OLDS — Students and staff at Holy Trinity Catholic School had to observe World Catholic Education Week 2020, held May 3-8, in a different way.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, they had to celebrate it far from each other in their own homes.
Students and staff sent in photos showing how they were recognizing the week and/or what Catholic education means to them.
Several staff members sent messages indicating what the week means to them and why they love Catholic education.
“Catholic education is important to me because I get to learn and share God’s grace and presence every day,” assistant principal Valerie Norman wrote.
“As a community, we celebrate our beliefs, but also through social justice projects, help others.”
“I love Catholic education because we build our community on faith, love and trust,” inclusive iearning lead teacher Jennifer Sanderson wrote.
“Being able to help walk students through their faith journey where students learn, explore and create their own believes is such a privilege for me to get to observe, day-in and day-out with these mazing children of God.”
Student Neil Almonical said it all in a sign he created: “I like Catholic school because they teach me about Jesus,” he wrote.
In an interview, principal Ken Meraw said it was certainly unusual to celebrate World Catholic Education Week virtually, but he thought overall, it went pretty well.
“We’ve done as much as we can to keep everybody close,” he said. “It makes it that much more challenging when you don’t have people together.”
Prayers were read and everyone let people know what Catholic education means to them.
Also during the week, Michelle Pettyjohn, one of the school’s educational assistants, received an excellence in Catholic education award, one of several given out by school division officials.
“Any chance that we get to acknowledge the gift of what Catholic education means, I always consider that to be a success,” Meraw said.
“It looks different, it’s different that we’re not in school. But if we can celebrate it as a school, as a school division, internationally, then it’s a wonderful thing.”
COVID-19 UPDATE: Follow our COVID-19 special section and interactive map for the latest local and national news on the coronavirus pandemic, as well as resources, FAQs and more.
