METRO DETROIT — Monday, Jan. 28, marks the beginning of — an albeit snowy — Catholic Schools Week. The poor weather on Monday canceled classes across southeast Michigan, possibly a special gift from St. Thomas Aquinas, patron saint of students.
Earlier in the month, Detroit Catholic asked local Catholic schools to tell us what they're doing to celebrate Catholic Schools Week, and all that makes Catholic schools such special places to learn and grow. Below are the responses we received.
Detroit Catholic would like to wish a blessed Catholic Schools Week to all the students, teachers, principals, staff, pastors and religious who make Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Detroit a model of Christ-centered learning.
Sunday, Jan. 27
Austin Catholic High School, Chesterfield Township: Students attended Mass and were asked to take a selfie in Austin apparel; meanwhile, adults were invited to an Augustinian Values Retreat to learn about Austin's values.
St. Fabian School, Farmington Hills: Mass with students participating in roles in the liturgy; open house 1 to 3 p.m.
St. Germaine School, St. Clair Shores: Open House, 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
St. Isaac Jogues School, St. Clair Shores: 9:30 a.m. Mass to celebrate St. Isaac Jogues School.
Tuesday, Jan. 29
All Saints, Canton: Sunday-best attire; students asked to sit with Prayer Buddies at Mass.
Austin Catholic High School, Chesterfield: 7:20 a.m. Mass; beginning of Catholic Schools Week dodgeball tournament; Meme/Vine spirit dress day; collection/service project, with students bringing in pet supplies for the Humane Society; lunch sponsored by RAK Club.
Bishop Kelley School, Lapeer: Students dressing up in their favorite decade style; teachers “switch” with another classroom; make crafts for the elderly. (Editor's note: After publication of this article, Bishop Kelley School announced it would be rescheduling Catholic Schools Week activities in late February, due to the extremely cold temperatures.)
Everest Collegiate High School, Clarkston: Twin Tuesday; class hallway decoration.
Everest Grade School, Clarkston: Sports team shirt or jersey; special blessings and surprise for Student Appreciation Day; regatta races; pinewood derby race; Catholic Schools Week activities during recess; ice skating outing, bowling outing.
Holy Family, Rochester Hills: North campus: Holy Family Regional School Spirit Day; South campus: Mass Day-Mass uniform. Write a note to a classmate thanking him/her for something nice he/she did for you.
Holy Redeemer, Detroit: All-School Mass; hot chocolate/donuts; STEAM activities in the afternoon.
Marian, Bloomfield Hills: All-school Catholic Schools Week Mass in the auditorium.
Shrine, Royal Oak: 9 a.m. Mass; pep rally, 2:10 to 3 p.m. at the grade school.
St. Augustine, Richmond: Wearing red, white and blue and making something for servicemen and women. Students may make cards, write a letter or make rosaries.
St. Fabian, Farmington Hills: Appreciation for our pastor and associate pastor during weekly all-school Mass. Coffee and donuts will be hosted by St. Fabian students after Mass for daily Mass-attending adults in the community.
St. Germaine, St. Clair Shores: Science with buddies in the gym followed by STEM activity, 10:30 a.m.; Student Council packs lunches for MCREST (Macomb County Rotating Emergency Shelter Team); Many Gifts, One Nation Campaign (24 hours only). Writing letters to another Catholic school located in New York all week.
St. Isaac Jogues, St. Clair Shores: Celebrate vocations at an all-school Mass. Students will enjoy a pancake breakfast sponsored by St. Isaac's Parents Club. Participate in Many Gifts, One Nation Day of Giving.
Wednesday, Jan. 30
All Saints, Canton: Students wear red, white and blue; collection of donations for VA Hospital — new socks, gloves, hats and blankets; Valentines for Veterans.
Austin High School, Chesterfield: Dodgeball tournament continues; red, white and blue spirit dress day; collection/service project for hygiene product collection for Ronald McDonald House. Lunch sponsored by PAA; second annual Glow Fest, 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Bishop Kelley, Lapeer: Students may bring in food, clothing, etc., of their heritage to share; making “Thank You” cards for community emergency management services (police, fire, etc.); school-wide prayer every hour over PA.
Everest Collegiate High School, Clarkston: America Day; Decade for our Nation; Lip Sync Battle; Paint the Rock Competition.
Everest Grade School, Clarkston: America Day; Rosary for Our Nation; Paper airplane competition; Catholic Schools Week activities during recess; lip-sync battle judging for eighth grade boys and girls.
Holy Family, Rochester Hills: Dress as a super hero and write a card to someone who helps our community stay safe (firefighters, policemen, hospital workers, construction workers, etc.). Sing your commitment to “Be a Superhero” for Christ.
Holy Redeemer, Detroit: Read-a-thon; students in kindergarten through fourth grade can wear pajamas and bring a blanket to sit and read in the halls; grades 5-8 can wear sweats; scavenger hunt, finding Catholic icons and symbols.
Marian, Bloomfield Hills: Faculty/staff Appreciation Day, with a special lunch provided by the Mothers’ Club.
Shrine, Royal Oak: Students will write letters to active military. Letters will be sent to Operation Gratitude and should be letters of thanks and good wishes for active military; Jeans Day fundraiser — $1 for Operation Gratitude supplies. School will send a check to Operation Gratitude and they will provide supplies to ship to active military.
St. Augustine, Richmond: Students will be able to dress up in their Sunday best. Mass to begin the day. Parent-Teacher Committee to provide ice cream social in the afternoon, and individual teachers will decide on a treat for the students in the class.
St. Fabian, Farmington Hills: Dress down, an assembly, and an opportunity to play games with their "buddy class."
St. Germaine School, St. Clair Shores: Fun and games with buddies; student council packs MCREST lunches; school faculty/staff provides and serves McRest dinner.
