By Thomas Celona
Staff Writer

Schools across the region are celebrating Catholic Schools Week this week, including Conshohocken Catholic School and St. Philip Neri Catholic School in Lafayette Hill.

Both elementary schools planned a week of fun activities for students and celebrations of their religious identity to coincide with the annual nationwide initiative.

Catholic Schools Week is a celebration organized by the National Catholic Education Association each year to recognize the importance of the academic and moral education provided by Catholic schools, according to the NCEA’s Web site. The theme for this year’s Catholic Schools Week, which runs Jan. 31 to Feb. 6, is “Dividends for Life,” focusing on the lifelong impact of a Catholic education, according to the Web site.

Conshohocken Catholic celebrated the week with a variety of events across all grade levels.

“This week is great,” Principal Pat Kaeser said. “It’s an opportunity for us to celebrate what makes us academically unique. All the activities we have planned are about fun for the students, but they’re also real-life challenges. The kids have a lot of fun, but we try to make it so they’re learning at the same time. “

On Feb. 1, seventh- and eighth-graders held an international food cook-off, preparing meals from nine different nations that were tasted and judged.

The following day, third- and fourth-graders hosted a living history museum, posing as famous people in Pennsylvania history. Students dressed up as historical figures such as Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, Thomas Jefferson and Betsy Ross. As other students and parents walked through the classroom, the students read information they had researched about the person.

On Feb. 3, Sister Catherine Gerald came and spoke to the students.

“She took a trip to Haiti two days after the earthquake,” Kaeser said. “In 24 hours, the students collected $1,181 [to give to her].”

During her presentation, Gerald showed the students pictures from her trip and discussed how the money they contributed helped the earthquake victims.

On Thursday, first- and second-graders will come to school dressed up for career day, and the school will host its first-ever talent show in the afternoon.

The school will finish the week with a Mass.

“We celebrate our history,” Kaeser said. “We celebrate we are faith-based education. We’ll just be thankful for what makes us who we are.”

Meanwhile, St. Philip Neri also had many events throughout the week, along with opportunities to connect with the local community.

“It’s a celebration of what we offer our children, families and community,” Principal Berenice Annechini said. “We offer a strong academic program, a faith-filled education. As Catholics, we like the whole community to know what we have to offer and who we are. This is our way of getting the news out in the community.”

The school kicked off the week Monday with a liturgy honoring community members who have served in the military or emergency services.

“We had grandparents who came who served in the Korean or Vietnam wars; we had parents who came who were policemen, firefighters, EMTs,” Annechini said.

The next day, the school hosted an open house, inviting community members to tour the school. Wednesday was student appreciation day, with children participating in a variety of fun activities.

On Thursday, the school will combine Catholic Schools Week and Black History Month with a presentation on Harriett Tubman and the Underground Railroad.

Students will also package snack bags for children in a homeless shelter.

“Another big component of St. Philip Neri School is our outreach and service projects,” Annechini said. “We are a part of the community — a very large community of families, parish and the public community. I think it’s important that children recognize this and give back and say thanks..”

Annechini said the theme “Dividends for Life” aligns perfectly with the school’s mission.

“We are not just educating the children for the present; we educate the children for the future too,” she said. “It’s discipline, knowledge, morals, values — all those aspects that make the whole person."