Sponsored by the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA), Catholic Schools Week (CSW) is an annual celebration of Catholic education in the United States. Schools typically observe the week with Masses, open houses and other activities for students, families, parishioners and community members, at the Academy of Our Lady of Mount Carmel we’ll be doing that and much more! Through these events, schools focus on the value Catholic education provides to young people and its contributions to Church, local communities and the nation. This year’s theme is Catholic Schools: Learn. Serve. Lead. Succeed. Check out the schedule of exciting events below!
Catholic Schools Week 2019
Click here to learn about all the events happening at OLMC this week!
OLMC Catholic Schools Week Events Schedule
Art Installation
All Grades, Entire CampusArt Installation
All Grades MANDALA ROCK PROJECT EVERY OLMC STUDENT CREATING UNITY WITH SYMMETRICAL DESIGNS: The word mandala means CIRCLE, originating from the Indian language of Sanskrit. A mandala is more than a simple shape, it represents WHOLENESS. A structure of life itself that reminds us of our relationship to the INFINITE. The mandala appears in all aspects of life: the celestial circles of the earth, sun, and moon, as well as circles of friends, family, and COMMUNITY.
Pre Kindergarten 3 SELF-PORTRAIT: Drawing and collage with recyclable materials inspired by Artist PABLO PICASSO.
Pre Kindergarten 3 and 4 DOT GAME: Spirited group exercise with paints, dot markers and circles inspired by Artist/Author HERVE TULLET. All children will work on one large roll of paper on tables with music playing to guide the children to stop and start and move around.
Pre Kindergarten 3 and 4 DRAMATIC NEON PAINTINGS: Experience the lessons of gravity and motion with drip paintings, symmetry folded paper paintings and free style paintings.
Kindergarten RAINBOW FISH: Create a large fish inspired by Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister using acrylic paints with metallic crayons and sequins.
Grade 1 LIFE-SIZE SELF-PORTRAITS: In a class-wide mural painting inspired by Artist Keith Haring.
Grade 1 WINTER BIRCH TREES: Students will observe fall and winter and notice the thinness of birch trees. They will paint their trees with shadows and special effects using salt, tape and watercolors.
Grade 2 MATISSE PORTRAITS: Students will become Mini Matisse Masters. With an emphasis on color and pattern they will recreate Matisse still life combined with their own self-portraits.
Grade 3 ANIMAL SPIRITS: Students will create marker and watercolor paintings of their animal spirit inspired by artist Sue Coccia totems and an introduction to SAVE THE WHALE project.
Grade 4 MASKS INSPIRED BY CARIBBEAN INDIGENOUS PEOPLE: Paintings and drawings inspired by artist Marcos Roman.
Grade 5 POP ART& GRAFFITI & PERUVIAN HANDS: Drawings inspired by Artist ROMERO BRITTO combined with outlined hands from a recent parish medical trip to Peru.
Grade 6 COLLAGED ANIMALS WITH RESIN EYES: Collages of large close-up animal faces with resin eyes inspired by Artist KARLA SCHUSTER. Students will choose from dogs, cats, or birds.
Grade 7 COLLAGED BIRDS WITH RESIN EYES: Collages of large close-up birds with resin eyes inspired by Artist KARLA SCHUSTER & photographer of ANDREW ZUCKERMAN.
Grade 8 ABSTRACT WIRE SCULPTURE: Forms inspired by Art Historical & Contemporary Culture.
Family Mass
Jan. 27th 10:00 a.m. ChurchFamily Mass
Sunday, January 27, 2019 is a Family Mass and a parish fellowship coffee immediately following. At 10:00 a.m. join us in the Church for Mass led by the Children's Choir and we announce the winner of the Outstanding Catholic Student Award, then downstairs in the cafeteria for a coffee and even join us on a tour of the building in celebration of Catholic Schools Week 2019!
Knickerbocker Franciscan Sisters Visit
Grade 8, Jan. 31st 1:30 p.m. Odyssey TheatreKnickerbocker Franciscan Sisters Visit
The Class of 2019 and the Franciscan Sisters from the Knickerbocker Convent will be sharing stories of their lives, careers and vocations with each other and then enjoying light refreshments.
Presidential Presentations
Grade 4, All week long.Presidential Presentations
Classroom President Presentation will take place throughout the week. After reading the story, "So You Want to be President?" The Grade 4 will present a caricature of a President and presentation. All week long Grade 4 will be honoring our Presidents. Speeches will be given be each 4th grader.
Science LabLearner
All Grades, All Week LongScience LabLearner
Throughout the week, all OLMC students will come to the Science Lab to participate in hands-on, intensive, learning investigations that are also fun! Each week our LabLearner curriculum offers unique, meaningful investigations so that our students continually learn through experiencing science in action.
Community Helper Day
All Grades, Jan. 30th, 9:00 a.m. Theatre, MakerSpace, Titus RoomCommunity Helper Day
Celebrating what makes our nation move, the Mayor of Tenafly and representatives from the Police, Fire and Post Office will visit the Academy to share their vocations!
Basketball Showcase
Grades 2-3, Feb. 1st, 9:30 a.m., GymBasketball Showcase
Friday, February 1, 2019 its a Warrior Nation Civil War in the Gymnasium as the Grade 2 and Grade 3 Warriors face off in a basketball showcase. Each class will face off for fun and fitness in the Gymnasium at 9:30 a.m.
