Catholic Schools Week 2025

Celebrate with us!

Our teachers have a fun, faith-filled week planned for our students. See all the details below!

Daily Activities

Each day of the school week will open with a special morning prayer, centered around our daily themes. In addition to the activities listed below, there will also be Cosmic Bowling in PE class, Surprise Freeze & Dance and school-wide Food Drive benefitting our St. Stephen the Martyr Food Pantry! We are excited to celebrate Catholic Schools with our students! 

Overview: Catholic schools benefit all year long from the religious guidance, prayers and support parishes provide. Many parishes join in the National Catholic Schools Week celebration by devoting Masses to Catholic education.

Clothing: Wear your uniform to Mass to show your St. Stephen spirit and appreciation for our loving and generous Parish!
Activities:

  • Join Us At Mass: School parents will speak at the beginning of our morning Masses and our students will serve as lectors.
  • Open House: From 9 AM -Noon, we will welcome new students and their families to tour our school and meet our teachers, parents and students. Reservations are required. Learn more about our Open House or sign up to give tours, no experience needed!

Overview: A central aspect of Catholic education is learning the importance of service to others. When students take part in service activities they demonstrate the values and faith gained through Catholic education.

Our SSM Team is a Great Match!

Clothing: Team Jersey/Mismatched Socks. Please be sure to follow the Family Handbook Guidelines.

Activities:

  • – Food Drive Begins 
  • – Voting for Spirit Catholic Radio Superstar Catholic Schools Contest Begins
  • – Praise & Worship lead by local music artist Hannah Keisling. Families are welcome to join us at 2 PM in the Worship Space.

Overview: Schools celebrate students during National Catholic Schools Week by planning enjoyable and meaningful activities for them and recognizing their accomplishments.

Clothing: Jump into your Joggers! Wear your favorite athleisure wear. Please no pjs or slippers.

Activities:

  • – Grab & Go Breakfast for All Students compliments of the St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic School Men’s Club!
    • What’s for Breakfast?! Pancakes with Syrup, Bacon, 1 Chick-fil-A Chick-n-Mini, Apple Sauce, Sunny Delight! Gluten-free option for those with allergies. PreK & Preschool meals will be delivered to the classroom; TK-8th will be picked up in the Dining Room & taken back to the classroom.
  • – Freeze & Dance
  • – Spelling Bee at 1:30 PM in the Gym (Watch Live on our Facebook Page) Contestant families welcome.

Overview: On National Appreciation Day for Catholic Schools, students, families, educators and other Catholic school supporters communicate the value of Catholic education to government leaders.

Clothing: Dress down in red, white and/or blue

Activities:

Overview: By focusing on faith, knowledge and service, Catholic schools prepare children to use their God-given talents to the fullest later in life.

Clothing:

  • Our students have “class”! Please dress in class colors:
  • Dress in “Class Colors!” Wear as much of the color assigned to your class as you can find! Class Colors are:

  • Early Childhood – Yellow

  • Kinders – Pink

  • 1st Grade-Red

  • 2nd Grade- Blue

  • 3rd Grade- White

  • 4th Grade – Purple

  • 5th Grade- Orange

  • 6th Grade- Black

  • 7th Grade- Green

  • 8th Grade- Gray/Uniform

Activities:

  • Last Day of the Food Drive & Penny Wars!
  • 8th Grade Cathedral Mass & lunch
  • Buddy Dance!
  • Deacon Jerry visits Middle School

Overview: On this day, schools honor teachers and principals as well as administrators and staff who support them in their work and thank those who provide volunteer service.

Clothing: Uniforms

Activity: Special Friends Mass at 10 AM & 11 AM Dismissal. Students can invite a guest to join them at Mass. It can be a grandparent, aunt/uncle, mom/dad, etc. As a reminder, we ask for children of the same family to invite one guest and they will all be allowed to sit together. Following Mass, students will return to their classroom to collect their belongings and then will be dismissed. 

Teacher & Staff Lunch: Thank you to St. Stephen the Martyr Home & School Association for providing our teachers and staff lunch on Friday! Teachers and staff can join us in the GPC following 11 AM.

For 13 years, Spirit Catholic Radio has been shining a spotlight on Catholic schools in our area. The competition begins Monday, Jan. 27th and lasts through Feb. 27. 

What is Catholic Schools Week?

Since 1974, National Catholic Schools Week is the annual celebration of Catholic education in the United States. It starts the last Sunday in January and runs all week, which in 2025 is Jan. 26 – Feb. 1. The 2025 theme is “Catholic Schools: United in Faith and Community.” Schools observe the annual celebration week with Masses, open houses and other activities for students, families, parishioners and community members. Through these events, schools focus on the value Catholic education provides to young people and its contributions to our church, our communities and our nation.

Support Our Catholic Schools Week Food Drive

Benefitting St. Stephen's Food Pantry

The items will be placed on a table in the School Commons under the picture of the team that your child thinks will win the Super Bowl!