January 21, 2015 (Louisville, Ky.) More than 19,000 students and 1,500 faculty and staff at 46 Catholic elementary and secondary schools will celebrate National Catholic Schools Week from January 25-31, 2015. 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 27, at Saint Michael Parish, 3705 Stone Lakes 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 Sheila Marstiller of St. Michael School; the Religious Educational Excellence Award to Jan Redle of St. Bernard School; and the Outstanding School Volunteer Award to Ann Bruce of Our Lady of Lourdes School. In addition, the recipient of the Fr. Joseph McGee Award for Outstanding Catholic Educator, Ted Elsesser of Sacred Heart Academy, will be acknowledged. The Father McGee award is presented each year at the Salute to Catholic School Alumni dinner, which will be held on Wednesday, March 18, 2015.
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 46 Catholic elementary and secondary schools are located in six counties in the Archdiocese of Louisville. All schools will schedule special activities throughout the week. Following are a few examples of these activities.
St. Raphael Holds Geography Bee and “Drama by George” Play
On Thursday, January 29 at 1:00 p.m., St. Raphael School (2131 Lancashire Avenue) will hold its first ever geography bee. This will be held in the school gym. On Friday, January 30 at 10:00 a.m., St. Raphael School will host a “Drama by George” presentation for students in grades K-5. Called Kylie for President, this play focuses on making positive choices in the face of peer pressure.
CONTACT: Jean Ann May, 502/456-1541, ext. 1109
St. Margaret Mary School Holds Open House and Faculty/Student Volleyball Game
On Thursday, January 29 beginning at 8:15 a.m., St. Margaret Mary School (7813 Shelbyville Road) will hold an open house after Mass for parents. After Mass at 8:15 a.m., special activities are planned in each class room to highlight Catholic education. On Friday, January 30 at 1:30 p.m., the 8th grade will play the faculty in a volleyball game in the school gym.
CONTACT: Wendy Sims, 502/426-2635
St. Leonard School Holds Planet Parade
On Wednesday, January 28, beginning at 8:15 a.m., the 3rd grade students at St. Leonard School (440 Zorn Avenue) will perform the “Planet Parade” for parents and other classes in the school library. The students will tell in rhyme the story of the planets. It is performed in 15- minute increments and will take place from 8:15 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
CONTACT: Mary Parola, 502/897-5265
For more information contact Cecelia H. Price at 502/585-3291, 502/417-7187 (CELL) or email here.
