assembly with the parish pastor, a firefighter, a policeman and a township commissioner, making presentations on people of character.

Our Lady of Grace, Scott

Opening liturgy at 6 p.m. Saturday will be followed by an ice cream social in Conroy Hall. Junior varsity and varsity basketball games will begin after Mass. Monday will be Favorite Hat Day and Movie Day. Pupils will attend the movie with their Guardian Angels.

Tuesday will be Career Day with bus drivers treated to coffee and doughnuts as they drop off pupils in the morning. Youngsters will have a pizza lunch and teachers will enjoy lunch courtesy of the Parent Teacher Guild. In the afternoon, visitors will talk about their careers.

Grandparent's bingo will be Wednesday.

On Thursday, school tours will begin at 9:30 a.m. and a family member or special person can join pupils at 12:30 p.m. for a picnic in the gym for Family Picnic Day. Dress Up in Your Best Clothes Day will be Friday. Liturgy will be at 9 a.m., Eucharistic adoration will begin after Mass. Closing benediction will be at 2 p.m.

Our Lady of Lourdes, Burgettstown

An opening Mass and an open house will be Sunday, followed by a pierogi dinner in the school cafeteria. Monday will be School Spirit Day. Appreciation days for teachers, staff and parents will be Tuesday and Wednesday. Student appreciation days will be Thursday and Friday.

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Moon

Pupils will have a dress-down day and will receive a treat at lunch during Student Appreciation Day on Monday. A noon Mass and the recitation of the Rosary will highlight God Appreciation Day on Tuesday. The faculty and staff will enjoy a catered lunch and receive notes of appreciation from pupils during Teacher Appreciation Day on Wednesday.

OLSH Appreciation Day will be Thursday with the renewal of vows for Sister Mary Clare and the Felician Sisters sharing their stories about the school. Community Service Day will be Friday.

Quigley High School, Baden

The faculty will serve breakfast for senior students Wednesday. The school will provide lunch for the faculty Friday.

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Sheraden

A spaghetti dinner will be sponsored by the Parent-Teacher Guild Sunday. Monday, seventh- and eighth-graders will teach class for two periods and there will be a prayer partners lunch. Career Day will be Tuesday. Pupils can wear pajamas and slippers for Movie Day Wednesday. A family luncheon and bingo will be Thursday. Western Day and an afternoon dance will be Friday.

St. John of God, Stowe

On Monday, grades seven and eight will hear a talk about human relations and labor and grades K-3 will learn about guide dogs and Braille alphabet. Sister Janice Vanderneck will speak about the Latino community in Pittsburgh to grades four and five, Multicultural Day will be observed by grades one to three and kindergarten pupils will have a teddy bear picnic Tuesday.

Wednesday, a school Mass will be followed by a grandparents and special guests tea. The Rev. Regis Ryan will speak on Catholic Social Justice Principles on Thursday and grades K-3 will watch a puppet presentation on bullying, disabilities and deafness. On Friday, grades one and two will play a tiny tots basketball game, it will be Steelers Pride Day. Donations from Dress-Down Day will benefit Chimbote Missions.

St. Joseph, Coraopolis

A principal's spelling bee will be Monday. A special persons lunch will be for grades K-2 on Tuesday, which also is Red and White Spirit Day, the start of the book fair and Preschool Pajama Day.

Wednesday is Teacher Appreciation Day, with a breakfast for teachers, grade eight pupils will teach classes during the second and third periods, grades three to eight will wear jerseys and clothing from their favorite sports team, Pajama Day for preschool to grade two and older pupils will read with younger ones.

A special person's Mass will be Thursday, followed by coffee and doughnuts. An open house will begin at 6:30 p.m. and a talent show will follow. Friday will be Student Appreciation Day, with blue jeans, buddy bingo, games and crazy hats.

St. Malachy, Kennedy

Monday features storytelling for grades K-8 and two pupils from each grade will recite stories. It also will be Pajama Day. Tuesday will be buddy bingo in the church hall and Crazy Dress Day.

Wednesday is Country-Western Day with a pancake breakfast, square dancing, and a karate demonstration. On Thursday, there will be a resources conservation program, the faculty will play the eighth-graders in volleyball and it will be Blue and White Day.

Friday during Mass, eighth-graders will discuss why they like St. Malachy. There will be a yo-yo demonstration in the afternoon.

St. Margaret of Scotland, Green Tree

The week will begin with a Mass and dinner on Saturday. Earlier in the day, second grade will have a reconciliation retreat, and St. Louise de Marillac will host a forensics meet. Fire and Ice will perform for assemblies Monday. A Multicultural Day and an ice cream social will be Tuesday. Wednesday is Junior Achievement Day, and Thursday features a student appreciation auction and a talent show.

St. Philip, Crafton

Pupils will present a Thank You at Masses and have a Family Fun Night on Sunday. On Monday, there will be a book fair, Career Day, spelling bee, Passport to Fairy Tales program, friendship interviews and metric olympics.

Tuesday will feature a book fair, "K" Healthy Hands, an invention convention, Hispanic world cultures exhibit; paper people display; American Insian projects exhibit; social studies projects; and world cultures display.

Wednesday will have crazy winter olympics. On Thursday, there will be program for all grades and the middle school pupils will play the faculty in volleyball. Friday will feature an all-school liturgy, a family reception, a buddy-read program, an antismoking program and game day.

St. Titus, Aliquippa

A program on cyber safety will be presented Monday. Celebrity Look-alike Day, a play about St. John the Baptist and a talent show will be Tuesday. A Fire and Ice assembly will be Wednesday. An olympics, lunch and Valentines for Vets will be Thursday. A school Mass and blessing of throats for the Feast of St. Blaise will be Friday, along with a friends and family picnic.

SS. Peter & Paul, Beaver Falls

Activities will address the Character, Compassion, Values theme. On Sunday, the focus is on the parish with pupils reading and serving at all Masses and an open house. Monday is Community Day, with the school featuring a cakewalk to raise money for the diocese's Chimbote Mission in Peru. Tuesday turns to a national focus, with National Appreciation Day, featuring letter writing to soldiers. Wednesday is student appreciation, Thursday is Appreciation for Vocations Day, and Catholic Trivia Day, while Friday features a First Friday Mass and coffee klatch for volunteers.

SS. Simon & Jude, Scott

On Sunday, there will be liturgy in the church at 11:30 a.m., an open house at the school from 12:30 to 2 p.m., a talent show at 4 with a family spaghetti dinner to follow. Crazy Hat Day is Monday, an ice cream social is Tuesday, an afternoon movie is Wednesday and Bring a Friend to Lunch is Thursday. Greg Kenney will present a Rosa Parks tribute Friday, which will be School Spirit Day. Among the activities will be a basketball game. A social studies multicultural exhibit by sixth-graders and a science fair for seventh- and eighth-graders will continue all week.