Catholic Schools Week Celebrated at Local Schools

The theme for the 2019 National Catholic Schools Week is “Catholic Schools: Learn. Serve. Lead. Succeed.” The annual observance starts on Sunday, January 27th and runs until Saturday, February 2nd. Our schools typically celebrate Catholic Schools Week with Masses, open houses, and other activities for students, families, parishioners, and the community at large. Here are some of the happenings in Northern Westchester:

St. Columbanus School in Cortlandt Manor will start Catholic Schools Week with student speakers at local Masses Sunday, Jan. 27. Throughout the week, we will be collecting food for the Feeding Our Neighbors campaign. On Monday, Jan. 28, we will have a schoolwide reading project with our buddies. St. Columbanus School will participate in Touring Tuesday, Jan. 29, 9 a.m.-11a.m., or by appointment. An ice cream social will be held Wednesday, Jan. 30, along with the Academics Jeopardy Olympics. The celebration will continue with a dress down day, featuring crazy hats and socks Thursday, Jan. 31. Catholic Schools Week will conclude Friday, Feb. 1, with a school liturgy and an honors assembly.

St. Patrick’s School in Bedford will hold its annual open house, Sunday, Jan. 27, 1-3 p.m. On Monday, Jan. 28, the school community will gather for a morning prayer service honoring veterans. Students will make cards to be delivered to the local veterans hospital. Students will share a book and a snack with their reading partners across the grades. St. Patrick’s School will participate in Touring Tuesday, Jan. 29, 9-11a.m. Students in grade 1-8 will participate in a trivia contest, and pre-K and Kindergarten students will enjoy a winter movie and snack treat. An international lunch for all students will be served Wednesday, Jan. 30. On Thursday, Jan. 31, students will make their own sundaes. St. Patrick’s, Bedford, will conclude Catholic Schools Week Friday, Feb. 1, with 9 a.m. Mass, followed by the fourth annual Pig Race Contest for all students. Each class and the faculty will personalize and cheer their motorized pig. The winning class will receive a dress down day and Dunkin Donuts treat.

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School in Shrub Oak will kick off Catholic Schools Week Monday, Jan. 28, at Pastries with Parents. On Tuesday, Jan. 29, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton will participate in Touring Tuesday, 9-11 a.m., or by appointment. Heads will be topped with creative and crazy hats Wednesday, Jan. 30. On Thursday, Jan. 31, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton will hold a sports dress down day and a Students vs. Staff basketball game. At 9 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 1, the school community will gather for a Mass to conclude Catholic Schools Week.

At St. Patrick School in Yorktown Heights, Catholic Schools Week will begin with students speaking at local Masses and an open house for new families, 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 27. A morning assembly will take place Monday, Jan. 28. Open house for prospective families will be held 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Monday, Jan. 28, and Touring Tuesday, Jan. 29. On Wednesday, Jan. 30, St. Patrick's will host a blood drive to benefit the American Red Cross, 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. St. Patrick’s will conclude Catholic School Week with First Friday Mass at 9 a.m., followed by a ribbon cutting for the new Gawlicki Media Center Friday, Feb.1.