NPSC schools set to celebrate Catholic Education Week

Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic District School Board
News Release

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The Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic District School Board and its 13 schools invite members of the community to celebrate the uniqueness and rich tradition of Catholic education in Ontario during Catholic Education Week this Sunday, May 2 to Friday, May 7. The theme for this year’s Catholic Education Week is Catholic Education: Rejoicing in Hope.

Our world, at the present time, may be finding instances of hope to be rare. We have witnessed the devastating earthquake in Haiti, the ongoing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, the economic crisis that waxes and wanes and leaves families in fear of foreclosure. The threat of H1N1 created long line-ups and left parents very concerned for the health of their children. Human hope is a variant concept. It moves from wishful hoping for a Lotto win to desperate hope for a very sick loved one to the casual greeting of “I hope you have a good day.”

Catholic Education takes hope to a higher level, a level in which we can Rejoice in Hope. As a Catholic education system, we embrace a hope that transcends our human hope and asks us to place our hope in the Living God. There are five sub-themes, one for each of the days of Catholic Education Week and they are aimed at helping staff and students understand more clearly what it means to ‘Rejoice in Hope.’

The five sub-themes are:
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

Each day is marked by special activities at all grade levels, including prayer celebrations in schools and in our local parishes.

“Catholic Education Week is truly a time for our schools to shine as centres of learning excellence,” said Director of Education, Anna Marie Bitonti. “It is an opportunity for the community to come see how the virtues of our Catholic faith are present in every day teachings in our schools and subsequently in the quality work that our students produce.”

Parents, members of the community and media are invited to participate in Catholic Education Week. A schedule of activities is attached and available at www.npsc.ca.

Special Presentation: Jean Larocque of Larocque Elder Architects will be unveiling the images of the future St. Luke facility to students, staff and Catholic Education Week guests on Monday, May 3, at 1 p.m. in the St. Luke gymnasium at 570 First Avenue East.

Additional information on specific activities and celebrations is available by calling NPSC schools or Josée Guillemette, Communications Officer, at 472-1201, ext. 2229

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