by Cori Hilsgen
news@thenewsleaders.com
Does wearing your pajamas, dressing as a favorite character, spending a day at the beach and more – all while you’re spending your day at school – sound like fun to you? Many students at All Saints Academy thought so.
They celebrated National Catholic Schools Week Jan. 31-Feb. 2 with a variety of activities.
These included a CSW Sunday Mass, Pajama Day, Game Day, Character Day, Beach Day, Wacky Day and a “Feed the USA” service project.
Theresa Fleege, fourth-grade teacher, coordinated the week’s activities.
The week began with a 10 a.m. Sunday Mass in the Catholic church followed by a book-fair open house in the music room.
Monday gave students a chance to wear their pajamas, participate in the “Drop Everything and Read” event and a prayer service in the basement.
“I like Pajama Day ’cause I got to wear my pajamas and read books with the fourth-graders,” said Zac Schaefer, a preschooler.
Students could choose a book of their choice during the reading event. Older students assisted younger students. Sixth-grade students worked with first-grade students, fifth-grade students worked with kindergarten students, fourth-grade students worked with preschool students and second-grade and third-grade students read on their own.
“A highlight for me on this day is watching my fourth-graders interact with the preschoolers,” Fleege said. “The fourth-graders brought some of their favorite children’s books from home, were partnered up with a preschooler and spent time just reading to them.”
Fifth-grade students visited residents at Arlington Place to play the game of cards called “500.”
“Playing 500 at Arlington Place was a great experience,” said fifth-grader Taylar Schaefer. “It was fun to meet all of the residents and see how differently they played the game. I liked all of CSW. It was fun to see all the different costumes throughout the week. I would have to say my favorite day was Beach Day because we were able to eat lunch in the gym.”
Game Day was on Tuesday and students wore sports jerseys, cheerleading outfits, hats and other items they would choose to wear to a sports game. In the afternoon, students also played games inside.
On Wednesday, students had a “Guess the Character” competition during which students and teachers dressed as a story or movie character. The winner from each grade received a book from the book fair.
“This day, I happened to stop in the preschool room,” Fleege said. “As soon as I walked in, the preschoolers were looking for their buddies. This just shows what kind of impact the fourth-graders had on the preschoolers.”
Fleege said she later had the fourth-grade students stop in to say hello to the preschool students.
Students ate lunch with their buddies. Sixth-grade students ate with first-grade students and fifth-grade students ate with kindergarten students while second-, third- and fourth-grade students had recess time.
Students also traveled to the Skatin’ Place in the evening.
Thursday was Beach Day and students could wear sunglasses, shorts, T-shirts, use a beach towel and more. Students also ate lunch in the upper gym. Principal Karl Terhaar also led the students in praying the Rosary together in the upper gym.
ASA sixth-grade students played against the teachers in a friendly competition of volleyball while the other students cheered the teams. The teachers won the first game, but the students won the second game.
Friday was Wacky Day and students could dress in what they considered a wacky way. Fourth-grade students also led a prayer service.
“Every day was something different,” said fourth-grader Alexis Finken. “I really like Wacky Day because you can dress wacky and do your hair wacky.”
During the week, students tried to “Feed the USA.” Their goal was to cover a map in the lower gym floor with items suggested by a Catholic Charities employee. Suggestions included blankets, macaroni and cheese, peanut butter, jelly, canned tuna or any canned meat, new socks, new undergarments, can openers and more.
Kathryn Stolpman from Catholic Charities came and spoke about the Food Shelf in St. Cloud. She talked about how many households depend upon the food shelf each month, why the items that were suggested were important and when the food shelf is used the most.
Students also made Valentine cards to be delivered to Arlington Place, the Sisters of the Order of St. Benedict and more.
The week ended with students participating in a Family Dance and visiting the book fair in the evening.
“I was the star of the dance,” said preschooler Jack Molus. “The big kids were chanting my name. They are my friends. That was my favorite part of CSW.”
“I like the book fair,” said third-grader Joseph Forbregd.
Other ASA students commented about the week.
“I like the fun traditions at our school,” said third-grader Anthony Brown. “We have Pajama Day, Character Day and the teachers (playing) the sixth-graders volleyball game.”
“I love school because we have amazing traditions,” said third-grader Austin Baird. “I love the Christmas program. We have amazing teachers.”
“I liked the fun food for lunch,” said third-grader Lily Schmitz.
“My favorite part of CSW is Pajama Day because you get to come to school in your pajamas,” said fourth-grader Mary Clare Colberg. “I like the CSW Mass because a lot of your classmates are there and there is fun stuff to do after, like the book fair. I just like the whole CSW.”
“My favorite park about CSW is dressing up and celebrating CSW with everybody,” said sixth-grader John Hawkins. “I like ASA because of the friendly environment. I also like the teachers and staff. One more reason is the small class sizes so you get more one-on-one with the teachers.”
ASA preschool student Jack Molus (left) listens while fourth-grade student Cole Young reads to him during buddy reading time.
ASA third-grade students (left to right) Ethan Brown, Sylvie Bechtold and Addison Keul work on a project during science class on Pajama Day.
First-grader Navaeh Pullis reads to herself during Pajama Day.
Kindergartner Dalyla Price dresses as A Bad Case of Stripes for Character Day.
ASA fourth-grade students (left to right) Sophia Botz, Alexis Finken and Kylie Smith dressed for Character Day for Catholic Schools Week.
ASA students (left to right) fourth-grader Alexis Finken, preschooler Wylie Schmitz and fourth-grader Kylie Smith read together during buddy reading time.
ASA fifth-grade students visited residents at Arlington Place Assisted Living to play a game of “500” cards with them. Pictured (clockwise, left to right, from tray) are resident Notchie Kirscht, Tatum Price, Henry Ebel, Khloee Nelson, resident Bert Zimmer, CSB student Katherine Hird, and Christina Murray.
ASA teachers (front row, left to right) Betty Pundsack, Principal Karl Terhaar and Theresa Fleege, and (back row) Susan Huls, Joanne Schneider, Mary Schumann, Elisha Konz, Robin Kremer, Erinn Hawkins and Cheri Burg dressed for Character Day during Catholic Schools Week.
ASA students participated in “Feed the USA.” Their goal was to cover a map in the lower gum floor with items such as blankets, macaroni and cheese, peanut butter, jelly, new socks and more.
