Catholic Schools Week: Auxiliary Bishop Raymond Chappetto Visits Queens Students

By Tim Harfmann Currents News- Net TV

On Jan. 28, students at Our Lady of Hope Catholic Academy in Middle Village and Saint Joan of Arc School in Jackson Heights, Queens, showed their appreciation for their Catholic education and the values they receive.

On the feast day of Saint Thomas Aquinas —  patron of Catholic schools — Brooklyn Auxiliary Bishop Raymond Chappetto visited the two schools and spoke with 800 students. 

Bishop Chappetto described the saint as  “a wonderful role model for our students in terms of his learning and his holiness he was gifted with great wisdom.”

“And at the same time he was gifted with a great sense of holiness,” he said. 

At Our Lady of Hope, Bishop Chappetto toured the classrooms as students learned using iPads and Smartboards.

“Attending a Catholic school allows me to grow in my faith, and being here it’s helped me make so many friendships and so many great memories,” explained Samantha Kelly, and eight grader at the school.

“I’d want to go to a Catholic high school and continue my faith because it is very good here, and I’m pretty sure it will be even better in high school,” added fellow classmate Gianna D’Arienzo, a sixth grader. 

At Saint Joan of Arc, students performed songs and read essays about what they’ve been learning.

“I value discipline and religion,” said Carol Gomes, a seventh grader at St. Joan of Arc, “and it’s such an important thing in Catholic schools. And I really like and admire that about it.”

The year’s Catholic Schools Week motto: learn, serve, lead, succeed.

“Religion is very important when it comes to a person’s life, and when you’re learning that, learning more about your faith, it helps you a lot,” Carol added. 

The desire to grow in their Catholic education tomorrow is there, thanks to seeds planted today.

 

National Catholic Schools Week (CSW) is an annual celebration of Catholic education in the United States. Now entering its 46th anniversary year, CSW has traditionally been held the last week in January. From January 26 to February 1, 2020, we will still host the traditional Celebrate Catholic Schools Week. Schools typically observe the week with Masses, assemblies and other activities for students, families, parishioners and community members to celebrate and congratulate. Make CSW your own and share your ideas with other schools using #CSW20. This year’s theme is Catholic Schools: Learn. Serve. Lead. Succeed.

This year St. Joan of Arc will be participating in Catholic Schools Week. Below is a list of dates and times of the activities we are planning for the week:

Sunday, January 26, 2020– Open House 10:00am- 1:00pm

We will be hosting an open house for prospective parents. If you have family or friends that are searching for a school please share this information with them. Teachers, parents and students will be on hand to give tours of the school.

Monday, January 27, 2020– National Pride Day- Teachers and students may come to school representing the United States or the country of origin of their families. Students in Grades 4-8 must write a paragraph or two as to why they are proud to be American or why they are proud to celebrate their heritage. PreK to 3^rd grades can write a sentence or draw a picture. Students do not have to dress in any official costume but can just wear the national colors of the country.

Tuesday, January 28, 2020– The Most Reverend Bishop Raymond Chappetto, D.D., V.G., Visits SJA – School Assembly 1:00PM in gymnasium. All students are to be in full school uniform. Families are welcome to attend.

Wednesday, January 29, 2020– Student Appreciation Day- Students will receive Free Ice Cream at lunch and other rewards.

Open House 9:00am- 11:00am. We will be hosting an open house for prospective parents. If you have family or friends that are searching for a school please share this information with them. Teachers, parents and students will be on hand to give tours of the school.

PreK-3 to 4^th Grade- Pajama Day- Students in these grades may wear their pajamas to school.

Grades 5-8 Crazy Sock/Hat Day- Students may dress down but must be showing crazy socks or wearing a crazy hat.

Thursday, January 30, 2020– Be A Good Neighbor Day

Catholic Schools Week School Mass 9:00am- Families welcome to attend.

SJA will take up a school wide collection of money to be sent to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Students should also be encouraged to do a random act of kindness throughout the day for a classmate or someone else. All students must be in uniform to attend mass.

Friday, January 31, 2020– Teacher Appreciation Day

We Love Literature Day- Students bring in their favorite book and can dress up as their favorite literary character and present in class.

OPEN HOUSE!

Sunday, January 26th 10:00AM- 1:00PM

Wednesday, January 29th 9:00AM- 11:30AM

Come Visit St. Joan of Arc Catholic School !

Click this link below for more information:

cswregistration

‪A friendship quilt made by the 3rd grade and our PDHP guidance counselor. 

‪St. Joan of Arc’s Halloween and Fall Festival. Students dressed in their coolest costumes and played spooky games to win tons of candy! A costume contest, music and dancing, and Halloween treats baked by our parents were all part of a fantastic time!  Thank you to all who worked so hard. 

 

Three of our teachers — Roisin (pre-K), Mary Ellen (pre-K) and Katie Fitzgerald (fourth grade) — were featured in The Tablet and on Currents News this week. You can read the article here and watch the Currents report below: 

We wanted to share this online guide from Caring for Kids with our families. It offers lots of good information and advice for families on how to handle social media, including tips for digital safety, screen-time limits, and online privacy. Follow this link or click on the screenshot below to learn more.