Assumption Celebrates Catholic Schools Week, Jan. 28-Feb. 2
Assumption School in O’Fallon kicks off Catholic Schools Week Sunday, Jan. 28 with Mass at 10 a.m. in the church followed by the School Open House and tours from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in the early childhood and elementary school buildings. The weeklong celebration continues through Friday, Feb. 2, featuring fun activities for students, families, parishioners, and community members, which include a new Community Appreciation Day Parade rounding out the highlights for 2024. 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 2024 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 School’s Catholic Schools Week activities include the following: • Sunday, Jan. 28: 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, kickoff for Catholic Schools Week. Directly following Mass and until 12:30 p.m., parishioners and students in preschool-K-8th grades and their families tour the school buildings, located at 203 West Third Street, and visit with teachers, staff, and administrators. • Monday, Jan. 29: Parent Appreciation Day It’s Muffin Monday! To say THANK YOU for choosing Assumption, muffins 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 today. • Tuesday, Jan. 30: Clergy Appreciation Day To say THANK YOU for being our spiritual leaders, a gift of appreciation is shared with Assumption priests and deacons. After 8 a.m. Mass in the Church, students will line the Chapel altar and isles with luminaires and everyone will participate in Adoration to honor Jesus. • Wednesday, Jan. 31: Student Appreciation Day Students enjoy a day of Inflatable fun in the gym, and everyone gets a special treat during lunch. Students in grades 2-8 enjoy trivia, and students in preschool-K-8 watch a movie in the afternoon. No homework assigned today. • Thursday, Feb. 1: 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, Feb. 2: Community Appreciation Day and Parade The day begins with 8 a.m. Mass in the Church. To say THANK YOU, students bless parishioners 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 to receive gifts of appreciation from Assumption School.
The procession includes, the O’Fallon Mayor Bill Hennessy serving as Grand Marshall, followed by Assumption Priests, Pastor Nicholas Kastenholz and Monsignor Dennis Stehly; Sisters of the Most Precious Blood; the O’Fallon Police Department; O’Fallon Fire Department; St. Charles City-County Libray Bookmobile; El Tio Pepe Restaurant; St. Dominic High School; the Maggie Welby Foundation; Kuk Sol; Twin Oaks Senior Living; O’Fallon Knights of Columbus; O’Fallon Public Works; St. Charles County Associate Circuit Judge, Division 10, Dennis Chassaniol; Crusader, Assumption’s own Therapy Dog; and Vito Tabacchi Fine Properties and Real Estate 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. 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 assistance and a variety of scholarships. • Today and Tomorrow Educational Foundation (TTEF) Scholarships The application process opens at 8 a.m., Jan. 22 - 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 Why Choose Assumption School, visit us online at assumptionbvmschool.org or contact us at 636-240-4474.