A Celebration of America at St. Augustine of Canterbury School

St. Augustine of Canterbury School, in Kendall Park, joined with more than 7,000 parochial schools across the United States to celebrate National Catholic Schools Week.  

This year’s theme, “Catholic Schools: A+ for America,” was chosen for the “traditionally high academic standards and high graduation rates” that the schools possess, according to a news release from the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA).

“Historically, Catholic schools are known for their high level of academic achievement, moral values and high graduation rates,” said NCEA President Karen Ristau via release.

St. Augustine worked collaboratively to integrate learning in the various subjects to the theme  A+ for St. Augustine School in America.  

"Learning in Religion, Science, Mathematics and History were all related to America in creative ways," said computer teacher Debbie Knox.

The school's eighth graders designed an ideal elementary school using Google Sketchup.  Through the program, they learned the environment does impact learning and they redesigned their own school.

“Engineers of the future are definitely in our eighth grade class,” Knox said.  

Events at the school included an open house on Sunday and a red, white and blue themed day on Monday.  Everyone at the school dressed in red, white and blue and a student from each unit carried a flag to represent each part of the country.  The school also had a prayer service and sang patriotic songs.  Each student was issued a driver’s license to tour the US in a Chevy Volt, the electric car that won the award for North American Car of the Year.

"We chose this car to represent an automobile built in the USA and a green car that is environmentally sound for our country," Knox said.

On Tuesday, the school celebrated great American authors, as the students dressed up as their favorite characters.  The students also were visited by American author John Wolski.  Wednesday, the students were to learn about American saints and Catholic education in America, but the day was pushed to next week by the weather.

On Thursday, St. Augustine held a school-wide version of the game “Minute to Win it." Students also collected pennies all month long to go to the American Heart Association, while also wearing red and eating heart healthy foods in support of the cause, Knox said. 

St. Augustine is wrapping up Catholic Schools Week today with "Happy Trails Day," involving students dressing in cowboy attire and participating in a hoe-down with country music and line dancing, 

"We want our children to know that they not only live in the great country of America but belong to the special family of St. Augustine of Canterbury School and A+ School in America," said principal Sister Mary Louise Shulas.  "They are in the best school where they can be the very best that they can be. It was great week where our students experienced being proud of their school and their country.”