SHELBY — St. Mary’s School is Shelby kicked off its annual Catholic Schools week celebration Sunday with a Mass and open house.
“We use this as a way to get parents registered for the next year, and we invite new kids in to see the preschool and other classes,” said Principal Kim Stover.
Current and prospective students and their families could visit the classrooms, meet with teachers and have lunch in the cafeteria for a donation. Funds were to be given to parishioner Lindsey Gies for medical expenses.
“For many of the students, it’s a great way to show their school pride to their parents or grandparents,” Stover said. “They show them their art or pictures and get to meet their teachers.”
Throughout the rest of the week St. Mary’s students will participate in a variety of activities to learn more about their faith and their futures. They will write essays and complete art projects centered around these topics and participate in activities like a community service project, where students are asked to bring in items for military care packages during the week.
Also this week, they will hear from a variety of adults about career options via a panel that including nearby the St. Mary’s Church priest.
It comes to a close Friday with the school’s first-ever pep rally and a school dance.
“This week is to celebrate and highlight what makes our school different and what makes our staff different,” Stover said. “Some people come here just because it’s a great school, but we want people to know that our purpose is to bring God to the kids and the kids closer to God.”
