Amarillo—All five Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Amarillo have announced plans to celebrate Catholic Schools Week, set for Sunday, Jan. 26 through Saturday, Feb. 2. Activities at the five Catholic Schools are centered around the theme
Catholic Schools: Learn. Serve. Lead. Succeed.
Here are thumbnail sketches of activities planned for Catholic Schools Week. Events listed here are subject to change without notice—please consult your Catholic School for additional details.
Holy Cross Catholic Academy, Amarillo Catholic Schools Week is also Homecoming Week at Holy Cross Catholic Academy.
Thursday, Jan. 30 is
Celebrating Vocations Day. Father Jim Schmitmeyer, pastor at St. John the Evangelist Church, Borger and School Sister of St. Francis Sister Mary Michael Huseman will share their vocation story with Holy Cross students. Other priests, deacons and women religious have also been invited to come and share their vocation stories. The Holy Cross community will offer a Divine Mercy Chaplet for all our Priests and Religious at 3:00 pm for the sacrifices they make for our Catholic community.
The week wraps up
Friday, Jan. 31 with
Celebrating Faculty, Staff and Volunteers Day. The HCCA parent organization,
the C (
Catholic Community Cornerstone) will have a meal brought in for the faculty and staff. School volunteers will be recognized during the meal.
Holy Cross Catholic Academy is located at 4110 South Bonham, Amarillo, just north of St. Joseph School. Phone number: 355-9637. Website: holycrossama.org
St. Joseph School, Amarillo The fifth annual Pocket Change Contest continues at St. Joseph School. Students will be encouraged to donate change to their homeroom bucket to help raise funds for a generous gift card that will be gifted to their teacher on
Friday, Jan. 31. The contest will continue throughout the week, with updates posted through Flocknote and Facebook.
“Because all class sizes are different, the total amount brought in by each class will be divided by the numbers of students in the class to make it fair,” said St. Joseph School principal David Hernandez. “The class that brings in the most change will win lunch at Mr. Gatti’s Pizza.”
Celebrate Vocations is the theme for
Thursday, Jan. 30. Students are encouraged to dress as their favorite saint, while learning and participating in competitions testing their knowledge of the saints and vocations. A school-wide three-dimensional art project will also be completed, with multiple rosaries created that will be on display throughout the remainder of the school year. Students will also send letters to diocesan priests and various religious orders throughout the diocese.
Friday, Jan. 31 is
Celebrate Faculty, Staff and Volunteers Day. Teachers and staff will be given shoutouts on Facebook throughout the day. Faculty, staff and volunteers will be served a catered lunch, courtesy of the Parent Teacher Organization. PTO will help cover lunch and recess times. The annual school talent show is also scheduled and teachers will be awarded gift cards from the money collected from the Pocket Change Contest.
St. Joseph School is located at 4118 South Bonham, Amarillo, in between St. Joseph’s Church and Holy Cross Catholic Academy. Phone number: 359-1604. Website: stjosephamarillo.com
St. Mary’s Cathedral School, Amarillo Thursday, Jan. 30 is
Celebrate Our Vocations Day. Priests, deacons and women religious from the Disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ will visit with students in their classrooms, sharing vocation stories and answering any questions.
That evening, there will be Vespers in the Cathedral at 5:30, followed by a potluck dinner for parish and school families. Principal Doug Jones is scheduled to present a State of the School Address.
Catholic Schools Week festivities will culminate
Friday, Jan. 31 with
Celebrate Our Faculty, Staff and Special Volunteers Day. Morning Mass will include the presentation of several special awards at its conclusion. Faculty, staff and special volunteers will be treated to a catered meal.
St. Mary’s Cathedral is located at 1200 South Washington, Amarillo. Main Office number: 376-9112. Admissions Office: 350-2964. Website: stmarysamarillo.org
St. Anthony of Padua School, Dalhart Thursday, Jan. 30 is a day for
Celebrating Vocations. The question,
What do you want to be when you grow up? will be explored, as students will be dressed as their future vocation and will explain that vocation to their classmates. Students will also assemble care packages for seminarians.
The Don Harrington Discovery Center will be on campus to present Science Magic at 10:30am and there will be a Glow Dance for Crusaders at 2:00pm.
Crusader Spirit Day, celebrating with faculty, staff and volunteers, is set for
Friday, Jan. 31. Students, faculty and staff will sport Crusader pride by wearing Crusader clothing. Students will also write thank you notes to faculty, staff and volunteers to show their appreciation. The students will be dismissed for the weekend at noon.
St. Anthony of Padua School is located at 410 East 13th in Dalhart. Phone number: 806-244-4811. Website: stanthonydalhart.com
St. Anthony School, Hereford Vocations will be in the spotlight
Thursday, Jan. 30 during
Celebrating Vocations Day. The Extending our Virtues in Practice program and student mentor groups will research and present a designated Saint to the school and guests during a special assembly at 2:30pm in the school gym.
Friday, Jan 31 is
Celebrating Our Faculty, Staff and Volunteers Day. Students will be released from classes at 12:35pm. Faculty, staff and volunteers will also be released early.
Catholic Schools Week concludes
Saturday, Feb. 1 with a 6:00pm closing Mass at San Jose Church, 735 Brevard, celebrated by Father Nestor Lara, CHS, parochial vicar at the parish. A number of St. Anthony Saints are members at San Jose Church, according to school principal Ana Copeland.
Other Activities Scheduled This Spring: Include the annual Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) Auction on Sunday, March 1, a History Fair on Wednesday, April 1 and the Spring Music Program on Wednesday, May 20.
“St. Anthony School has educated over 3,000 students in Hereford since 1917,” said Copeland. “All former students, faculty, staff and parents of St. Anthony School are asked to please fill out a profile data form which can be found on the school website, stanthonysaints.com, or at the school and parish offices.”
St. Anthony School is located at 120 West Park Avenue in Hereford. Phone number: 806-364-1952. Website: stanthonysaints.com