This week students at St. John the Evangelist School will rally in the auditorium. They will adorn blue and gold, cheer, and support their school.

For 20 years staff and volunteers at St. John the Evangelist School planned activities for Catholic Schools Week. The celebration includes food, dance, music, cheers, basketball, and mass. Students and faculty anticipate the festivities all year.

 “We pride ourselves for being a blue ribbon school because we offer the education and the religious aspect as well,” said Kathleen Hamlett, of the admissions office. “Public Schools are not allowed to do that.”

The week kicks-off with an Italian Dinner on Monday (Jan  31).  The dinner offers two seatings — one at 5 p.m. and another at 6:30 p.m. The menu consists of a mixed green salad, pasta and meatballs in marinara sauce, soda, juice and coffee. Stick around for cannoli from Vaccaro's Italian Pastries.

Visitors and parents can attend an Open House between 8:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Feb. 1 for grades six to eight. Prospective parents can take tours led by school parents and meet administrators.  There will be another Open House for grades pre-K to fifth grade from 9:15 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. Feb. 2. 

Passersby the church have all stopped to glance at the photo and art display to commemorate the occasion. The children giggle when they see the photo of Sister Linda Larsen, school principal, kissing a pig.

Larson challenged the student body last year that if they raised a certain amount a funds, she would kiss a pig.

“It’s a fun week,” said parent Rhonda Baddour. “The kids have something to do every day, and they look forward to a day out of uniform.”

The public is invited to hear the school band at  Marley Station Mall beginning at 7:30pm  Feb. 2  in the center court.

Here's a list of the songs they will be playing.

1. Valley Circle March
2. Bring on Da Band
3. March Premier
4. When the Saints Go Marching In
5. Fanfare and March
6. Surfin’ U.S.A.
7. Power Rock

Voices will rise as players and faculty are introduced at the Blue and Gold Day Pep Rally Feb. 3 at 1:30 p.m. This year teachers will perform a cheer and dance routine for the first time. “We think the kids will get a kick out of that,” said Hamlett.

Later the evening, everyone is invited to a Faculty-eighth Grade basketball game at 7 p.m. “The Faculty eighth grade basketball game is a big hit. The eighth-graders graders live for that game,” said Hamlett, who added that anyone who wants to play can register. “There is a lot of school spirit. Faculty members say it’s not fair they keep growing older, but the students don’t.”

“You have to get here early because it’s packed,” observed Yvette Frye of Glen Burnie.

Faculty members will be rewarded with an Appreciation Luncheon Feb. 4after dismissal “It’s a nice way to end the week, especially when they’re so sore from the game,” observed Hamlett.

One of the most memorable moments is when students show their leadership abilities by leading Mass. This year the third grade will greet, read, and sing on Feb. 5 the. According to Hamlett, students will also speak to the parishioners and tell why St. Johns the Evangelist School is such a wonderful school.

Every girl dreams of becoming a princess, and this year her prince will be daddy at the Father/Daughter Dance, slated for Feb. 5 at 7 p.m. “It’s something nice for the dads and girls,” said Hamlett.

Catholic Schools Week is a joint project of National Catholic Educational Association and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and aims to promote Catholic schools in the United States and recognize them for academic and spiritual excellence for families.

To learn more about Catholic Schools Week, visit the NCEA web site at: www.ncea.org/news/CatholicSchoolsWeek.asp or http://www.archbalt.org/schools/.

For more information about St. John the Evangelist School, visit http://www.stjohnsp.org/.