The Halton Catholic District School Board will celebrate Catholic Education Week 2010 from May 2 - 7, 2010. During this week, all of the Board’s schools will host activities to encourage each school community and the public to celebrate this year’s theme of “Catholic Education - Rejoicing in Hope”. Catholic Education Week 2010 highlights the partnership that remains fundamental to Catholic education - the family-school-parish triad, emphasizing the parish, which remains the centre of the worshipping faith community. As is the tradition of the Board, Catholic Education Week will begin on Sunday, May 2 so that the local Catholic community may have an opportunity to celebrate the ‘enduring gift’ of Catholic Education within the context of the Eucharistic Celebration.
“The theme for the week is ‘Catholic Education - Rejoicing in Hope’,” explains Bob Van de Vrande, Chair of the Board. “Catholic education takes hope to a higher level, a level in which we can rejoice. Being a Christ-centred educational system, we embrace a hope that transcends our human hope and asks us to place our hope in the Living God. Our Catholic schools are an important part of our community life and play an essential role in handing on the faith to our students.”
“During this week, we invite our school communities and the general public to celebrate and grow in an awareness of the distinctive contributions that our schools make to our students, our community and our province,” says Director of Education Michael W. Pautler. “Catholic Education Week is a unique opportunity to celebrate the excellent work of our Catholic schools in the integration of Gospel values into every facet of their life and curriculum. This year’s theme - ‘Rejoicing in Hope’ reinforces that our Catholic schools are marked by God’s hope and joy and that the good news of Catholic education is intended to be shared as a message of good news for all the citizens of Ontario.”
Five sub-themes, one for each of the five days of Catholic Education Week 2010, help staff and students to more clearly understand what it means to 'Rejoice in Hope'
- Day 1: Hope in our Hearts
- Day 2: Hope in our Homes
- Day 3: Hope in our Schools
- Day 4: Hope in our Community
- Day 5: Hope in our World
Catholic Education Week 2010 will feature special programs and presentations at all grade levels and includes prayer celebrations and service activities.
The Board’s 22nd Annual Student Awards of Excellence Ceremony on April 26 at Christ the King Catholic Secondary School in Georgetown will serve as the kick off of this week long showcase and celebrations.
During Catholic Education Week, on May 6, 2010, the first annual Walk With Jesus event is being held. Each of our elementary schools will select 20 Grade 6-8 students to represent their school, and each secondary school will select 20 students to represent their school. Before the walk begins, an Opening Liturgy will be held at Bronte Creek Provincial Park. Participants will then walk to Corpus Christi Catholic Secondary School, where the walk will conclude with an outdoor mass celebrated by His Excellency Bishop Bergie.
The Walk With Jesus event is a part of our Board’s Focus on Faith initiative. The event will provide our students the opportunity to demonstrate that we are all rooted in Christ as one Catholic community and will be an outward symbol of our distinctive Catholic values. The proceeds will go towards already designated charities and programs that our Board supports.
“Although this week is intended to focus attention on our schools, parents, Catholic ratepayers and the public are always welcome throughout the year to visit our schools and experience Catholic education at its best,” explains Michael W. Pautler. “We hope that, during this special week, members of our communities will share in the contributions and fi ne student achievements that will be highlighted in each school’s showcase of ‘Rejoicing in Hope’ - a demonstration of the distinctive difference that Catholic education makes not only to the lives of our students, but also to our communities and province.”
As well, on May 13, 2010, Catholic schools in many countries around the world will celebrate World Catholic Education Day 2010 by engaging in appropriate activities that will express their appreciation for the reality of Catholic education around the globe. This year’s theme is Ask and Your Joy Will be Complete.
NOTE: The logo depicting this year's Catholic Education Week theme may be obtailed electronically by contacting Chris Jewell, Communications Services at jewellc@hcdsb.org.