St. Joseph Catholic School in Batavia will kick off Catholic Schools Week with a family mass at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 29, followed by a family luncheon, followed at 2 p.m. with an open house for prospective students and families. The school is located at 2 Summit St.
The theme for this year's Catholic Schools Week, which is celebrated nationally Jan. 29 through Feb. 5, is "Faith, Academics, Service." These three priorities of Catholic schools stand out from other educational institutions.
Children are taught faith – not just the basics of Christianity, but how to have a relationship with God. Academics, which in Catholic schools are held to very high standards, help each child reach his or her potential. Service, the giving of one’s time and effort to help others, is taught both as an expression of faith and good citizenship.
St. Joseph Catholic School of Batavia has a long history with its roots dating back to 1873 when Rev. Thomas Cunningham settled on Jackson Street in Batavia, bringing with him six Sisters of Mercy. The school later moved to Ross Street before opening on Summit Street in 1882, operating there until 1959. At that time, the original building was torn down due to safety concerns and a new building was constructed.
Open house festivities on Sunday will be followed by a week's worth of activities. On Monday, parents will join students for lunch, followed by a game of bingo. On Tuesday, students will participate in group activities at the YMCA and the Faletti Ice Rink. Wednesday will be Pajama Day with students making fleece-tie blankets for the VA Nursing Home. On Thursday, students will attend a special movie day at the Dipson Theatre.
The celebration wraps up on Friday with a basketball game and Jump Rope for Heart event. That evening, the school will hold a Family Dance from 7 to 10 p.m.
Current school enrollment totals nearly 200 including pre-K through eigthth grade, with the average class size being 16. Nearly 60 percent of families receive some type of financial assistance. Nationally, 99 percent of Catholic school students graduate from high school, and 98 percent of those students go on to college.
To find out more about St Joseph Catholic School or the open house, please call 343-6154.
