by Cori Hilsgen
news@thenewsleaders.com
Students, faculty and staff at All Saints Academy-St. Joseph celebrated Catholic Schools Week Jan. 28-Feb. 3 with a variety of activities.
This year’s theme was “Catholic Schools: Learn. Serve. Lead. Succeed.”
The week included themed days, fun activities, prayer and a service project.
The week began with a Sunday Mass at the Church of St. Joseph followed by a book fair open house in the music room.
Monday was Wacky Day and gave students and staff a chance to dress in a wacky way. Tuesday was Game Day and students were able to wear sports jerseys, baseball hats, cheerleading outfits or anything they would wear to a sports game. Wednesday was Spirit Day and students wore Catholic Community School shirts. Thursday was Pajama Day, and students were able to wear their pajamas to school. Friday was Flannels and Sparkles Day.
Activities included students writing why they like their school, designing a logo, attending prayer service, playing board games, attending Mass at Cathedral High School and participating in a book exchange.
Students and staff also tied blankets to donate to Pockets of Hope, which gives foster children in central Minnesota new backpacks filled with items they need and items they can call their own. By providing the children items they can call their own, the backpacks offer the children a light of hope for the future. The blankets ASA students tied were for the backpacks.
Students and staff presented ASA’s Got Talent Show on Friday with music, skits and many other performances. Teachers performed a skit about synchronized swimming.
The week ended with students participating in the annual school dance and more book fair time.
“The students really enjoyed the week,” Principal Karl Terhaar said. “It provided a good break from normal routines in these long winter months. I was really impressed with our students at our talent show. Even the teachers displayed their talent by doing a synchronized swimming skit.”
Fourth-grade teacher Theresa Fleege coordinated the week of activities.
“Catholic Schools Week was an opportunity for us to celebrate our faith in everything we do at our school,” Fleege said.”
ASA students commented about the week.
“It was especially fun doing the talent show at the end of the week,” said sixth-grader Kylie Smith.
“The teachers did a wonderful job on their swimming act for the talent show,” sixth-grader Tyler Smith said.
“I like playing games with our first-grade buddies, and I liked the dance,” sixth-grader Livi Kremer said.
“It was fun,” said sixth-grader Mary Clare Colberg. “I liked doing all the activities, but the talent show was the best part by far.”
“I love Catholic Schools Week because you get to play with the preschoolers,” fourth-grader Cecelia Weldon said.
“My favorite thing we do in Catholic Schools Week is the dance because there is a book fair and I get to be with my friends,” said fourth-grader Josie Eastman.
“On spirit day, we went to Mass with 2,000 students from other Catholic Community School schools,” said fourth-grader Jacqueline Rademacher. “At the end of Mass, Father was dancing down the aisle.”
Terhaar said this year’s theme encompasses the core products and values that can be found in Catholic schools across the country.
He said Catholic schools are teaching students to become future servant leaders, faith-filled disciples and enriched citizens in our communities.
Catholic Schools Weeks is a joint project of the National Catholic Educational Association and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
ASA second-grader Easton Frieler and Principal Karl Terhaar dressed for Wacky Day during Catholic Schools Week.
ASA fifth-graders (left to right) Julia Uhlenkamp, Sylvia Bechtold, Maria Glatzel and Kaidance Stephens dressed for Wacky Day during Catholic Schools Week.
ASA students (left to right) Mary Clare Colberg, Emie Templin, Roy Anderson, Spencer Scholz, Isaac Blenker, Quinton Blenker and Tyler Smith work on tying a blanket for Pockets of Hope during Catholic Schools Week. The blankets were put in backpacks for foster children in central Minnesota.
ASA fourth-grade teacher, Theresa Fleege, is shown with Kenzie Harren (left) and Kolton Harren. Fleege coordinated Catholic Schools Week events for the school.
