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Catholic Schools Week showcases faith-based education

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  • Brandon Leonard •
  • Originally published January 23, 2009 at 5:30 p.m., updated January 23, 2009 at 5:30 p.m.

Fifth-grader Helena Triska likes to wear crazy socks.

The 11-year-old St. Philip Catholic School student has to wear a school uniform most days, but during Catholic Schools Week, the rules are relaxed so that Triska and the other 250 students in her school can have a little fun.

The week happens each year, beginning the last Sunday of January. This year, the annual observance of the role Catholic Schools play in providing children across the nation with a values-based education is from Sunday to Jan. 31.

St. Philip, in El Campo, is one of 15 Catholic schools in the Victoria Diocese, diocese spokeswoman Cindy Brewer said.

Catholic Schools Week started in 1974, according to the National Catholic Education Agency's Web site, with the purpose of building community awareness and involvement in Catholic schools.

St. Philip Junior High math teacher Alexis Jasek agreed, saying, "It's a good chance to showcase what Catholic schools are all about."

This year's enrollment of 251 is the highest the El Campo school has seen in 10 years. Teachers and administrators thought the faith part of their education was a reason why the school is seeing its numbers increase.

The schools' students have a religion class each day.

Unlike other Catholic schools across the county, St. Philip began its events on Friday. The week's theme this year is, "Catholic Schools Celebrate Service." The school will celebrate opening Mass on Friday. Students help with the Mass, playing guitars and piano throughout the service.

St. Philip eighth-grader Reid Strnadel and his classmates will have an opportunity to do just that. They will serve food for when the parents come to lunch Tuesday.

"The kids love seeing their parents come to school," first-grade teacher Bebe Livanec said.

The schools invite the parents to come and spend a part of the day with their children.

"The smaller kids are proud for the parents to come and see what they've done," Livanec said.

Third-grader Cullen Wied agreed, saying he likes to take his parents to the book fair and show them what he has been working on in class.

Sixth-grader Clayton Harp has a different view of the parent's visit.

"Sometimes, I like it when my parents come," the 11-year-old said. "But sometimes I don't because it's embarrassing." Clayton said his parents say things that embarrass him sometimes.

Clayton's favorite day is also Crazy Sock Day because they get to wear different clothes from the school uniforms.

He plans to wear a green baseball sock and a red baseball sock, he said.

  • FAST FACTS

    2,270,913 students are enrolled in 7,378 Catholic schools across the country.

    About 71 percent of Catholic students are white, 13 percent are Hispanic, 8 percent are Black, 4 percent are Asian and 3 percent are multiracial.

    Wednesday is ...

  • SHOW ALL »

    • FAST FACTS

    2,270,913 students are enrolled in 7,378 Catholic schools across the country.

    About 71 percent of Catholic students are white, 13 percent are Hispanic, 8 percent are Black, 4 percent are Asian and 3 percent are multiracial.

    Wednesday is observed as National Appreciation Day for Catholic Schools.

    CATHOLIC SCHOOLS IN THE VICTORIA DIOCESE

    HOLY CROSS SCHOOL, BAY CITY

    Established: 1940

    Grades: K-6

    Day Care Center: 4K

    NAZARETH ACADEMY, VICTORIA

    Established: 1867

    Grades: K-8

    Day Care Center: 12 months - 4 years

    OUR LADY OF THE GULF SCHOOL, PORT LAVACA

    Established: 1996

    Grades: PreK-8

    Day Care Center: 18 months-12 years

    OUR LADY OF VICTORY SCHOOL, VICTORIA

    Established: 1957

    Grades: 3K-8

    SACRED HEART ELEMENTARY SCHOOLSACRED HEART HIGH SCHOOL, HALLETTSVILLE

    Established: 1882

    Grades: Elementary, 4K-8; high school, 9-12

    Day Care Center

    SHINER CATHOLIC SCHOOLS, SHINERST. LUDMILA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

    Established: 1897

    Grades: 3K-8

    ST. PAUL HIGH SCHOOL, SHINER

    Established: 1963

    Grades: 9-12

    ST. ANTHONY SCHOOL, COLUMBUS

    Established: 1955

    Grades: 3K-8

    ST. JOSEPH SCHOOL, YOAKUM

    Established: 1891

    Grades: 4K-8

    ST. JOSEPH HIGH SCHOOL, VICTORIA

    Established: 1868

    Grades: 9-12

    ST. MICHAEL SCHOOL, WEIMAR

    Established: 1890

    Grades: 3K-8

    ST. MICHAEL SCHOOL, CUERO

    Established: 1877

    Grades: 4K-6

    ST. PHILIP THE APOSTLE SCHOOL, EL CAMPO

    Established: 1949

    Grades: K-8

    ST. ROSE OF LIMA, SCHULENBURG

    Established: 1890

    Grades: 4K-8



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