It’s The Best Week Of The Year For Catholic School Students

It's the best week of the year for students who attend Catholic schools, not just locally but for the 1.9 million children enrolled in Catholic schools across the nation.

Catholic Schools Week was established in 1974 and it's traditionally celebrated in the last week of January. Schools plan a variety of events to focus on the value of Catholic education for youth and its contributions to church, communities and the country.

Individual schools decide on their own ways to celebrate. Generally each day has a theme. A wildly popular favorite among the kids is pajama day--what kid doesn't want to just roll out of bed and head straight to school in their jammies and special blanket? My 10-year-old daughter Audrey attends Holy Family School in Hannibal. She had a ball planning for Hats Off to Reading Day, where the students dress up as their favorite book character. She's all decked out in Gryffindor gold and maroon, doing her best Hermione Granger impersonation.

Quincy has about 1000 students enrolled in its various Catholic elementary schools and at Quincy Notre Dame High School. Holy Family in Hannibal has 173 children in grades pre-K through 8th. However, Catholic schools are not just for Catholics. Almost 20% of students enrolled come from other faiths.