January 28—February 3 is Catholic Schools Week in the US. The theme of this week is “Catholic Schools: Learn. Serve. Lead. Succeed.” Celebrate what makes your Catholic school special and use this Catholic Schools Week to grow as a community in which children learn, serve, lead, and succeed.
Share the inspiration of saints and other Christian role models through the following stories and activities:
Seeds and Promise
Use this coloring sheet of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, the patron saint of Catholic schools. This wife, mother of five, widow, and foundress of the Sisters of Charity is also credited with opening the first American parish school and first American Catholic orphanage.
Good News
Share this graphic story of the life of Saint Katharine Drexel. A wealthy heiress, she chose to use her resources to help build schools for Native American and African-American communities in the U.S.
Venture
Share the stories of Saints Katharine Drexel and John Bosco. Both used their talents and resources to care for and educate needy children:
Use this activity sheet about Saint Josephine Bakhita, who first learned of Jesus in a Catholic school.
Image credit: NCEA
Which activities are good for which grade levels? Thanks!
Seeds: preschool; Promise: kindergarten and grade 1; Good News: grades 2 & 3; Venture: grades 3, 4, & 5; Visions: grades 7 & 8.
I appreciate being able to share the stories of these saints like Saint Seton with my daughter as she gets ready to go to school next year. We’re moving next year and aren’t sure where she’ll end up going, and she’s scared of the new experience. Maybe talking with her and doing these activities will help make it less scary for her.
I’m sure that your daughter will benefit from the saint stories—and from your presence and concern for her in a time of transition and uncertainty. I pray that you and she will be able to trust that God has good things in store for your family!