Special emphasis was put on the jubilee celebration during Catholic Schools Week. The week began with The Booster Bash Winter Carnival. For the first time ever, the event was a stand-alone afternoon of family fun as the school transformed into a carnival setting. Families gathered for fellowship complete with laser tag, cotton candy, taco fiesta lunch and the famous “cake walk”. Spoiler alert for years ahead….tired legs and too much sugar are guaranteed to make repeat carnival goers out of any attendee!
The St. Monica Catholic School Community celebrated their faith the following morning at a Catholic Schools Week student led mass. Mass was followed by another wonderful fellowship event, a parish breakfast sponsored by the members of the Local Advisory Committee (community volunteers who advise the principal on school issues also referred to as LAC).
Catholic Schools Week is highly anticipated as a time to focus on the beauty of Catholic faith formation and education. Activities throughout the week put special spotlights on teacher appreciation, national pride and community awareness. The annual bowling field trip was a highlight and a fun way to honor the students during the special week.
Completing Catholic Schools Week was the first ever “Irish Jubilee” silent and live auction. Historically, a silent auction was paired with the winter carnival. This year, the decision was made to “switch it up a bit”….and separating the events was a sparkling success!!! The Irish DIAMOND Jubilee (Diamond, to honor the 60th anniversary) silent and live auction took place at The Moors Golf Club in Portage. The event was an opportunity for adults to enjoy an evening of camaraderie outside the hustle and bustle of the school routine. Bidding for the silent items was available both virtually and in-person, and there were a number of unique experiences available for the live auction. Golfing with clergy, flight lessons and a summer vacation to Northern Michigan were a few highlights from the list. The event (including The Winter Carnival) raised nearly $60,000 to be directly returned to St. Monica Catholic School. This is more than double the proceeds from previous years. The school looks forward to using the funds to continue a newly established scholarship fund, making facilities improvements, and honoring individual teacher grant requests.
The St. Monica community is bursting with pride after months of faith and fun filled time together. If you or someone you know is considering Catholic education, St. Monica Catholic School is a great choice. Tours are available and all are welcome. There is a buzz in the air around St. Monica Catholic School and students, families and staff are eager to share what it is all about!
For more information or to schedule a tour, visit stmonicakzoo.org or call 269-345-2444.
#themorefactor #togetherwecan