The Archdiocese of Philadelphia will join in the national observance of Catholic Schools Week beginning January 29, 2012 through February 5, 2012. Catholic Schools Week is an annual celebration of the values-centered, faith-filled education that students receive in Catholic elementary, secondary and special education schools. The national theme for Catholic Schools Week 2012 is “Faith. Academics. Service.”

In his weekly column: Catholic Schools Week – How you and I can help, Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., said, “We can honor Catholic Schools Week this year by actually doing something about the fiscal problems hurting our schools. We need to press our lawmakers, respectfully but vigorously, to pass school choice….School vouchers do not mean “government support for religious schools.” That argument is flatly false. No vouchers go to any school, religious or otherwise. Vouchers do, however, return the power of educational choice to parents, where it belongs. In doing so, vouchers make all schools more accountable for the quality of education they deliver. Parents get the voucher. Parents choose the school. This makes perfect sense.”

To read the Archbishop’s full column, please visit www.catholicphilly.com.   School families are urged to visit the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference website to join the advocacy network and send a message to their legislators at www.pacatholic.org/advocacy.

Total Enrollment (individual county numbers appear at the end of the release):
Parish Elementary Schools:  49,172
Archdiocesan High Schools: 15,172
Archdiocesan Schools of Special Education: 212

Catholic Schools Week Events in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia:

Sunday, January 29, 2012
Our Lady of Ransom Parish School: 6740 Roosevelt Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 1914911:00 a.m. following a special Catholic Schools Week Mass, the school will host “Art on the Walls-Music in the Halls” featuring students’ artistic accomplishments and instrumental musical talents.

Saint Jude Catholic Education Center: 323 West Butler Avenue, Chalfont, PA 18914
11:15 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. St. Jude School will host an Open House following 10 a.m. Mass.  Students in kindergarten through 8^th grade have a Mercy Outreach partner whom they assist throughout the year. 7^th and 8^th grade students have selected Alex’s Lemonade Stand as their Mercy Outreach partner.  These students will sell lemonade and baked goods with proceeds going to Alex’s Lemonade Stand.  Proceeds will be presented to the organization in February.

Monday, January 30, 2012
Saint Ignatius of Antioch Parish School: 995 Reading Avenue, Yardley, PA 19067
9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. students will decorate cake boxes and fill them with their donated items needed for a birthday party such as, cake mixes, plates, napkins and birthday candles for delivery to Loaves and Fishes Pantry in Fairless Hill.

Saint Isidore Parish School: 603 West Broad Street, Quakertown, PA 18951
9:00 a.m. the school community is welcoming their new friends from Saint Philip Neri Parish School (East Greenville, PA).  The day will begin with a prayer service followed by a meet and greet with their new classmates.

Saint Bernadette Parish School: Bond & Turner Avenues, Drexel Hill, PA 19026
10:30 a.m. students are celebrating their “community” by showing appreciation for the Mayor of Upper Darby, Thomas N. Micozzie, as well as local police and firefighters by singing songs and performing skits.

Mary, Mother of the Redeemer Parish School: 1321 Upper State Road, North Wales 19454
12:30 p.m. kick-off of Soup for the Super Bowl, Mary, Mother of the Redeemer Parish School vs. St. Andrew Parish School (Newtown).  The two schools are teaming up for a friendly competition to benefit Nutritional Development Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.  Students will cast their vote for their Super Bowl team with each can of soup that is donated.  At the end of each day (quarter) the two schools will Skype to see who is in the lead.  On Friday the winning team will be announced.

Saint Madeline-Saint Rose Parish School: 500 Tome Street, Ridley Park, PA 19078
1:00 p.m. veterans who have recently returned home from serving our country will speak with the student body.  At the conclusion of the talk students will honor the Veterans with cards expressing their gratitude for their service.

Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Visitation BVM Parish School: 190 North Trooper Road, Norristown, PA 19403
9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Student Service Day: Students will honor local leaders and public servants by writing letters.

Archdiocesan Pastoral Center: 222 North 17^th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
11:00 a.m. Bishop Michael J. Fitzgerald, who oversees Catholic Education in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, will be presented with a Catholic Schools Week decree from Mayor Michael A. Nutter.

Saint Norbert Parish School: 6 Greenlawn Road, Paoli, PA 19301
2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. the Chester County Police Canine Unit will speak to the student body on how they protect the community by using specially trained dogs. The county's canine unit is funded through donations only.  On Wednesday, February 1, 2012 from 1:15 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. the school, whose mascot is the "Bulldog," will hold a "Dogs for Dogs" dance-a-thon with all proceeds going to the Chester County Police Canine Unity.

Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Saint Eleanor Parish School: 701 Locust Street, Collegeville, PA 19426
9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. students will collect care package items and write letters to service men and women stationed in Afghanistan.

Our Lady of Grace Parish School: 300 Hulmeville Avenue, Penndel, PA 19047
10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.  “Project Sock Hop” Students have earned money by doing chores at home to buy socks, hats and gloves to donate to the homeless.

