Starting in 1974, Catholic Schools Week has served as an annual celebration of Catholic education in the United States. This year, the Maryvale community embraced the national theme of “Rooted in Faith”, celebrating with a surfeit of activities spearheaded by the 1804 Peer Ministry and the Mini 1804 middle school elective class.
I spoke with Mrs. DeVan, Maryvale’s campus minister, for more insights on the value of Catholic Schools Week, and how our school exemplifies the purpose of the occasion. She told me the importance of Catholic Schools Week lay in its dedication to celebrating facets of creating a Catholic school, including how “It reminds us of our identity and allows us to view our faith as a gift rather than a restriction or categorization.”
Some of the activities featured in this year’s celebration included an ice cream bar, a dress down day, a faculty breakfast, and an advisory-led gratitude branch-making activity. Opportunities for reflection included writing thank-you cards to faculty and incarcerated teenagers through Uncuffed Ministries, a Christian program providing GED tutoring, family support, and classes preparing youth for their lives after incarceration. Through these efforts, students could acknowledge the roots that connect not only our community and the faculty and staff who strengthen our knowledge and faith, but our connection to the wider community and our response to the needs of others. Mrs. DeVan noted that she was particularly impressed with the students’ meaningful letters and the gratitude they portrayed. The week culminated in a liturgy service.
Mrs. DeVan clarifies that while not every member of the Maryvale community practices Catholicism, “understanding the grounds of our mission is essential to who we are as a community.” She hopes that future Catholic Schools Week celebrations will include more groups beyond the 1804 classes, and that Maryvale will embark on a school-wide effort to collaborate across clubs, teams, and classes. Through a week of celebration, service, and reflection, Maryvale reaffirmed its commitment to faith and community. Beyond a cluster of fun activities, Catholic Schools Week reminds us of our school’s roots as well as our own. Carrying the mission of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, we share a commitment to service, teaching, and learning. Extraneous to where each community member is in their faith journey, Catholic Schools Week enables us all to uphold these values and reflect on our connection to one another both in school and beyond.
