Washington, D.C. - Catholic Schools Week, the annual celebration of Catholic schools and their contribution to their communities and the nation, is set for Jan. 27 through Feb. 2, 2008. For more than three decades, the nation’s Catholic schools have spent the last week of January recalling what makes Catholic education special.
The 2008 theme is “Catholic Schools Light the Way,” which highlights the mission of Catholic schools to provide a faith-based education that supports the whole child academically and spiritually and prepares students for future success.
“As a result of the excellent, multifaceted education they are receiving today, our students will ‘light the way’ to a brighter future through their leadership in our communities, government, businesses and families,” said Dr. Karen M. Ristau, president of the National Catholic Educational Association.
Across the country, schools will observe the week with special Masses, community service projects, academic and artistic showcases, and athletic and family events. Many schools will hold open houses so that community members can learn more about the value of Catholic education.
On National Appreciation Day for Catholic Schools on Jan. 30, delegations of students, faculty and parents will visit Washington, D.C., and many state capitals to promote awareness among government leaders of the contributions of Catholic education. Nearly 2.4 million students attend the nation’s 7,800 elementary, middle and secondary Catholic schools.
“With their emphasis on academic excellence and moral values, Catholic schools enjoy high satisfaction among students and parents and high achievement rates, including high school graduation rates of more than 99 percent,” said Marie Powell, executive director of Catholic Education at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. “This is a message we want to share with our nation’s leaders.”
Catholic Schools Week is a joint project of the National Catholic Educational Association, the world’s largest private, professional education association, and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the national public policy organization of U.S. bishops.
Established in 1904, the NCEA is the largest private professional education organization in the world, representing 200,000 Catholic educators serving 7.6 million students in Catholic elementary and secondary schools, in religious education programs, in seminaries and in colleges and universities.
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National Catholic Educational Association
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