January 21, 2014 Nearly 20,000 students and 1,500 faculty and staff at 47 Catholic elementary and secondary schools will celebrate National Catholic Schools Week from January 26-February 1, 2014. The theme for this year’s Catholic Schools Week is “Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge, and Service.”
Festivities for the week include the annual liturgy at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, January 28, at Saint Edward Parish, 9608 Sue Helen Drive. Student and faculty representatives from Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Louisville will attend this liturgy, which will be celebrated by Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D.
At the liturgy, awards will be given, including the Distinguished Elementary Principal Award to Jack Richards of Holy Trinity School; the Religious Educational Excellence Award to Brenda Rickert of St. Michael Parish; and the Outstanding School Volunteer Award to Mary Jo Burke of St. Mary Academy. In addition, the recipient of the Fr. Joseph McGee Award for Outstanding Catholic Educator, Martha Lies of St. Agnes School, will be acknowledged. The Father McGee award is presented each year at the Salute to Catholic School Alumni dinner, which will be held on Tuesday, March 18, 2014.
In addition to these awards, the Catholic Education Foundation will be presenting its poster and essay-writing contest awards to 3 elementary students for winning posters and 1 high school student for a winning essay. The poster and essay contests invite students to celebrate Catholic schools and the ways in which Catholic schools are “Communities of Faith, Knowledge, and Service.”
The 47 Catholic elementary and secondary schools are located in six counties in the Archdiocese of Louisville. Schools will be participating in many activities throughout the week. The following pages contain a sampling of these activities.
Jefferson County
St. Raphael Holds Science Matters and Personal Safety Assemblies
On Friday, January 31, St. Raphael School will hold special assemblies on science and personal safety for students. The “Science Matters in America” assembly is an interactive display of scientific principles. This assembly will be held in the gym from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. for grades Pre-K to 4 and from 10:00-11:00 a.m. for grades 5-8. The personal safety assembly will feature information about safety and allow students to win t-shirts for correctly answering questions. This will be held in the Media Center from 8:45-9:30 a.m. for grades 5-8 and from 10:00-10:45 a.m. for grades K-4.
CONTACT: Jean Ann May, 502/456-1541, ext. 1109
Trinity High School Holds Fundraiser for Catholic Relief Services
On Wednesday, January 29 students, faculty, and staff will be permitted to wear casual dress in exchange for a minimum donation of $1 or a written prayer. Proceeds will benefit Catholic Relief Services and their efforts in the Philippines, Haiti and around the world.
CONTACT: Adam Klein, 502/736-8230
St. Nicholas Academy Holds Variety of Cultural and Educational Events
On Monday and Tuesday, January 27-28, St. Nicholas Academy (5501 New Cut Road) will celebrate Kentucky’s musical heritage when the Dulcimer Society performs for students on Monday at 1:00 p.m. and the Kentucky Bluegrass Music Society performs on Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. On Tuesday, January 28, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m., the Louisville Zoo Outreach program will present “Experiencing Animals” for grades PK-2. On Wednesday, January 29, the Kentucky Shakespeare Society will present “Inspecting Shakespeare” at 1:00 p.m. for grades 5 and 8, and on Thursday, January 30 at 1:00 p.m. the Frazier Museum will present “Middle Ages” for grades 4 and 7. The Rausch Planetarium will bring the portable planetarium to the school on Friday, January 31 beginning at 8:00 a.m.
CONTACT: Kathy DeLozier, Principal, 502/368-8506
John Paul II Academy Holds Scavenger Hunt and Trivia Game
On Tuesday, January 28, at 1:00 p.m. John Paul II Academy (3525 Goldsmith Lane) will hold a scavenger hunt for grades K-4 based and a trivia contest for grades 5-8. Both of these events will be based upon material involving the school’s namesake (Blessed John Paul II) and the Catholic faith in general.
CONTACT: Lynn Wilt, Principal, 502/452-1712
Nelson County
St. Gregory School Collects Items for Nelson County Humane Society
At St. Gregory School (330 Samuels Loop) in Cox’s Creek, Ky. students will be collecting items to be donated to the Nelson County Humane Society. On Tuesday, January 28, there will be an all-school bingo match at 1:45 p.m., and on Wednesday, January 29, students will allowed to wear “beachy” attire for a “Beach Day.” On Thursday, January 30, the 6-8th grade students will attend a 10:00 a.m. Mass at Bethlehem High School and participate in lunch and activities at Bethlehem after the Mass. On Friday, January 31, the students of St. Gregory will participate in a 9:00 a.m. talent show.
CONTACT: John Westerfield, Principal, 502/348-9583
St. Joseph School in Bardstown Holds Several Events
At St. Joseph Elementary (320 West Stephen Foster Blvd.) in Bardstown, Ky., students will participate in a variety of activities. Middle school students will attend a skating party, 12:30 p.m., at the Whispering Wheels Roller Rink on Monday, January 27. On Wednesday, January 29, students in grades 3-5 will enjoy skating at the Whispering Wheels Roller Rink at 1:00 p.m., and students in grades K-2 will enjoy a Rainforest Animal Show at 1:00 p.m. On Thursday, January 30, students of St. Joseph Elementary will attend Mass, 9:30 a.m., at the Basilica of St. Joseph Proto-Cathedral (309 West Stephen Foster Avenue). After Mass, middle school students will travel to Bethlehem High School for lunch and activities. On Friday, January 31, the 8th grade versus faculty volleyball game will be held at 1:30 p.m., and students will be wearing St. Joseph School spirit wear.
CONTACT: Michael Bickett, Principal, 502/348-5994
For more information, call Cecelia Price, 502/585-3291 (Office) or 502/417-7187 (Cell).
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