Saint Anastasia Parish School: 3301 West Chester Pike, Newtown Square, PA 19073
4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. the faculty and staff of Saint Anastasia Parish School will work at the local McDonald’s, 3524 West Chester Pike, Newtown Square, PA 19073, cooking and serving meals to school families.  Proceeds from the evening’s sales will be donated to a family in the parish.

Thursday, February 2, 2012
Saint Anthony-Saint Joseph Parish School: 260 Forest Avenue, Ambler, PA 19002
8:30 a.m. -10:15 a.m. the school is closing and joining with two other schools to form a regional school. The administration is using this opportunity to discuss how the “winds of change” can be used as a force for improvement in their lives. They have faith that the changes are happening for the good.  The school community will participate in a “Winds of Change” showcase.  In the days leading up to the showcase, students will read the book “Leif Catches the Wind” (a story about mechanical engineering).  Students will work in their classrooms to design a functioning windmill based on the directions given in the book.  During Catholic Schools Week, students will meet in multi-age groups to design a larger, improved windmill.  They will be given a $50.00 budget and need to buy supplies within that budget to create their new windmill, which will be functional.

10:30 a.m. as part of their ongoing school project, students will Skype with troops at Camp Leatherneck.  Items for care packages have been collected over the last two weeks. Students will pack items and prepare them for shipping.  Students’ letters to the marines will go in each package sent.

Our Lady of the Assumption Parish School: 135 Fairfield Lane, Strafford, PA 19087
10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. students are participating in a Baby Drive in conjunction with Our Lady of the Assumption Parish outreach and bringing in items such as diapers, formula and wipes  to donate to families in need.  Students will prepare packages and make cards to send to families.

Bishop McDevitt High School: 125 Royal Avenue, Wyncote, PA 19095
9:05 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. will host its 7^th annual Papal Colloquium.  Bishop John McIntyre will celebrate the opening liturgy.  10:35 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Mr. Brian Butler will give the keynote address on the topic of “Theology of the Body.”  Over 400 student leaders from throughout the Archdiocese will be present.

Nativity of Our Lord Parish School: 585 West Street Road, Warminster, PA
7:00 p.m. Father Angelo Citino, Pastor of Nativity of Our Lord Parish and Ms. Roselee Maddaloni, Principal of Nativity of Our Lord Parish School, will accept commendation from Warminster Township, 401 Gibson Avenue Warminster, PA 18974, at their Supervisors Meeting recognizing the awarding of the National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence to Nativity of Our Lord Parish School.

Friday, February 3, 2012
Saint Christopher Parish School, 13305 Proctor Road, Philadelphia, PA 19116
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. students are participating in their own version of “Are Your Smarter Than a St. Christopher’s Student?” The event is taking place in Trainer Hall.

Saint Mary Interparochial School, Fifth and Locust Streets, Philadelphia, PA 19106
11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. alumni are invited to talk to students in grades 7 and 8 about their professional experiences.

10:00 a.m. – 12 p.m. an alumnus of Saint Anthony-Saint Joseph is planning a dance-a-thon at the school to benefit families who have children with cancer.  The former student is an active member in the “THON” movement at The Pennsylvania State University.

Bishop Shanahan High School, 220 Woodbine Road, Downingtown, PA 19335
8:40 a.m. – 9:57 a.m. celebrate the Service Day! Former student Derek Fiorenza will give a short presentation to students about the importance of giving “service” to school and community.  Students who are of service to the school community will be nominated by teachers and coaches and will be recognized with a certificate.

Saturday, February 4, 2012
Saint Helena Parish School: 1499 Dekalb Pike, Blue Bell, PA
6:30 p.m. – Midnight. the Home and School Association is sponsoring “Hooray for Hollywood” Gala at Blue Bell Country Club all proceeds going to the school’s technology program.  The evening will include a silent and live auction.

Important Facts To Know About Archdiocesan Schools:

Parish and Regional Elementary Schools: Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties

Bucks County: 20 schools, 6,463 students
Chester County: 16 schools 5,435 students
Delaware County:  29 schools, 8,291 students
Montgomery County:  34 schools, 9,930 students
Philadelphia County:  57 schools, 19,161 students
Total schools: 156 elementary schools
Total enrollment: 49,172

High Schools: Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties

Bucks County: 2 schools, 1,615 students
Chester County: 1 school, 1,197 students
Delaware County: 3 schools, 3,286 students
Montgomery County: 3 schools, 2,251 students
Philadelphia County: 8 schools, 6,823 students
Total schools: 17 secondary schools
Total enrollment: 15,172

Special Education:  4 Schools of Special Education

St. Lucy Day School for Children with Visual Impairments
Archbishop Ryan School for the Deaf 
St. Katherine Day School
Our Lady of Confidence Day School
Total enrollment: 212

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Blue Ribbon Commission Update: Parish schools involved in the regionalization plan recommended by the commission continue to formalize their joint implementation teams and pursue key milestones in their facilitation process.  The goal for these schools is to be prepared for open houses on March 25, 2012.   For further updates, please visit www.faithinthefuture.com.