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St. Mary’s School
Catholic
Schools Week, Valentine’s, birthdays… Now think Spring
By Kathy Ayette
February is definitely the birthday month in my classroom this
year. This month we are celebrating five birthdays including
mine. I told my class what I would really like for my birthday is
one “normal” school week. Since last month we have had Catholic Schools
Week, with its accompanying flurry of special events and activities, an
early Valentine’s Day party, Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday, and a plethora
of weather delays and cancellations! Not that I am implying the
above are bad things… well maybe the weather related things are bad.
No, it’s more like when you’ve been on vacation and eating out every
night, you just long for your own bed and plain home cooking!
However without the “above” I really wouldn’t have much to write about
this month.
Catholic Schools Week opened with the weekend Masses on Jan.
26/27. Students participated in all the weekend Masses, with the
“cherubs” singing at the 10:30 Mass. The public was invited over
to school after each Mass for refreshments. The science fair
exhibits were on display. On Monday, Father White and Mayor
Wellman officially opened the week. We had a surprise birthday
party for our indispensable secretary, Mrs. Detling, who celebrated a
milestone birthday. She requested that I mention no
numbers. Monday was also bubble wrap day. Bubble wrap was
laid out in the hall and all the students jumped and popped the bubble
wrap. It was kind of like being trapped in a popcorn
popper! Parents and grandparents had lunch with their students on
Tuesday and Wednesday. On Wednesday, at 10:00 church bells
throughout the archdiocese were rung in celebration of Catholic Schools
Weeks. At St. Mary’s we like to put our own special touch to the tin
tabulation by having the students play jingle bells and assorted rhythm
instruments as the junior high students ring the church bells.
There were two bees during the week, a geography bee and a religion
bee. The winners of the geography bee were Carson Pope, Lydia
Beisner, and Wyatt Rammel. The winners of the religion bee were
Wyatt Rammel, Trey Rammel, with Mitchell Schmitmeyer and Carmen Badell
tying for third place. On Friday the students invited “special
persons” to join them for the closing Mass and a donut reception.
Later the students enjoyed playing Bingo with their buddies. We
did have one catastrophe. One of the preschoolers’ dauber
exploded. At least it was a pink dauber. Pink is a pretty
popular color among preschool girls. The week ended with a
showing of Moana.
This year the primary students celebrated Valentine’s Day on Friday,
February 9 because Ash Wednesday was on the 14th this year.
In all of my years of teaching, I have never seen such amazing
valentine boxes. In my class we had a troll, a unicorn, a Lego
creation, and a robot with lights to mention just a few. I am
glad I didn’t have to bring in my valentine box from second
grade. My aluminum foil covered shoebox with the glued on candy
hearts would have looked pretty pathetic.
On February 14 we celebrated Mardi Gras. Each student was given a
set of Mardi Gras beads to wear as necklaces…theoretically. In my
class the beads were not only worn around the neck, but I had one
student that managed to get them around his waist (don’t ask me how)
and one or two that wore them like bandoleers. The beads also
twirled and clacked throughout the day. My class made Mardi Gras
masks. I believe I will be finding feathers and glitter from now
to Memorial Day in my room. With Mardi Gras coming just a little
less than two months after Christmas, my room is a little glittery,
which is fine with me. However I was tempted to tell the
custodian that I was going to give up glitter for Lent. The day
ended with “burying” the Alleluia. In the evening the annual
Reverse Raffle and Fat Tuesday Dessert Night was held. Winners of
$250 were The Rammels, Steve and Eileen Litchfield, Ken and Sharon
Livingston, Michael Glass, Rex and Chris Detling, and Sheila
Harbison. Kevin Subler won the grand prize of $3000.
Until next month, think spring!
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