Every year after staff and students return from Christmas break, any lull in the action is quickly replaced with a flurry of preparation for an annual school showcase.
While teachers, administrators and the student body look to begin a new year on the right foot, readying for Catholic Schools Week serves as a way for entire campus families to creatively pull together to celebrate the strength and uniqueness of a faith-based education.
From Jan. 28 to Feb. 3, diocesan school members will participate in the 50th annual Catholic Schools Week. The National Catholic Educational Association has provided guidance and promotion for the open house-style series of events that have highlighted the church and civic contributions of students and educators since 1974.
At St. Mary in Griffith, 22-year principal Rebecca Maskovich (who also taught for 10 years before becoming principal) said that through the years her students and staff have developed some “really awesome ideas” to focus not only on faith and academic mission, but also fun.
Maskovich keeps in close communication with her teachers as they prepare to roll out engaging activities from reading vignettes between school buddies to themed open-gym parties, like a 1980s dance.
“We meet as a faculty to discuss the events for each day,” the St. Mary principal explained. “The teachers decorate the hallways according to our theme ... I have a very creative staff.”
For as much fun as the students tend to have, issues of greater gravity are always factored into the itinerary.
“We try to keep the focus of the week on our Catholic faith; it reminds the students of our mission while incorporating fun activities,” said Maskovich. “This year we are focusing on the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Everything we do is fruit-related.”
Natasha Magnuson, sixth-year principal at Notre Dame School said Catholic Schools Week stirs excitement in Michigan City for its fun and unique student- and family-centric activities.
Student learning is put on display as parents and other guests, who may be prospective members, participate in classroom tours. Magnuson said the transparent displays are by design as the school need not set up fake scenarios.
“It’s always nice to have the family in there – not just before or after school – but actually during the day so they can see how the school functions,” Magnuson said. “The students are themselves; we don’t want to try to stage anything.”
At the 245-enrollment mark, Notre Dame retains an academy setting based on faith and academics. The proper attire and manners do not preclude the students from having some zany fun at the appropriate times.
Magnuson said she is excited about the “Say Yes” theme, in which students can request staff members agree to do something within reason. She made no mention of the dunk tanks that have been a historic part of some diocesan CSW, parish festivals and other events. This year’s plan is still up in the air.
Michelle Ondas graduated from eighth grade at St. John the Baptist Catholic School in 1992 (and from BNI in 1996), and she remembers how the big school and church in the little city kept things like a family.
“We would always have a family Mass to start off Catholic Schools Week,” she said of a student-parent-neighbor liturgy in Whiting. “I remember going to that Mass with all the other kids and families. We built things together … I want to emphasize that sense of family and support for all of our kids.”
Preparing for her first CSW as principal of her alma mater, Ondas said the friendly vibe at the school never left and the associated gatherings take a tone of a celebration of that fact. A theme being worked out for the school-church efforts includes Wizard of Oz activities, which remind Trojan students and alumni that there truly “is no place like home.”
To spread the cheer, SJB students and staff aim to collect donations of blankets and supplies to share with charities that they have a long-standing relationship with such as Haven House and the Whiting Animal Shelter.
Diocesan Superintendent of Schools Colleen Brewer recalled her days as a teacher and principal when she marveled at the enthusiasm her students had to “show off” their creative work to those participating in Catholic Schools Week events. The leader of 20 Northwest Indiana institutions of learning sees this as a time for thanksgiving.
“We go out of our way throughout this week to give thanks to our staff, families, parishioners, pastors, and neighbors,” said Brewer. “This year, we also want to remember the legislators who chose to support the expansion of School Choice in Indiana. These legislators are prioritizing your children and your choice for their education. This expansion has helped to grow our Catholic School family, to give more students the opportunity to attend a school that can help them be the best student and person they can be.”
Caption: A Catholic Schools Week message is pictured on the sign at St. John Bosco School in Hammond. Like other diocesan schools, SJB will celebrate CSW from Jan. 28 - Feb. 3 with academic events, prayer and liturgy, charitable endeavors and leisure activities. (Anthony D. Alonzo photo)