Diocesan Schools Celebrate Catholic Schools Week

By Mary McCarthy
Herald Staff Writer
(From the issue of 2/6/03)

Arlington diocesan schools abounded last week with science fairs, art shows and spelling bees. Appreciation was shown to volunteers, parents, priests and teachers.

Students also were celebrated last week. Several schools declared a day without homework. Many allowed the children a day without uniforms.

Bishop Paul S. Loverde celebrated Mass with students at St. Thomas More School in Arlington on Jan. 31, the Feast of St. John Bosco.

The mission of every Catholic school, the bishop said, is to form the total person and prepare them for the next life. He reminded parents that they are the primary educators of their children and congratulated them for sending their children to Catholic school, often times at great personal sacrifice.

"You are the future of our Church and nation," Bishop Loverde told the students. He said their Catholic school education will give them the tools to build a world based on the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Some schools, such as Sacred Heart Academy in Winchester, turned their dress-down day into a fundraiser. In order to wear jeans on Thursday, Sacred Heart students donated $1 each to be used to make gifts for children at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Epiphany School in Culpeper kicked off Catholic Schools Week by inviting their alumni to a pancake breakfast on Sunday morning.

Each day of the week, two essays were read over the public address system at All Saints School in Manassas. The essays were written by each child and their family, addressing "How All Saints School Makes a Difference in Our Lives." All the essays were on display in the school.

At Holy Cross Academy in Fredericksburg, the children celebrated the Catholic Schools Week theme, "Making a World of Difference," on Monday with a parade in which students carried flags from different countries.

Linton Hall students in Bristow adopted sick children on Tuesday and each class "Shared a Smile" by writing to them and sending them cards.

On Wednesday, George Chiplock, principal of Corpus Christi School in Falls Church, traveled to Washington to lobby with faculty members and a student delegation for support for Catholic schools. Back at the school, children from grades three to five presented "Tasty Literature." The children wrote book reports and prepared snacks related to the book they read.

The talents of the students at St. Joseph School in Herndon were showcased on Thursday at a talent show.

At Blessed Sacrament School in Alexandria, parents hosted workshops on Friday for the students to help them learn more about hobbies such as golf, crocheting and Scottish dancing.

St. Patrick School in Fredericksburg marked the end of Catholic Schools Week by praying the living rosary.

Just as Catholic schools make "a world of difference" in the lives of students, last week and every week, the students are trying to do their best to make a difference in the world through prayer, community service and acts of love, friendship and charity.

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