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CATHOLIC SCHOOLS Teach Children the Value of Service

Over the years, Catholic Schools Week themes have emphasized what makes a high-quality, values-driven Catholic education stand out among the school choices available to students and their families.

This year is no different. The theme, “Catholic Schools Celebrate Service,” emphasizes the duty and delight of giving back. Catholicism has a long and rich tradition of direct service to those in need, as well as social justice efforts to end social ills like racism and homelessness. Catholic schools incorporate service projects into the curriculum, teaching students the value of helping others as an expression of faith and good citizenship.

“Civic engagement is a hallmark of Catholic education,” said Karen Ristau, president of the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA). “The majority of elementary and secondary schools participate in service projects ranging from collecting canned goods for the homeless to rebuilding schools in the hurricane-torn gulf, so it was natural that we choose service as a major theme.”

Schools typically celebrate Catholic Schools Week with Masses, open houses and activities for students, administrators, faculty, school staff, the community and families. Additionally this year many schools will undertake new service projects.

The 2009 theme links to a recently completed NCEA initiative, “Birthday Blessings for Pope Benedict.” During the pope’s April 2008 visit to the United States, Catholic youth were asked to pledge hours of community service to honor the pope’s 81st birthday.

And schools throughout the area have activities throughout the week of Jan. 25-31 that express the Catholic Schools Week 2009 theme of “Catholic Schools Celebrate Service.” The school’s observance is part of the annual celebration of the nation’s 7,800 Catholic schools and their contribution to their communities and the United States.

On Sunday, many schools will host an open house where prospective students, their families and the community can learn about the school and its mission to provide high-quality, values-based education.

On Monday, students will dedicate the day to community service projects, including a new partnership with local homeless shelters to provide teams of students to help serve meals to residents of its homeless shelter. Other events will continue throughout the week.

Past Catholic Schools Week themes focused on the unique aspects of Catholic education:

2008: Catholic Schools Light the Way. Last year’s theme underscores the role of Catholic schools in providing a faith-based education that supports the whole child academically and spiritually. Catholic school-educated students will “light the way” to a brighter future through leadership in their communities, government, business, and families.

2007: Catholic Schools: The Good News in Education. In addition to using it as 2007’s theme, the National Marketing Campaign for Catholic Education has adopted “The Good News in Education” as an “evergreen” theme to promote Catholic education in ongoing, year-round effort. The open-book logo symbolizes both the Bible and knowledge and underscores the Christ-centered foundation and academic excellence of Catholic schools.

2006: Catholic Schools: Character. Compassion. Values. This theme emphasized three qualities that infuse Catholic education and are lived every day in classrooms across the country.

2005: Catholic Schools: Faith in Every Student. This theme pointed out that Catholic schools nurture faith in every student and believe in each child’s potential to grow in virtue and wisdom.

2004: Catholic Schools: A Faith-Filled Future. Catholic schools provide a faith-based education, and this theme underscored that it is one that prepares students not only for college, but also for life.

Courtesy of the NCEA.