Catholic Education Week 2015

Catholic Education Week 2015 

During Catholic Education Week, May 4-8, I attended many special events and traveled to all of my schools to participate in a number of activities.

I began the week by attending the Dance Showcase at St. Paul High School on Tuesday, May 5.  I was able to watch a number of performances by elementary students, including dance troupes from Assumption, St. Andrew, and St. Brother Andre Schools.   

From the Dance Showcase, it was on to St. Anthony School and the Volunteer Appreciation assembly and social.  This was a marvelous event as the students showed genuine affection for the many community members who support them.  As each volunteer's name was called, and the individual made his/her way to the front of the assembly to be presented with a gift of appreciation, the students high-fived and sometimes hugged the volunteer.

On the evening of May 5, I had the honour of emceeing the presentation of the Director of Education Commendation Awards following the annual Catholic Education Week celebration of the Eucharist at Notre Dame Cathedral.  Most Reverend Archbishop Terrence Prendergast, SJ presided.  

His Grace, Archbishop Prendergast,, & Director of Education
Julian Hanlon with award recipients

The Director of Education Commendations are prestigious awards, as the recipients are nominated by their peers.  There were 27 staff members presented with awards this year.

Wednesday, May 6 was a busy day as I visited 4 schools.  My first visit was to Our Lady of Fatima for its Open House.  The hallways and classrooms were full of displays of student work.  Then it was on to St. Daniel for its literacy morning.  I had great fun there as I discussed the life of Pope Francis with primary age students and read to them from a book about our pope.  They interest and enthusiasm were energizing.

Me reading to students at St. Daniel

My third school visit on Wednesday was at Monsignor Paul Baxter.  I visited a primary classroom where there was great excitement.  Over a dozen chicks had hatched just a few days before my visit. The children were involved in an inquiry in which they were challenged to make connections between the Easter story and the hatching of the chicks.  Their speculations and connections, as can be seen in one of the pictures below, were quite imaginative.

Students make connection between hatching chicks
and Easter story

I concluded Wednesday by spending over an hour chatting with grade 6 students at St. Luke Nepean at their very informative Literary Fair.  The students created displays that hi-lighted interesting aspects of the novels they had recently read.  Some students elected to read tradition novels. Other students opted for more contemporary works of fiction.

St Luke student's diplay on The Hobbit for the Literary Fair

Thursday, May 7 was every bit as busy and fun for me as Wednesday.  The day began at St. George, where there was an Open House for parents and some excellent student performances, including by the choir, which sang the songs it would perform the next day during the Choral Celebration.

From St. George, I journeyed to St. Elizabeth to participate in a truly unique event - Artrag3geous, which is a display of artwork by the students.  I was even able to bid on a great painting!

At St. Elizabeth's Artrag3geous

 Lunch on Thursday was a treat, as I stopped in at St. Nicholas Adult High School and mingled with staff and students as I enjoyed a hamburger during the school's annual Education Week barbeque.  I concluded the day at the Mother Teresa High School Open House, where I got to see a demonstration of a 3-D printer.

A very busy but enjoyable Education Week 2015 concluded on Friday, May 8 with visits to both Dr. F. J. McDonald (for an old fashion spelling bee) and St. Andrew, where I again read to students.

Reading to a class at St. Andrew