Since 1974, Catholic Schools Week has been the annual celebration of Catholic Education in the United States. The theme for the National Catholic Schools Week 2022 is “Faith. Excellence. Service.” Catholic Schools Week 2023 is January 29 - February 4. Find a run-down of events and activities by day below.
Theme:
All Week
CSW Service Project - Mission: Cereal Drive
This year's service project is a Cereal Drive to support Fill a Heart for Kids and local food pantries. We will collect regular-size (about 12 oz) boxes of cereal. Any brand and flavor will be accepted as long as they are regular-sized, nut-free, unopened, and not expired. Each student should bring in a minimum of one box.
Bring your donations to school from January 29th through February 2nd.
All cereal boxes collected will be arranged as a larger domino run at each building by Mr. Byers and his volunteers (sign-up coming soon). Classes will get to see their impact and have a fun celebration of their effort!
At the Primary Grade Center, a box will be set up outside the office.
At the Upper Grade Center, please bring the boxes to the STEAM Lab (Mr. Byers’ room).
Door Decorating Contest - Online Voting
Homeroom classes at both the UGC and the PGC will be decorating the doors to a theme: Every mission is possible with faith, excellence, and service.
The overall best door at each campus will win a Golden Crusader and a pizza party for their classroom (as well as bragging rights!).
CLICK HERE TO VOTE - coming soon!
Sunday, January 29 - Pre-Mission Celebration
10:00 a.m. School of St. Mary Mass - Church of St. Mary
Join us for a student-led Mass! We will have students reading, singing, serving, and presenting the gifts. Come support the school and meet the parishioners that support us!
11:00 a.m. Open House and Grand Reopening of the UGC Library
Take tours of the Upper Grade Center, visit the library and see all that is new! We will have refreshments, Crusader Wear for sale, Crusader Closet will be open, and we will have Tuition Raffle Tickets for sale. Bring a friend!
11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Lake Forest Book Store Book Fair
Join us for the GRAND REOPENING of the newly refreshed UGC Library! Lake Forest Book Store will be on-site for a TWO-DAY book fair!
Monday, January 30th Preschool Showcase Preparing for their Educational Mission
This morning is all about our youngest crew members. Join us for a morning of activities and experiences for the families in Little Angels and PreK-3. Tuesday/Thursday students are invited to join us on Monday.
Little Angels
9:00 a.m.Parent Coffee: Little Angels Little Angels Parents are invited to a Parent Coffee with Principal Kathy Thompson on Preparing for PreK-3. Mrs. Thompson has over 25 years of experience in education and early childhood development. This casual conversation will focus on language development and what parents can do to encourage and develop it. There will be time for a brief Q&A. Refreshments will be served. Please RSVP here.
9:30 a.m. Little Angels Classroom Experience After the Parent Coffee, Little Angels parents are invited back to the classroom for an in-classroom experience. Parents will join their students for a Mini Music Class with Mrs. Ferguson, followed by classroom activities with Mrs. Fornarotto. Please RSVP here.
PreK-3
10:00 a.m. Parent Coffee: PreK-3 PreK-3 Parents are invited to a Parent Coffee with Principal Kathy Thompson on preparing for Jr. Kindergarten and Kindergarten. Mrs. Thompson has over 25 years of experience in education and early childhood development. This casual conversation on things parents can do to help their children succeed. There will be time for a brief Q&A. Refreshments will be served. Please RSVP here.
10:30 a.m.PreK-3 Classroom Experience After the Parent Coffee, PreK-3 parents are invited back to the classrooms for an in-person classroom experience. Parents will join their students for a Mini-Spanish class with Sra. Gonzalez and classroom activities planned by their teachers. Students will be dismissed from the classroom with their parents. Please RSVP here.
4th Grade Living Rosary Countdown to Elementary
The afternoon activities will focus on our 4th Grade Crew as they pray for the mission and show off their handmade rosaries.
