Crofton's St. Rose School Celebrates National Catholic Week

St. Rose School in Crofton celebrated 100 days of school last Tuesday, Jan. 22, kicking off a busy two-week period for St. Rose students and families. This week, the 108-year-old Catholic School joins hundreds of other Catholic schools across the country to celebrate National Catholic Schools Week. “Through this week of special events, schools focus on the value of Catholic education to students and its contributions to our church, our communities and our nation,” said St. Rose Principal, Jennifer Fiscus. “Schools typically observe the week with Masses and other activities for students, families, parishioners and community members.”

The events began this past Saturday, Jan. 26, with the annual St. Rose Junior High basketball tournament, with four area teams competing. Each day during the upcoming week, a special event or designation has been made to highlight the Catholic Schools Week theme of “Learn. Serve. Lead. Succeed.” School parents and their families invited the community to join them for their annual CSW brunch last Sunday, Jan. 27. Monday this week was designated Community Day. Students created thank you cards for local businesses, recognizing the significant support the school receives from the businesses around the area. Tuesday, Jan. 29 kicked off Patriotic Day. During this day dedicated to our nation, St. Rose students created a patriotic parade in the parish hall and participated in a patriotic illuminated Rosary service. The St. Rose 8th graders also participated in a special rural Catholic schools 8th grade Mass for the Archdiocese of Omaha in Norfolk. Wednesday, Jan. 30 was St. Rose Spirit Day, with students beginning the day celebrating an all school Mass at 8:15 a.m. and later on, creating a school music video.

Thursday, Jan. 31 is Sports and Vocations Day, where students will dress in their favorite sports team attire. Fr. Ross Burkhalter will talk about the religious life and vocations with students. St. Rose teachers will also swap classrooms on this day to add fun to the day’s events. Friday, Feb. 1 closes out the week’s activities beginning with a special student and St. Rose School alumni Mass at 8:15 a.m., where alumni are invited to come back and join the student body in their regular Friday Mass. This St. Rose School Teacher Day includes a celebration of the dedication of St. Rose teachers, as well as an afternoon of movies.

St. Rose School was founded in 1911 by St. Rose parish in Crofton, with School Sisters of St. Francis teachers staffing the school until 2007. Over the 108 year history of the school, more than 2200 students have graduated from 8th grade at St. Rose. For a time in the early days of the school, classes were actually held through 9th grade.

In addition to CSW, the parish and school are preparing for their largest annual fundraiser of the year, the Unity Supper and Grand Auction, set for Saturday, Feb. 9. This year's theme is "A Run for the Roses: the Kentucky Derby." The event features a catered meal, fun activities, door prizes and a grand auction and silent auctions featuring hundreds of items, including many handmade, handcrafted one-of-a-kind items, auctioned off to benefit the ministries of St. Rose Parish and School.


Photo caption: St. Rose School 2nd graders got into the act on Jan. 22, the 100th day of school, by dressing as if they were 100 years old. These activities kicked off a busy two-week period for St. Rose School, that includes Catholic Schools Week activities concluding this week with an all school and alumni Mass on Friday morning at 8:15 a.m.

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