New Jersey "Bat"Man
All Grades, Jan. 29th, All Day, Titus RoomNew Jersey "Bat"Man
NJ Batman is dedicated to the conservation of bats and ALL wildlife, and to the public education on the importance of these truly magnificent flying mammals. In 1993 , one of New Jersey's biggest and most read periodicals, "The Record", ran a front page story on our Curator / Lecturer Joseph D'Angeli and the life he leads as "New Jersey's own BATMAN". This was the first of many human interest stories on Mr. D'Angeli and the facility that he helped to create. Mr. D'Angeli is a NJ state licensed Chiroptologist , and our facility is licensed to exhibit, lecture on & study live bats. Mr. D'Angeli is also a member and former scientific advisor to the AZA's Bat taxon advisory group (BAT TAG). This wonderful family of bats has educated THOUSANDS of people and has been born in our facility or generously donated from zoological institutions worldwide. They are licensed by both the State of New Jersey Fish, Game & Wildlife, as well as the US Federal Fish & Wildlife, The USDA, and they support wildlife conservation WORLDWIDE.
Student Council and Honor Society Decorate
All Grades, Entire CampusStudent Council and Honor Society Decorate
OLMC's Student Council along with our Junior National Honor Society Members will be using the theme of Catholic Schools Week, "Learn. Serve. Lead. Succeed" to inspire them to decorate hallways and classroom doors. Make sure to check out their hard work all week long!
Pancakes, PJs and Service
Pre K 3- K, Jan. 28th, All Day, Early Childhood CenterPancakes, PJs and Service
Students in Grades Pre K 3, 4 and Kindergarten will be making pancakes, wearing pajamas and collecting items for the homeless! Putting together bags for our most vulnerable brothers and sisters!
Spelling Bees
Various Grades, Various TimesSpelling Bees
Monday, January 28th Grades 1-3 Spelling Bee (Odyssey Theatre) 1:00 p.m.
Tuesday, January 29th Grades 4-5 Spelling Bee (Odyssey Theatre) 1:00 p.m.
Wednesday, January 30th Grades 6-8 Spelling Bee (Odyssey Theatre) 1:00 p.m.
Career Day
Jan. 31st. Pre K 3 -Grade 2Career Day
Our Warriors will be dressing up like their future career choices and vocations! Meanwhile, through out the week parents are visiting a variety of grades to talk about their careers!
Math's Annual Domino Challenge
Various Grades, All Week LongMath's Annual Domino Challenge
The Middle School students once again take on the Domino Challenge in Math Classes as they try to create an unbroken chain reaction, its going to take some patience adn more than a little math skills to do it!
Rockin' in the Resource Room
Various Grades, All Week LongRockin' in the Resource Room
Ms. Verdonck's Resource Room will be rocking with learning this week! Whether it is the Grade 8 Paper Roller Coaster/Marble Run Projects or the Perfect Together: Mathematics and Art collaboration with Grades 4 and 5, or Famous Mathematician presentations learning will comes alive during Catholic Schools Week!
Family Quilt Day
Jan. 31st, 9:00 a.m. Titus RoomFamily Quilt Day
The Grade 3 students celebrate family and diversity in this imaginative quilt project. Inspired by the book Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold. Grade 3 parents are invited!
Spanish Projects
Various Grades, All Week LongSpanish Projects
The rich tapestry of Spanish literature comes alive in Spanish class as the 8th Graders will be reading stories to Pre K 4 students and help them create a picture book on Monday 28th from 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. in the Titus Room. Meanwhile the 7th Graders will present a project on “Mi Cultura Grastronomica on Wednesday January 30th from 11:15 a.m. to 11:55 a.m.” and finally the Sixth Graders will be singing “Un Poco Loco" a Spanish song on Tuesday, January 29th from 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. !
MakerSpace
Various Grades, All Week LongMakerSpace
In the MakerSpace for the week, PreK3 to 3rd grade will work on laptops on computer skills, interact with the Smartboard, use ipads, collaborate on coding and Lego activities and most importantly HAVE FUN! Grades 4 to 8 will work on Macbooks on computer skills such as Keynote and Pages and typing skills, they will also engage on coding projects.
Also, the Middle school students will be designing, engineering, building, testing, and re-engineering their STEM projects all week long in our state-of-the-art MakerSpace. In addition, they will be designing and creating displays for our OLMC/Archdiocesan STEM Fair scheduled for February 27, 2019!
Paul Revere’s Ride
Grade 5, All Week LongPaul Revere’s Ride
Grade 5 performs Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's Paul Revere Ride throughout the week in the classroom led by Mrs. Paone!
Catholic Challenge
Jan. 28th, Middle School, Various TimesCatholic Challenge
Middle School students face-off in the annual Catholic Challenge in their various religion classes. The winner of the Grade 7 and Grade 8 competitions travel to the Archdiocese of Newark to represent OLMC against other Catholic schools!
The Seven Themes of Catholic Schools Week
Sunday, January 27th
OLMC Celebrates our Parish. Join us at the 10AM Mass.
Monday, January 28th
OLMC Celebrates Community
Tuesday, January 29th
Celebrating Students and showcase their academic projects!
Wednesday, January 30th
We celebrate our Nation. OLMC thanks God for our country!Thursday, January 31st
OLMC Celebrates Vocations. We pray and encourage for a growth in vocations!
Friday, February 1st
OLMC Celebrates Faculty, Staff, Volunteers We thank our teachers and volunteers!
Saturday, February 2nd
OLMC Celebrates Families. Spend Saturday with your families!
Since 1974, National Catholic Schools Week is the annual celebration of Catholic education in the United States. It starts the last Sunday in January and runs all week, which in 2019 is January 27 - February 2. The theme for National Catholic Schools Week 2019 is “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. Through these events, schools focus on the value Catholic education provides to young people and its contributions to our church, our communities and our nation.
- "What is Catholic Schools Week," NCEA