On Wednesday, January 26, 2022, Mount Carmel School held the annual Catholic Schools Week Proclamation Ceremony with Governor Ralph DLG. Torres and members of the MCS community.
Catholic Schools Week is an annual celebration of Catholic education in the United States and U.S. Territories. Catholic School’s Week is meant to help schools connect with prospective families, donors, educators, and other community members. Part of the CSW celebration is to help showcase the significance of receiving a Catholic education and highlight the joint effort of all stakeholders that contribute to the success of the school’s students and alumni.
This year’s CSW theme is “Catholic Schools: Faith, Excellence, Service”, which encompasses the core products and values that can be found in Catholic schools across the country. As the National Catholic Educational Association noted in announcing the theme, “Not only are Catholic schools teaching students to become future servant leaders, faith-filled disciples and enriched citizens in our communities, we as educators are growing with them.” The association added, “These shared qualities are what make Catholic schools work and what make them succeed.”
Mount Carmel School acting president, Frances Taimanao, is excited about the CSW theme and the weeklong celebration in February. “Despite all the challenges our community has faced, we have always remained steadfast in our commitment to teaching our students the values of faith, excellence, and service. What is truly rewarding is seeing all the good works our AlumKnights have made after graduating from Mount Carmel. ”
Referring to the school’s alumni, who are called AlumKnights after the school’s mascot, Taimanao added, “At the local, regional, and even national levels, our AlumKnights have embraced this year’s theme as successful leaders who serve their communities in business, government, and non-profits.”
As it joins the rest of the nation, Mount Carmel School has prepared a full week of events that highlight a different aspect of the school each day. On Sunday, January 30, the focus will be on “Catholic Schools in our Parishes” as MCS students converge at their individual parishes to kick off CSW 2022 with a Eucharistic Celebration. On Monday, the focus shifts to “Celebrating Our Community” as MCS junior high and high school students engage in different activities that support community services. Elementary school students will make banners expressing their appreciation for the school’s many donors and supporters. Tuesday will be dedicated to “Celebrating Our Teachers and Faculty”. On that day, MCS will hold an appreciation program for faculty and staff, in which the 2022 Teacher of the Year will be announced.
On Wednesday, MCS will celebrate “Catholic Schools in our Vocations” with a Eucharistic Celebration, which will be followed by a vocations talk and other activities honoring vocations. MCS will shift its attention on Thursday to the rest of the country with “Catholic Schools in our Nation.” On this day students, grades kindergarten through twelve will participate in a special flag-raising with the presence of front-liners and first responders. Throughout the day, students will also participate in various campus activities.
Friday morning’s emphasis will be on “Catholic Schools in our Students” with MCS students participating in field activities, jeopardy, and other in-class activities.
Due to the pandemic, Mount Carmel School has suspended its annual “Night with the Knights” gala which recognizes the school’s AlumKnight community. This school year, the AlumKnight awards will be honored and celebrated during the school’s end of the year award ceremony.
The celebration of Catholic Schools Week began as an annual event in 1974. Catholic Schools Week and the National Marketing Campaign are joint projects of the National Catholic Educational Association, the world’s largest private professional education association, and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the national public policy organization of U.S. bishops.
