From pennies to a picnic, Catholic Schools Week varied
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For the past three weeks, pupils at St. Angela Merici School in White Oak have been collecting pennies for the Chimbote Mission in Peru.
It's not just to help the mission but to help the school mark Catholic Schools Week, which runs from Sunday through Feb. 4.
Catholic schools across the PG East area have scheduled a variety of activities and academic programs in connection with the celebratory week.
"The reason we celebrate is to promote who we are and that we're faith-based. It is also to promote the Catholic schools and the fact that we score extremely high on standardized tests," said Lynda McFarland, principal of St. Angela Merici.
So far, the St. Angela Merici pupils have collected more than 630 pounds of pennies. They will be presented to Mike Clark, news anchor from WTAE-TV and active supporter of the mission, on Monday.
The rest of the week is equally busy. On Tuesday, pupils will hold Muffins with Mom and a talent show. On Wednesday, all grades will have a chance to bowl at White Oak Bowling Lanes. Next Thursday there is an ice cream social, open house and science fair. Sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade projects will be evaluated by Carnegie Mellon University professors.
To close the week, there will be a morning Mass and Blessing of Throats on Feb. 3. Pupils and parents will also compete in a basketball game.
Here's a look at how some of the other area schools are marking Catholic Schools Week:
St. Bernadette, Monroeville, will hold an open house from 1-3 p.m. on Sunday. On Monday, parent volunteers will teach economics to all grades for Junior Achievement Day. On Wednesday, the fifth and sixth grades will hold a science fair, and on Feb. 3 the school liturgy will be conducted by singer/songwriter Jamie Dillon.
North American Martyrs, Monroeville, is holding a family Mass at 11:30 a.m. Sunday and an open house from 12:30 to 2 p.m.
On Monday, pupils are permitted to wear their gym uniforms. On Tuesday, pupils are inviting special guests to breakfast and will wear red, white and blue to honor the military. There is a beach party with carnival type games at 1:15 p.m. on Wednesday. Next Thursday is school spirit day, with pupils encouraged to wear blue and gold. On Feb. 3 there is a sock hop. Admission is a canned good to be donated to the Community Food Band in Braddock.
Mother of Sorrows in Murrysville is holding an open house from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Sunday. Throughout the week, principal Patricia Sheahan will hold a read-a-thon with various grades. On Wednesday, parents, grandparents and other special guests are invited to attend lunch with the pupils. Next Thursday, WTAE's Clark will give a presentation in the school library, and there is an eighth-grade basketball game against the faculty at 2 p.m. on Feb. 3.
Greensburg Central Catholic will honor different groups within the school each day. Maintenance staff will be appreciated with doughnuts and pizza on Tuesday. Wednesday is administration appreciation day. Next Thursday is faculty and staff appreciation day. On Feb. 3, there will be a disc jockey at lunch for student appreciation day.
Serra Catholic High School in McKeesport will hold its first "Senior" Prom to be attended by grandparents of pupils on Wednesday. Pupils will have an ice cream social next Thursday and a Mass and dance in the cafeteria on Feb. 3.
Good Shepherd School in Braddock begins the week on Saturday with an opening liturgy given by the pupils. Following will be a Picnic in the Snow featuring summer picnic foods and a book fair from 5 to 7 p.m. On Monday, pupils will dress for their chosen careers, and local professionals will speak to classes. A Jump Rope for Heart fund-raiser for the American Heart Association is Tuesday. On Wednesday, faculty, staff and pupils will wear crazy hats and socks and provide a Thank You Breakfast for parishioners, benefactors, parents and friends of the school. A continental breakfast will also be held following 9:30 a.m. Mass next Thursday for parishioners. On Feb. 3, the school will hold a talent show, a Mass and a Steeler pep rally.
Queen of Angels School in North Huntingdon will hold its Angel Ball at Chesterfields Restaurant at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. From noon to 3 p.m. Sunday there is an open house. Pupils will also be collecting cans of soup to be donated to St. Vincent DePaul and the Salvation Army. From 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday there is a breakfast with neighbors and an all-school liturgy at 10 a.m. Feb. 3 activities include the Blessing of Throats, teacher appreciation luncheon and teacher/pupil volleyball game at 1:45 p.m.
At St. Bartholomew, Penn Hills, programs will feature Joann Kieler, the puppet maker, from 9 a.m. to noon on Monday, and the Dennis Bowman Weather Program at 2 p.m. At 1:15 p.m. on Wednesday there is a talent show. Feb. 3 will be dress-up day, with Mass at 10 a.m., a faculty/staff luncheon and dance for pupils from 7 to 10 p.m. Feb. 4 features the closing Mass at 5 p.m. and a family fun night in the cafeteria and gym.
St. Maurice School, Forest Hills, will have faculty, pupils and families participating in the noon Mass on Sunday. They will honor distinguished graduate Michael Killmeyer, class of 1981, who is an educational consultant for the Diocese of Pittsburgh. During the week, activities include collecting items for the homeless in the city of Pittsburgh, in conjunction with Mercy Hospital' s Operation Safety Net and the Sandwich Project of the Sisters of Mercy. On Wednesday, Stephen Cropper, meteorologist from WTAE TV, and representatives from the Carnegie Science Center will present a program at 1 p.m. Next Thursday, pupils will wear red, white and blue and pray for men and women of the armed services. The week will conclude with a presentation by WTAE's Clark on the diocesan mission in Chimbote at 8:30 and 9:40 a.m. In the afternoon, the annual ice cream social completes the week. In appreciation of the pupils' work and to help support the Chimbote Mission, containers for donations will be placed in each of the three halls and in front of the office.
St. Colman School, Turtle Creek, holds registration and open house on Saturday and opens the student art show that will be featured all week. On Monday, pupils participate in community service projects, including raising funds for Ma's Pantry. Tuesday includes recognition for service workers, with hot cocoa and cookies for bus drivers, crossing guards, police, fire and ambulance personnel, presented by the student council. Wednesday eighth-grade pupils will act as school faculty/staff. Feb. 3 events will include Blessing of the Throats at the 8:30 Mass for the Feast of St. Blaise. A Recycling is Magic show will be presented at 10 a.m. in the church basement, and the ethnic food festival will be open from 4 to 7 p.m. Entertainment will be provided by the Pittsburgh Area Slovak Folk Ensemble beginning at 7 p.m.
Transfiguration Catholic School, Russelton, will hold opening Mass at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday. Sunday features a pancake breakfast with entertainment by pupils and a building tour. Next Thursday is family appreciation day with fruit baskets distributed to community helpers. Feb. 3 will be student appreciation day and eucharistic adoration day. Snow tubing at Wildwood Highlands is planned for families on that evening.
St. Joseph Elementary School, Verona, plans a range of activities for the week, including a kickoff Mass at 5 p.m. on Saturday, followed by dinner and a movie, a crazy hat day on Monday, a school spirit day on Tuesday, and a Good Neighbor breakfast on Wednesday. Next Thursday is slippers day, and Feb. 3 is dress-up day as well as St. Blaise Day, with a Mass and Blessing of Throats.
St. Irenaeus School, Oakmont, will hold an open house on Sunday, along with a scholastic book fair that runs all week. Other activities include Doughnuts with Dad, Muffins with Mom and a family movie night. The week will end with the traditional roller skating party.
First Published January 26, 2006 12:00 am
