St. Catherine of Siena students donate birthday boxes to FISH Food Pantry

Students and staff joined together at St. Catherine of Siena School in West Dundee Jan. 29 to help make 50 birthday celebrations a bit brighter.

All grade levels from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade took part in the school's annual Birthday Box project to benefit the FISH Food Pantry in Carpentersville.

"Mary Graziano, president of the FISH Food Pantry, was present to see our students in action and accept our donations," said Mary Pat Johnson, assistant principal of St. Catherine School. "In addition, we were pleased to present Mrs. Graziano with a check for $176 from our successful FISH Food Pantry Dress Down Day."

To start the Birthday Box project, students were assigned a different item to donate to its success including cake mixes, frosting, candy, party favors, and candles. They also created birthday cards in art class and decorated cake boxes.

In the final step, students gathered in the school gym with their class to prepare the Birthday Box surprises. They rotated through prepared stations to assemble the birthday boxes with assistance from the eighth-graders. Each class made 5 boxes for a total of 50 boxes.

The mission of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School is to offer children a Christ-centered, challenging academic and religious program. St. Catherine school serves families in the Fox Valley area, including East and West Dundee, Sleepy Hollow, Gilberts and Carpentersville. The school is an integral part of the St. Catherine of Siena Parish and the Diocese of Rockford.

St. Catherine offers prekindergarten for 3- and 4-year-old students, kindergarten, and first to eighth grade.

St. Catherine of Siena School is located at 845 W. Main St., off Route 72, in West Dundee. For information, call (847) 426-4808.