IC invites public to celebrate Catholic Schools Week

By Kate Hayden, khayden@charlescitypress.com

A mix of old and new traditions will give students something to celebrate next week at Immaculate Conception Elementary School.

Staff and students will recognize Catholic Schools Week Jan. 28-Feb. 3 with events including fundraisers, an inaugural IC Hall of Fame and a basketball game.

The week is a national celebration of Catholic education in the U.S., begun in 1974 by the National Catholic Educational Association.

“This week portrays the whole focus of a Catholic school. We celebrate our successes, we reach out to others and we stick together,” said IC Principal Lynette Hackett.

“It’s a time for us to showcase what we do and to put ourselves out there in the forefront, and let people know our kids are doing really wonderful things.”

The week starts with a Development Board-organized fundraiser at 5 p.m. Saturday. The fundraiser is a yearly tradition for the school.

“Our fundraiser is a kickoff to Catholic Schools Week,” Hackett said. “There’s raffles, there’s a silent auction, a band and a great meal. It’s a really fun event.”

On Monday, IC is hosting a school luau and inviting families and local businesses to join as a thank-you for the community’s support. That afternoon, sixth-grade students will also lead a STEM fair for students in kindergarten through fifth grade.

On Tuesday, IC students will focus on the nation, Hackett said.

Students will write to pen-pals at four different Catholic schools out of state, as well as writing thank-you notes to U.S. service members.

Thursday will be the first time IC has hosted a vocation day for students, Hackett said.

“We all have a vocation, whether it be a religious vocation or not, so we have people throughout the community coming in” to speak with students, she said.

Students will sit in during 20-minute rotations to hear about community member’s jobs and how faith plays a role in their work.

“We started out thinking it was just more of (religious) service, and then we thought, ‘you know, let’s just combine it,'” Hackett said. “Even though I’m choosing to be a principal, I chose to be a principal in a Catholic school because of my faith and I felt I could help.

“We wanted the speakers to bring that up, that no matter what your vocation is, you can still bring in the Christian aspects,” she said.

Friday will be a full day to end the week, Hackett said.

The school will celebrate its annual “birthday party” to recognize Immaculate Conception Elementary’s founding in 1895, and honor the first inductee to the IC Hall of Fame, to be announced that morning.

Members of the public are invited to the morning announcement, at 9 a.m. in the school gym.

“We chose someone that has been immersed in service to the IC community,” Hackett said. “It’s going to be a yearly event, (recognizing) an alumni or a parent who has just really done a lot for our school, and given a lot of their time and talent.”

“We have so, so many people who support our school and work with us, and do phenomenal things for the school,” she added.

The week is a chance to recognize the kind of support IC school receives, Hackett said.

“We need to be proud. Our school is different,” Hackett said. “We have all the academics and accountability that the public school has, but I think the thing that makes it a little more special is just the community.

“We really have to rely on the support of our IC community. We’re strong and we’re proud. We have a really good thing going here, and we need to celebrate it.”

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK

Saturday, Jan. 27

• 4 p.m. – Student-led Mass at Immaculate Conception Church

• 5-6 p.m. – Development Board fundraiser at Immaculate Conception Elementary School

Sunday, Jan. 28

• 8 a.m. – Student-led Mass at Immaculate Conception Church

Monday, Jan. 29 — Community

• 11:30 a.m. – Public, local businesses and parents invited to School Luau at IC Elementary. Families need to provide lunch for students.

• 1-3 p.m – STEM activities for K-5 students led by sixth graders

Tuesday, Jan. 30 — Nation

• Students dress in red, white and blue

• Pen-pal day with Catholic students across the U.S., military members

Wednesday, Jan. 31 — Student

• “Dress your best” day for students

• 10 a.m. – Mass with Archbishop Jackels

• 12:30 p.m. – “The Star” movie at Charles Theater

Thursday, Feb. 1 — Vocations

• “Careers day” dress-up for students

• 1-3 p.m. – Career Day rotations

• 4:30-6:30 p.m. – McTeacher Night

Friday, Feb. 2 — Faculty, staff, volunteers

• 9 a.m. – IC birthday party and Hall of Fame naming, open to the public

• 12:30 p.m. – Sixth graders vs. staff basketball game

• 5:30 p.m. – IC Father/Daughter dance at Knights of Columbus