Celebrate Catholic Schools Week Jan. 27-Feb. 2 with a comedy, fun fairs and open houses
Since 1974, National Catholic Schools Week is the annual celebration of Catholic education in the U.S. It starts the last Sunday in January and runs all week. In 2019, it will be Jan. 27 to Feb. 2. This year's theme is "Catholic Schools: Learn. Serve. Lead. Succeed." Schools typically observe the annual celebration week with Masses, open houses and other activities for students, families, parishioners and community members. Through these events, schools focus on the value Catholic education provides to young people and its contributions to the church, the local communities and the nation.
In the Fox Valley, the local schools are hosting the following:
Algonquin
Catholic schools benefit all year long from the religious guidance, prayers, and support parishes provide. St. Margaret Mary will be joining many parishes throughout the nation to celebrate National Catholic Schools Week by devoting a Mass to Catholic education. On Sunday, Jan. 27, St. Margaret Mary Church, 119 S. Hubbard St. in Algonquin, will hold a family Mass at 11 a.m. From noon to 1:30 p.m., the parish and community are invited to visit St. Margaret Mary School to see how they teach students about the Catholic faith, maintain excellence in academics, and teach students the stewardship way of life. Teachers will be in their classrooms ready to answer any questions you have about St. Margaret Mary School. Invite new families to come see what makes the school special. For information, call the school office at (847) 658-5313 or visit stmmschool.org.
Aurora
• Annunciation BVM Catholic Elementary School, 1840 Church Road in Aurora, will host an open house from noon to 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 27. See what a Catholic education at Annunciation can do for your child! Come for lunch, meet the families, and tour the school, which was founded in 1875. For details, call (630) 851-4300 or visit annunciationbvm.org.
• Holy Angels School, 720 Kensington Place in Aurora, will begin Catholic Schools Week with an open house from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 27. Parents will be able to tour the school, check out the Fine Arts Fair from 10 a.m. to noon in the Leurck Library, as well as enjoy the entertainment of the talent show starting at 1 p.m.
Monday is "Be a Good Sport Day." Students may dress down and wear their favorite team sweatshirt or jersey. Tuesday is "Awaken to the Needs of the Community Because I CAN Make a Difference Day." Students may wear pajamas to school and are encouraged to bring in a canned good for the pantry. Wednesday is "Dress Your Best Day." Students are asked to dress up to honor vocations. Eighth-graders will have their eighth-grade portraits taken that day. Thursday is "Crazy About our Teachers Day." Students may dress down in crazy outfits (crazy hair, socks, shoes, hat, colors, etc.) Friday is "We Show Our School Spirit Day." Students may dress down in school spirit wear as they cheer on either their teacher or eighth-graders in the traditional eighth grade vs. teachers volleyball game.
Saturday is "We Have Fun at School Day" with the Holy Angels Fun Fair from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Finish off an action packed Catholic Schools week with a day of fun. Games, raffles, bounce house, face painting, food and balloons. All-inclusive wristband are $12 per student or $35 maximum for a family. Orders are due Friday, Jan. 25. For information, visit www.holyangelsschool.net or call (630) 897-3613.
Volunteers also are needed. Sign up to help at signup.com/go/HolyAngelsHSA
Founded in 1911, Holy Angels Catholic School is committed to academic excellence for students in preschool through eighth grade.
• As part of Catholic Schools Week, Pope St. John Paul II Catholic Academy in Aurora will a comedy show "Mass Confusion" with Doug Brummel and Dave Wilson. It will begin at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 28, in the south campus gym, 601 Talma St. Admission is free; a freewill offering is appreciated.
The "catechetical comedy" by the "Doug and Dave Show" entertains, inspires and educates all at same time. This presentation creatively explores the Catholic faith within the context of the Mass. This original presentation shares the beauty, history and mystery of the source and summit of one's faith in an engaging manner which keeps the attention of all ages and backgrounds. "Mass Confusion" brings the Mass alive through rich sketches, quirky characterizations and Holy Spirit-filled original music, leaving audiences in a greater appreciation of the treasures of our faith. It's a lighthearted way to learn about the Mass.
Before the evening performance, the duo will perform for students in first to eighth-grade at 12:30 p.m. Monday on the south campus.
On Saturday, Jan. 26, after the 4:30 p.m. Mass, enjoy a Chili Cook-off until 7 p.m. in the south campus.
An all-school open house will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Stop by grades 4-8 to view the project boards and classrooms.
On Friday, Feb. 1, the volleyball game with the teachers, and seventh- and eighth-graders will be held at 1:45 p.m.
For information, visit www.jp2aurora.org.
