Wednesday of Catholic Schools Week is the day that we celebrate Catholic Schools and the impact they have on our nation. This is also the official national day of appreciation for Catholic Schools. Here are five fun ways to celebrate in your community.
- Red, white, blue and you! free dress– My 8th grade class last year came up with this idea and it was one of my favorites. In addition to the traditional red, white, and blue free dress that our school often does, the 8th graders had the idea to focus on the many cultures that make up our nation and more specifically our school. Students were invited to wear patriotic free dress or clothing that expressed their family’s cultural heritage. It was so cool to hear all the stories behind the outfits students chose to wear.
- Learn the story of Elizabeth Ann Seton– One of the patrons of Catholic Schools, Elizabeth Ann Seton founded the first Catholic School in our nation. She’s a great role model and example of a hard working mom saint.
- Meet for a school wide flag raising and salute- Even though it’s super cold where we live during January, this is always one of my favorite prayer experiences. The whole school stays outside at the first bell and has a short prayer service and flag salute. It doesn’t have to be long or fancy, but it’s a great way to change up the morning prayer routine.
- Write to local lawmakers about social justice issues facing your state– For years my students wrote letters to our governor asking him to abolish the use of the death penalty in our state in line with the Catholic teaching on the dignity of all life. A few years ago, he did! While I don’t know if our letters made a difference, I like to think it did.
- Learn about famous Americans who went to Catholic schools– There are tons of celebrities who went to Catholic schools and credit what they learned there with their successes. Now, obviously as a teacher you’ll want to practice discretion here. Many of these celebrities will hold views that are not in line with Catholic teaching, but also many that are! Students will often surprise you with their ability to understand this nuance.
Does your school have any great ways of celebrating the nation during Catholic Schools Week? Have any questions for me? Please let me know by leaving a comment or question. If you liked this post, please share it with someone else.
