H/T to Billy Calzada
Help a Catholic School Win $50,000
With Catholic Schools Week just around the corner, here is your chance to make a huge difference to one Catholic grade school. Piqua Catholic School in Piqua, Ohio is competing for a $50,000 prize from Pepsi. The school’s gym floor is over fifty years old, and if the school wins the money they plan on installing a new floor as well as initiating a before- and after-school fitness program and providing other equipment to make their school a safer place. To help them, simply text 104632 to 73774. You can vote up to three times per day. The ten schools receiving the most votes by January 31, 2011, each win $50,000. Right now, Piqua is in 5th place and they could use your vote! If you don’t use texting, head on over to their page and vote via the web.
Looks like a great cause. But don’t take my word for it. Let the students themselves tell you their story:
And here’s what Piqua’s local TV station had to say about the contest:
You could also help out by spreading the news to your friends on Facebook and Twitter.
Archbishop Gregory on the Transforming Grace of Catholic Education
“It would be impossible to imagine our American society today without the transforming grace of Catholic school graduates.” – Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Atlanta, October 18, 2010
In the following video from last week, Archbishop Gregory explains the mission and value of Catholic schools, and points out three qualities that make them unique:
- Well defined curriculum
- Parental involvement and support
- Teachers, staff members and administrators who witness a sense of calling to assist students’ spiritual, academic, developmental and physical growth
Catholic Schools Remember 9-11 on Patriot Day
Catholic schools around the country are remembering the events of September 11, 2001 in various ways. The Shreveport Times reports on a ceremony at St. Joseph’s Catholic School in Shreveport, Louisiana, and Tricities.com out of Virginia offers the following video story of young students at St. Anne’s Catholic School in Bristol honoring police and firefighters:
Video Features Detroit Cristo Rey High School
One of the myths of Catholic education is that its schools serve only wealthy, suburban families. The following video profiles Detroit Cristo Rey High School, a college preparatory school serving those who could not typically afford a private education. The high school is co-sponsored by the Congregation of St. Basil and the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart Mary.
Follow Detroit Cristo Rey on Twitter @detcristorey, and on Facebook.
Detroit Cristo Rey is not alone. For more on the Cristo Rey educational model, including how to start a school in your area, see the website for the Cristo Rey Network.
Catholic School News for March 13, 2009
Here’s the good word in Catholic schools around the world this week:
- Priest Receives Award for Support of Autistic Catholic School Children: Fr. Andrew Umberg of St. William Parish in Cincinnati, OH, will be one of thirteen recipients of the NCEA Distinguished Pastor Award.
- Catholic School Teacher Flirts with Supermodel Status: Austin, MN Catholic school teacher Tina Rosenthal decides to stay in teaching in spite of a successful photoshoot for Supermodels Unlimited Magazine.
- Robot Wars: Middle school students at St. Luke Catholic School in Temple City, CA create robots to compete in the VEX Robotics Championship of the Americas.
Catholic Students Building Robots - Buzzer-beating 7th Grader: Tray Elliot of Prince of Peace Catholic School in Plano, Texas, hit an amazing full court shot. Follow the link to see the video footage.
- Students Serve Lenten Meals: Students at Holy Family Catholic School in Keighley, West Yorkshire served food in order to raise money for the Democratic Republic of Congo.
- $2.1 Million Expansion for Elementary School: St. Mary’s Catholic School in Vineland, NJ is about to enjoy a new wing of classrooms, a new stage, and a new indoor basketball court.