• As part of Catholic Schools Week, Saint Rita of Cascia School, 770 W. Old Indian Trail in Aurora, will hold a Mass at 10:15 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 27.
A New Family Open House will be held at 10:15 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 29.
A book fair will be held all day Wednesday, Jan. 30, including during the open house starting at 6:30 p.m.
At the 2 p.m. assembly on Thursday, Jan. 31, there will be the teacher vs. eighth-grade volleyball and mini-poms will perform. All are welcome.
For information, call (630) 892-0200 or visit saint-rita.org/
Batavia
• For Catholic Schools Week, Holy Cross Catholic School, 2300 Main St. in Batavia, will host a free pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 27. The event is for school families, parishioners, and anyone from the community who is interested in learning more about the school. Stop by Donovan Hall anytime between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. for the breakfast and/or tours. Visit holycrosscatholicschool.org.
Cary
Saints Peter and Paul Catholic School, 416 N. First St. in Cary, will celebrate Catholic Schools Week starting with an open house from 9 a.m. to noon Sunday, Jan. 27. There will be tours, activities in the STEM lab and classrooms, crafts. They will be accepting registration for all new students from prekindergarten to eighth grade.
On Monday, Jan. 28, the third- and sixth-graders will attend a Deanery Mass at 10 a.m. at Marian Central. The eighth-grade students vs. staff volleyball game will be at 1:15 p.m.
On Tuesday, Jan. 29 for "Celebrating Your Community," they will be collecting $1 or more for Catholic Charities and kicking off the math-athon.
On Wednesday, Jan. 30, "Celebrating the Nation!," there will be an all-school Mass at 8 a.m. and they will celebrate servicemen and women.
On Friday, Feb. 1, the faculty breakfast will be served at 7 a.m.
Food items collected during the week and donated to the Cary Food Pantry.
For information, call the school office at (847) 639-3041 or visit www.peterpaulschoolcary.org.
Elgin
• On Sunday, Jan. 27, for Catholic Schools Week, St. Mary School, 103 S. Gifford St. in Elgin, will hold a special Mass at 9 a.m., followed by an open house from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For information, call (847) 695-6609 or visit stmaryschoolelgin.org.
• On Sunday, Jan. 27, St. Thomas More Catholic School, 1625 W. Highland Ave. in Elgin, will kick off Catholic Schools Week with a noon parish Mass, led by students. It will be followed by an open house from 1 to 3 p.m. There will be school and classroom tours, and meet the principal and teachers. Enjoy refreshments. Alumni are welcome. On Monday, for "Community Day," it will be Dress-Down Day. Bring $1 or more donation for the St. Vincent de Paul Society. They also will collect toiletries for nursing homes and paper products for Elgin PADS.
On Wednesday, they will make valentines for veterans. On Thursday, the Religion Bee will be at 1 p.m. Friday will start with a faculty breakfast sponsored by the school PTO. A beach ball volleyball game with staff vs. eighth-grade students will begin at 1:15 p.m. A Fun Fair will be held from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
For information, call (847) 742-3959 or visit www.stmcentral.org.
Geneva
• St. Peter Catholic School, 1881 Kaneville Road in Geneva, will host an open house from noon to 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 27. Come see how St. Peter School can meet the academic, spiritual and social needs of your children. Open registration for new families begins Jan. 27. For details, call (630) 232-0476 or visit www.stpeterrockets.org.
Hampshire
As part of Catholic Schools Week, St. Charles Borromeo School, 288 E. Jefferson Ave. in Hampshire, will host an open house from 11:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 27. Come and visit with the teachers, walk through the school building, and see what the best Catholic education in Hampshire looks like. For details, call Principal Deb Herrmann at (847) 683-3450 or www.scbparish.org. Find the school on Facebook.
St. Charles
For Catholic Schools Week, St. Patrick's Catholic School, 787 Crane Road in St. Charles, will hold a Family Mass at 9:45 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 27. It will be followed by a free pancake breakfast and all-school open house until 1 p.m. Current and prospective families are welcome. The main campus serves kindergarten through eighth grade. The downtown campus on Cedar Street is for preschool students. For information, call Principal Lisa Brown at (630) 338-8100 or visit www.stpatsirish.org.
West Dundee
St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School, 845 W. Main St. in West Dundee, will host a preschool and kindergarten open house for the 2019-2020 school year.
It will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 27. The prekindergarten 3 class meets from 8:30 to 11 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The Pre-K4 meets from 8:30 to 11 a.m. Monday to Friday. They offer a full-day kindergarten program. Tours also are available for those interested in first to eighth grade. For information, call (847) 426-4808 or visit www.st-cath.net.