12:25 p.m. 4th Grade Parent Coffee: Executive Functioning 4th Grade Parents are invited to a Parent Coffee with Principal Kathy Thompson, Director of Student Services Janice DiVincenzo, and Assistant to the Principal Sarah Rouse on Executive Functioning. This casual conversation will help parents understand what executive functioning is, why their students need it as they advance in school and how parents can foster it. Refreshments will be served. Please RSVP here.
1:00 p.m. Living Rosary - Church of St. Mary Following the Parent Coffee 4th Grade, parents will return to their student's classrooms. Parents and students will walk over to the Church of St. Mary together. In the church, students and parents will be arranged and led in praying the Rosary by Mr. Dyer and Fr. Radley. Please RSVP here.
Spelling Bee - 2:30 The top spellers from each grade will battle it out to be the top Speller of SOSM. Held in the UGC Gym.
Tuesday, January 30th Jr. K & Kindergarten Showcase Countdown to Elementary
This morning we are focusing on our kindergarten crew and the exciting countdown to elementary school. Parents are invited to join us for a morning of activities and experiences that show just how much this crew has learned to do.
Jr. Kindergarten & Kindergarten Parents
9:00 a.m. Jr. K and Kindergarten Parents are invited to a Parent Coffee with Principal Kathy Thompson and Kathy Sirois. Mrs. Sirois, one of our Kindergarten teachers, will present a demo of Heggerty Phonics. Following the demo, there will be a casual conversation on why we use Heggerty. There will be time for a brief Q&A. Please RSVP here, so we have an estimated attendance.
Jr. Kindergarten
9:30 a.m. After the Parent Coffee Jr. Kindergarten, parents will go back to their student's classrooms for planned activities. All classes will experience a mini music class with Mrs. Ferguson. Students will be dismissed from the classroom.
This afternoon we are focusing on our rising crew, the 5th-grade class, as they begin the countdown to Middle School. Parents can expect a day of insight into the world of 5th grade.
12:25 p.m. 5th Grade Parent Coffee: Preparing for Middle School 5th Grade Parents are invited to a Parent Coffee with our Social Worker, Catherine Homan, and Middle School Teacher, Margaret Hogan on preparing for Middle School. With years of experience working with middle school students, Mrs. Homan and Mrs. Hogan will give parents some practical tips and insight on what to expect as their children move up to Middle School, both academically and socially. There will be a brief time for Q&A. Please RSVP here.
1:04 p.m. After the parent coffee, parents will meet their students in the gym to experience a P.E. class with Mr. Knotek.
1:40 p.m. After P.E., parents will travel back to their student's classrooms to see if they are actually smarter than a 5th-grader.
2:30 p.m. Geography Bee The top students from each Social Studies class will compete against each other for the top spot. Held in the UGC Gym.
Wednesday, February 1: 2nd Grade Showcase Launching into Love and Service
This morning will focus on our second-grade students as they prepare to launch into a life of love and service. Parents can expect a meaningful morning with their students.
9:00 a.m. Parents are invited to join us at St. Patrick's for our school Mass.
10:00 a.m. Second-grade parents are invited to a Parent Coffee with Reading Specialist Cristine Zitko to discuss Reading Momentum. Mrs. Zitko has been the PGC Reading Specialist since 2017 and has advanced degrees in reading and education. This casual conversation will go over how parents can tell if their student is on track, what SOSM does to address gaps, and share some of her bag of tricks to help students build on their reading and encourage reluctant readers. There will be a short Q&A at the end. Please RSVP here.
10:30 a.m. After the Parent Coffee, parents will go to the students classrooms for a Mini Spanish Class and small group activities.
11:00 a.m. Parents and students will move to the IMC and work together on a service project. We will be making comfort bags for individuals in Lake County experiencing homelessness. Each bag will contain new socks and essential toiletries as well as a letter of encouragement written by the students and their special person.
11:40 a.m. Parents will leave from the IMC.
Please RSVP here, so we have an estimated attendance.
6th Grade Showcase A Stable Launch
Our 6th-grade crew is in a transition as they move into Middle School years. Today is all about making sure that the launch into Middle School is stable.
