Sixth-graders from Springfield Catholic grade schools, a few Sacred Heart-Griffin High School students and a number of school leaders were on hand Jan. 20 at St. Agnes School to take part in a gathering to celebrate National School Choice Week, which happened this year Jan. 25-31.

"Although the actual School Choice Week coincided with Catholic Schools Week, we decided to have this celebration a little early. We knew all the schools would have their own Catholic Schools Week activities during that time," said Sister M. Joan Sorge, OP, principal of St. Agnes. The grade school students who attended included Blessed Sacrament, Cathedral, Christ the King, Little Flower, St. Aloysius and of course, St. Agnes.

Sister Joan and her staff hosted the event, which included singing, listening to a Reading and the Gospel followed by a homily, testimonials from several adults and students, petitions and prayers. Students were given bright yellow scarves to wear and used those scarves when they cheered for their school and learned the National School Choice Dance. Also during the event, Sister Joan asked that the children take time to meet someone from another school that they did not already know.

Father Joseph Ring, pastor of Christ the King Parish in Springfield, led prayers and was the homilist. Jonathan Sullivan, director of the Department of Catechetical Services, and Zach Wichmann, director of Government Relations at the Catholic Conference of Illinois, were also on hand to speak to the children.

"There are a lot of people who care about you and want you to go to Catholic schools," said Wichmann. "You are lucky. I hope you leave here today counting your blessings, because a Catholic school education is one of the best gifts in your life."

Sister Joan said she was pleased with the way the event played out and could tell the children enjoyed the day. "This was fun, wasn't it?" she commented after the teachers and students had finished learning and taking part in the National School Choice Dance and were preparing to go to the cafeteria for late-morning refreshments.

National School Choice Week is held every January and shines a positive spotlight on effective education options for children. This year over 11,000 events took place across America with 11 of those events being held in various places in Springfield.

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