The students, faculty and staff at St. Patrick Catholic School in Perry wrapped up a busy slate of activities Friday during the annual Catholic Schools Week with fun and games and a ceremony of gratitude.
Longtime school secretary Linda Wuebker and veteran first grade teacher Kay Weishaar were presented with flowers and balloons in thanks for their service to the school. Weishaar has worked for 20 years at St. Pat’s and Wuebker for 30 years.
Weishaar was unable to attend Friday’s events, so her students accepted the gifts on her behalf and will convey them to her in class. Wuebker said she has served under 13 principals in her three decades at St. Pat’s.
In other Friday fun, the students outdistanced the faculty, 32-30, in their basketball game, a traditional rivalry. Soccer teams then took the gymnasium floor to try their skills.
Activities earlier in the week included a career day, when community figures visited classrooms in order to discuss the day-to-day facts of their careers. Students heard from educators, retailers, caterers, journalists, physical therapists and others.
National Catholic Schools Week has been celebrating Catholic education in the U.S. annually since 1974. The 2018 theme was Catholic Schools: Learn. Serve. Lead. Succeed. Schools typically observe the annual celebration week with Masses, open houses and other activities for students, families, parishioners and community members. The annual event focuses on the value Catholic education brings to young people and its contributions to our church, our communities and our nation.