12:25 p.m. 6th Grade parents are invited to a Parent Coffee with our Social Worker, Catherine Homan, and Art Teacher, Tina Moulton for an SEL Lesson. Mrs. Homan and Mrs. Moulton were two of the team leads that created the R.E.S.P.E.C.T SEL program that the UGC has been using this year with students in 4th-9th grade. They will lead parents through one of the lessons the students have already completed, as well as explain the need for the program and how it works. There will be a brief time for Q&A. Please RSVP here, so we have an estimated attendance.
1:04 p.m. After the parent coffee, parents will meet their students in their 8th-period class to fully embrace the 6th-grade experience. Please RSVP here, so we have enough chairs.
2:15 p.m. After 9th period, parents can choose to join us in the gym for the Religion Bee or be dismissed back into the adult world.
2:30 p.m. Religion Bee The top students from each class will compete against each other for the top spot! Held in the UGC Gym.
Thursday, February 2nd: 3rd Grade Showcase Traveling through Time
This morning we will board the USS Third Grade Shuttle and travel through time with its crew. Parents will need to choose a lift-off time with their crew; please only choose one.
9:00 a.m. & 12:30 p.m. 3rd Grade Parents are invited to a Parent Coffee with Mrs. Sarah Rouse about traveling to the UGC. Mrs. Rouse is the current Assistant to the Principal and an experienced 4th/5th grade teacher. This casual conversation will go over 3 key skills and behaviors students need before traveling to the UGC. Please RSVP here and choose the same departure time as your biographies.
10:00 a.m. & 1:00 p.m. Parents are invited to join us and Travel Through Time with the 3rd Grade class. Students will be presenting their biographies to parents and classmates. We will offer TWO-time slots, and space is limited. Please choose only ONE spot, here.
1:50 p.m.Career Day Community members from various backgrounds will be visiting with students to talk about their careers. Three sessions will be held starting at 1:50 p.m.
Friday, February 3rd: First Grade Showcase Destination Planet First Grade
Today we discover new worlds as we arrive at destination first grade. Parents will need to choose an arrival time with their crew. It's Crusader Wear day so make sure your crew member comes dressed with school spirit.
10:00 a.m. or 12:10 p.m. Parents will travel to their student's planets and learn about life there.
10:20 a.m. or 12:30 p.m. Parents will go with their students to a mini Art Class with Mrs. Halloran.
We are offering two arrival times, and space is limited at each one. Please choose only ONE spot. SignUp here.
We close out Catholic Schools Week with the well-loved tradition of the 3rd-grade class taking on the faculty in a volleyball game! See who comes out on top!
On Friday, we have a whole day planned at the UGC as we land at Destination Middle School. This territory is so vast and covers so many different territories we split the day up:
Destination 7th Grade
8:45 a.m. 7th Grade Parents are invited to a Parent Coffee with Director of Admissions Mandy Castle on moving on to high school. Mrs. Castle is not only an experienced Admissions Director, but she is also a mom of 2 at two different high schools. This casual conversation will touch on the timeline for high school enrollment as well as share the process for applying to a Catholic high school, setting up shadow days, and more. Please RSVP here, so we have an estimated attendance.
9:18 a.m. After the Parent Coffee, parents will meet their students in their 2nd-period class to begin a full-immersion experience of 7th grade. After 3rd-period ends (10:30 a.m.), parents are dismissed back to the reality of adult life.
12:25 p.m. 8th Grade Parents are invited to a Parent Coffee with the parent coordinators. It's time to celebrate, and look forward to all the fun that is coming in the spring! This will be a casual conversation and gathering with no set agenda. Please RSVP here so we have an estimated attendance:
1:04 p.m. After the Parent Coffee, parents will meet their students in their 8th-period class to begin a full-immersion experience of 8th grade.
2:15 p.m. After 9th period, parents will be dismissed to the gym to cheer on their students in the 8th Grade vs. Faculty Volleyball Game.
We close out Catholic Schools Week with the well-loved tradition of the 8th-grade class taking on the faculty in a volleyball game! See who comes out on top!
Catholic Schools Week 2022
January 29 - February 4
Every mission is possible with faith, excellence, and service!
