This year’s Catholic Schools Week took place from January 27 to January 31. The week included dress up days and a variety of activities. Monday’s theme was community, and the students were encouraged to wear green and white. Tuesday’s theme was students, and the students were allowed to wear sweats. Wednesday was an All Systems Mass, where students from St. Francis, parents, and others involved with the Catholic Schools, joined Billings Central for Mass. Thursday’s theme was vocations, and students were encouraged to dress professionally. Friday’s theme was to celebrate teachers and staff members, and students were encouraged to dress up like their favorite teachers.
However, the dress up days were not the only thing that happened during Catholic Schools Week; there were also activities each day. On Monday, an assembly led by two medical students from Rocky Mountain University took place. They discussed their upcoming medical trips to Peru, Panama, and the Dominican Republic, and explained how students could help them on their mission.
On Tuesday, there was a talent show where students and teachers performed. The first act was a band consisting of Mr. Martinez, the music department teacher, Joshua Strydom, a sophomore, Mr Fairbanks, the history and film teacher, and Caiden Hernandez, a sophomore. The next act was Joanne Ragsdale, a junior, who performed a total of three piano pieces. Ragsdale’s act was a hit with the crowd, and the students eagerly sang along with her. Next, was a band consisting of junior Ella Fairbanks, history and film teacher Mr. Fairbanks, sophomore Caiden Hernandez, and sophomore Joshua Strydom. The final act, another band, consisted of Mr. Mack, the 9th grade english teacher, Mr Fairbanks, junior Landon Hughes, and seniors Sam Jagodzinski and Jacob Jewett. The talent show was a favorite for some students, “It was surprising to see how good of singers everyone who participated in it was,” said senior Anna Prill.
Another favorite activity was Wednesday’s All Systems Mass, where parents, K-12 students, teachers, alumni, local clergy and the bishop came together to celebrate Catholic Schools Week. “We are founded on faith and there is no better way to express our faith then coming together. When we are in one place it is truly powerful,” 9th and 10th grade theology teacher Mrs. Wahl stated. When we worship together, we are united.
Many students will always remember this week and remember it fondly. “The activities, dress up days, and mass will always be something I remember,” Prill stated. Whether this is your first Catholic Schools week or your last, each student will be affected by the power this week holds. Some students who came over from St. Francis have had Catholic Schools Week before, but not one at Central. “It’s different from St. Francis because there are more activities throughout the week,” freshman Penny Paquette stated. Catholic Schools Week is a reminder as to why we have Catholic schools and why we should appreciate them.
