Assumption Celebrates Catholic Schools Week, Jan. 26-31

Assumption School in O’Fallon kicks off Catholic Schools Week Sunday, Jan. 26 with 10 a.m. Mass in the church, followed by the School Open House with tours in the early childhood and elementary school buildings from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The weeklong celebration continues through Friday, Jan. 31, featuring fun activities for students, families, parishioners, and community members, which include a fun Community Appreciation Paraderounding out the highlights for 2025.

Since 1974, National Catholic Schools Week is the annual celebration of Catholic education in the United States. It starts the last Sunday in January and runs all week. The theme for National Catholic Schools Week 2025 is ‘Catholic Schools: United in Faith and Community.’ Through these events, Assumption School focuses on the value Catholic education provides to young people and its contributions to our church, our communities, and our nation.

The lineup for Assumption’s Catholic Schools Week activities include the following:

• Sunday, Jan. 26: Mass and School Open House with Tours
10 a.m. Mass at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish Church, 403 North Main Street, O’Fallon, features student and teacher blessing, as well as, the kickoff for Catholic Schools Week. Directly following Mass and until 12:30 p.m., everyone is invited to tour the Early Childhood building (K3-K5) and the Elementary School building (K-8 grades), located at 203 West Third Street, and visit with teachers, staff, and administrators.

• Monday, Jan. 27-Feb. 7: Assumption ‘Souper Bowl’ Canned Food Drive
Assumption gives back and is ready to tackle hunger! Led by our NJHS students, our student body will collect soup cans for our ‘Souper Bowl’ fundraiser to support the Saints Joachim and Ann Care Services Food Pantry, which serves the tri-county area.

• Monday, Jan. 27: Parent Appreciation Day
To say THANK YOU for choosing Assumption, special treats are handed out to parents during morning drop off from 7 a.m., until the bell rings at 7:50 a.m. No homework assigned – parents get the night off!

• Tuesday, Jan. 28: Clergy Appreciation Day
To say THANK YOU for being our spiritual leaders, a gift of appreciation is shared with Assumption priests and deacons during 8 a.m. Mass in the Church. Throughout the day, students will line the Chapel altar and isles with luminaires and everyone will ‘Be the Light’ in Adoration to honor Jesus. Vinney Pescarino will play worship music in the Chapel from 1:30-2:30 p.m. A vocational panel, including Assumption seminarian, Joey Griggs will talk to students in grades 4-8 from 2:30-3 p.m. in the Church.

• Wednesday, Jan. 29:
Student Appreciation Day Students enjoy a day of Inflatable fun in the gym, and everyone gets a special treat. Students in grades 2-8 enjoy trivia and have popcorn in the afternoon, and students in preschool-K-first grade watch a movie and have popcorn in the afternoon. No tests, quizzes or homework – students get a break today!

• Thursday, Feb. 30: Faculty and Staff Appreciation Day
Students present teachers and teacher aides, learning consultants, counselors, office staff, and administration thank you notes, flowers, and small gifts on their special day. To say THANK YOU to all Assumption school staff, the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) provides a special luncheon from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. We finish out the day with the Annual Assumption School Spelling Bee at 1 p.m. in the Church.

• Friday, Jan. 31: Community Appreciation Day and Parade
The day begins with 8 a.m. Mass in the Church. To say THANK YOU, students bless everyone at the end of Mass. Afterwards, holding signs of appreciation; students line the school parking lot around 9 a.m., as O’Fallon community members and organizations parade by on foot, car, truck and construction vehicle to receive gifts baskets of appreciation from Assumption School administration.
The procession includes, the O’Fallon Mayor Bill Hennessy serving as Grand Marshall, followed by Assumption Priests, Pastor Nicholas Kastenholz and Monsignor Dennis Stehly; the O’Fallon Police Department; O’Fallon Fire Department; St. Charles City-County Library Bookmobile; El Tio Pepe Restaurant; St. Dominic High School; the Maggie Welby Foundation; Twin Oaks Senior Living; O’Fallon Knights of Columbus; St. Charles County Associate Circuit Judge, Division 10, Dennis Chassaniol; Crusader, and Assumption’s own Therapy Dog to name a few.

“We believe that providing a child with a Catholic learning environment not only allows them to become closer to God, but provides them with a faith-based, private school education with smaller classroom sizes at an affordable price,” says Assumption Pastor, Father Nick Kastenholz.

Come grow with us! Enrollment for the 2025-2026 school year begins at Open House and continues throughout the year. Now more than ever, families with children in K-8th grades have the opportunity to afford a Catholic school education with the assistance of parish financial aid and other scholarships.

• Today and Tomorrow Educational Foundation (TTEF) Scholarships The application process opens at 8 a.m., Jan. 21 – Feb. 28 - https://ttef-stl.org/scholarships/
• MOScholars Scholarships The application process begins at 8 a.m., Feb. 1 - https://ttef-stl.org/moscholars/

For more information about Assumption School, visit us online at assumptionbvmschool.org or contact us at 636-240-4474.