Third-graders from the seven Springfield Catholic grade schools — along with their teachers — began their celebration of Catholic Schools Week a little early this year. On Friday, Jan. 24 they traveled to St. Aloysius School on Springfield's north end to take part in the annual Third Grade Day in Faith (TGIF).
"This is our sixth year to have this event," said St. Aloysius principal, Jean Kennedy. "We are trying to bring unity to the Springfield Catholic schools and this is a great kick-off to Catholic Schools Week." Schools take turns hosting the event, she said.
Kennedy and her staff found suitable areas to use in the school, depending on the teachers' lesson plans for the day. "The third-grade teachers are responsible for planning a lesson that is both academic and fun. Then they tell us what they plan to do, so we know where to put them. If they need a lot of space, we put them in the music room. If they need tables, we put them in the science lab."
Students were divided up into small groups made up of children from various schools and they traveled together from classroom to classroom, where each of the activities took place. It makes for a day of fun, food, fellowship and friendship, Kennedy pointed out.
Since St. Aloysius was hosting this year's event, Kennedy asked her eighth-graders to serve as ambassadors for the day, along with five students from Sacred Heart-Griffin High School. "All of our 15 eighth-graders went on the March for Life and Friday was their only day to be in school," said Kennedy. "This worked out well because they were able to help out with the groups."
Kennedy said that Springfield Catholic school leaders believe students should be united and it is important for children to gather with students from other schools that they otherwise might not come to know. The Springfield Catholic school children get together at several other times during the year, she said. Fifth-graders do an annual service project that is hosted by Little Flower School and the seventh-graders have a retreat day. Of course, eighth-graders who attend the March for Life in Washington get to know students from other schools on that trip.
Participating in the day were students and teachers from Blessed Sacrament, Cathedral, Christ the King, Little Flower, St. Agnes, St. Patrick and St. Aloysius schools.