St. Isaac Jogues, St. Clair Shores: Students may dress down and will participate in fun activities throughout the day, such as Buddy Bingo.
Thursday, Jan. 31
Archdiocese of Detroit: Catholic Schools Week Mass with Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, 10:30 a.m.
All Saints, Canton: Favorite college/sport team apparel with PE bottoms; thank-you letters to volunteers.
Austin High School, Chesterfield: Dodgeball tournament continues; students attend Catholic Schools Week Mass at the cathedral; Spirit dress – Fandom Day; collection/service for “I Support Girls” feminine hygiene products; senior service project; fifth annual staff chili cook-off.
Bishop Kelley, Lapeer: Music played every hour to “Get up and move;” “Penny Wars” start.
Everest Collegiate High School, Clarkston: Catholic Schools Week Mass at the cathedral; sports day; vocation awareness assembly; Paint the Rock competition.
Everest Grade School, Clarkston: Catholic Schools Week Mass at the cathedral; Wacky colors dress day; vocations panel, 3rd-8th grade only; Catholic Schools Week activities during recess; Middle School Mountaineer match-up.
Holy Family, Rochester Hills: Hawaiian Day, dress in your favorite Hawaiian clothes; submit a question about a vocation and hear the answer read over the announcements in the next couple of weeks; Middle School Rocks games during lunch.
Holy Redeemer, Detroit: Archdiocese of Detroit Mass at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament with student representatives; special activities with teachers; nacho sale for $1 to benefit the warming center; Mixed Match Day – students can mix up their dress; student raffle on Thursday to close out Catholic Schools Week; book fair will go on throughout the week.
Marian, Bloomfield Hills: A group of 10 seniors and juniors to represent the school at the All-School Mass at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament; students to wear the special Catholic Schools Week T-shirt purchased as a fundraiser for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
Shrine, Royal Oak: Teacher appreciation lunch provided by Mothers’ Club; grades K-3 vocations talk with Sr. Noreen in the gym at 8:10 a.m.; grades 4-6 vocations talk with Fr. John Kopson in the gym at 11:15 a.m.
St. Augustine, Richmond: Students will wear their school spirit gear; each grade will choose who they would like to thank and how they would like to thank them; pool of people to thank include pastor, associate pastor, deacon and other religious orders.
St. Fabian, Farmington Hills: Appreciation for teachers with a casual dress day; student council will go around to classrooms and serve breakfast treats and coffee to teachers in the morning. Student council officers will attend the Catholic Schools Week Mass at the cathedral with their social studies and religion teacher; pastor Msgr. Tim Hogan will be concelebrating the Mass with the Archbishop, and several other pastors in our Archdiocese.
St. Germain School, St. Clair Shores: Student council packs MCREST lunches; eighth- and second-grade buddies lead prayer service, 2 p.m.
St. Isaac Jogues, St. Clair Shores: Student council will represent St. Isaac Jogues at the annual Catholic Schools Week Mass at the cathedral. Students will write letters of appreciation to members of the military.
Friday, Feb. 1
All Saints, Canton: Spirit Day; Spirit Assembly: grades K-3 in the morning; grades 4-8 in the afternoon.
Austin High School, Chesterfield: Joint all-school service day with St. Lawrence Catholic School in Utica; annual RAK club re-stock the pantry collection; boys’ basketball home; girls’ basketball away.
Bishop Kelley, Lapeer: “Penny Wars” end; Reading Buddies with other classes; donate “gently used” books.
Everest High School, Clarkston: Class T-shirt day; hallway cleanup; surprise activity; EC Winter games; pizza lunch; EC Games continue; EC Pep Rally.
Everest Grade School, Clarkston: Spirit Day; First Friday Mass; Change for Charity campaign; Catholic Schools Week activities during recess; Everest Mountaineer pep rally.
Holy Family, Rochester Hills: North campus: Mass Day; south campus: HFRS Sprit Day; afternoon pep rally.
Marian, Bloomfield Hills: T-shirt day to support the American Heart Association's “Wear Red and Give” campaign. To celebrate the week, ASB made a banner stating why they love Catholic schools, which will hang outside the student dining area all week.
Shrine, Royal Oak: STEM/STREAM Day.
St. Augustine, Richmond: “Comfy Dress” day. Teachers to choose how they wish to end the week. Classes can join with other classes to celebrate. Some choices for activities include a movie or game day, arts and crafts or read-ins.
St. Fabian, Farmington Hills: School spirit day: everyone will dress in St. Fabian wear/school colors. Each grade will be a part of a poster decorating activity. These posters will be part of the decor for our gratitude dinner the following evening. The parish is hosting this dinner to thank volunteers in the various ministries around our school and parish.
St. Germaine, St. Clair Shores: K-8th grade Mass at 8:30 a.m.; student council packs MCREST lunches; spirit games, 1 p.m.; Men’s Club bowling fundraiser.
St. Isaac Jogues, St. Clair Shores: Dress down to celebrate our faculty and staff; annual Eighth Grade vs. Teachers volleyball game at 2 p.m.
Our Lady Star of the Sea, Grosse Pointe Woods: Bring a “Special Person in their Life” to school day; school Mass; K-6 will make blankets for the Van Elslander Cancer Center; grades 7-8 are continuing “Lunches of Love” service project, making 1,500 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for Homeless Veterans of Detroit; vocations day, where one religious sister and one Companion of the Cross to speak to students about vocations.
Saturday, Feb. 2
Austin High School, Chesterfield: School lock-in until 7 a.m.
St. Isaac Jogues, St. Clair Shores: Free open skate at St. Clair Shores Civic Arena from 6:30-8 p.m.; wear St. Isaac Jogues spirit wear; special thanks to the Parents Club for this event.
