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Catholic schools across diocese celebrate beginning of new year

By Rosemary Bernth
Globe staff reporter
(Email Rosemary)

Some students started hitting the books this week, but not before having some back-to-school fun and spiritual nourishment.

Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools in Sioux City held their 5th Annual Hoopla on Aug. 14 at Memorial Field. The event began with Mass celebrated by Father Patrick Walsh, president of the schools, with other local priests. There were activites such as a bouncy house, a cookie decorating station and an obstacle course hosted by the Army National Guard, along with food and beverages.

At Bishop Garrigan High School in Algona, seniors were treated to a camp-out the night before school started. It is the first time the school has done something like this for a senior kickoff. The event included Mass, a barbeque and games. On Aug. 20, Garrigan and Seton Grade School celebrated Mass together at St. Cecelia Church.

St. Edmond Catholic Schools in Fort Dodge planned a few days of activities for its students. On Aug. 19, High School Principal John Howard had pizza with the seniors and members of student council. On Aug. 20, the high school hosted its annual Sports Drink Scrimmage to introduce the fall sports teams. Admission was one sports drink, which will be distributed among the teams. Food and root beer floats were provided by the booster club and cheerleaders. An ice cream social for new K-12 families was held on Aug. 22.

In Le Mars, Gehlen Catholic Schools held Pride Night on Aug. 23 which included a tailgate and refreshments. Athletic teams, dance teams, cheerleaders, bands, and coaches were introduced and talked about the upcoming year. Gehlen also had an ice cream social for familes with children in grades TK-6th on Aug. 25. Some future activities planned after school starts are the Fine Arts Back to School Breakfast on Aug. 29 and an Endowment Fund Chamber Coffee on Sept. 8.

Some schools went with simpler ways to start the new school year.

Sacred Heart School in Spencer marked the first day of school with a flag raising ceremony and had a picnic after Mass on Aug. 22. Emmetsburg Catholic School had an ice cream social and open house on Aug. 24. Kuemper Catholic Schools will be celebrating an all-school Mass at Holy Spirit Church on Sept. 2. St. Mary High School in Remsen will also have a Mass, as well as a picnic to follow afterwards on Sept. 8.

Dancing with Dinosaurs
Sixth through 8th grade students of Mater Dei-Nativity Center were part of a faith formation retreat on Aug. 19.

The theme, Dancing with the Dinosaurs, is based off a Steven Curtis Chapman song and will be incorporated throughout the year with middle schoolers at Mater Dei, Holy Cross and Sacred Heart, said Julie Tebbe, the faith formation coordinator for Heelan Catholic Middle Schools.

“I chose it because the song itself talks about how there’s a fear that making good choices have gone out with the dinosaurs,” she said. “We’re hoping to present kids with opportunities in areas like bullying or if they see someone doing something that they don’t think is right to stand up to that person.”

Most of the activities at the retreat had a dinosaur theme. One activity was for the students to trace their feet and answer five questions about themselves to put on the foot to leave tracks for imaginary archeologists to discover. Another activity called Lost Civilization involved the students collecting items around the school that they felt represented the school.

“If archeologists from the year 2200 found all these symbols, what could they piece together that would teach them about who we are as a school?” said Tebbe. “It’s a lot like looking at the theme of living life with conviction and integrity and looking at who we are as ourselves and who we are as a school community.”