Meanwhile, the students enjoyed Catholic Schools’ Week, a nationwide celebration, which lasts all week and is filled with special events and activities. Some are just for fun and some are in the spirit of service. The theme of this year’s celebration is "Celebrate Service".

The celebration began with a special liturgy on Sunday, January 25th, at 10:30, in the Church. Representatives from the Academy’s Kindergarten through eighth grade were leaders of the mass. The mass was followed by a reception for friends and families, hosted by the Home & School Association.

Students and their families competed against each other Monday night in a fun and exciting trivia challenge during "The Brain Show" hosted by Magic Touch Entertainment. On Tuesday, the students enjoyed lunch and bingo with a guest during Special Person’s Day. Later in the week, Big Buddies and Little Buddies made Valentine cards for the Troops, and Spiritual Bouquets for the retired religious in NJ as two of the service projects during the week.

The celebration continued with a pep rally and basketball shoot out on Thursday, followed by a volleyball match between the eighth grade and teachers. Friday a pizza lunch hosted by the Home & School Association was followed by a trip to the "Drive In Movie" for "Angels in the Outfield". The eighth graders had fun serving popcorn and refreshments on their roller blades, like the old days. The students got to wear their favorite football or sports jerseys in honor of the Super Bowl in exchange for a donation of 2 cans of "Sup" for the Morristown Soup Kitchen.

Students, teachers and the entire St. Rose community rallied together to reach our goal of $1,800 for the Pennies for Patients Campaign to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, exceeding last year’s collection! Throughout the three week program students in grades K-8 brought in loose change, dollars and larger donations as classes "competed" against each other, raising money for LLS research, patients, and critical family support. First grade "won" a pizza party for their $400 contribution. Second grade raised $256 and won an ice cream party and seventh grade raised a close $255 for 3rd place.

The Academy students also participated in the St. Jude "Math-a-thon", another school-wide competition. The "Math-a-thon" is an educationally based fund-raising program in which students in Kindergarten through eighth grade obtain sponsors for the number of math problems they complete in special workbooks provided to them by St. Judes. The fundraiser benefits St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. The school exceeded last year’s collection by raising $2,565! Pictured here are the students who raised the most contributions, each bringing in over $200 for St. Judes.

Many thanks to all the students, teachers, families and friends who supported the children as they raised money for these two great charities, all are winners for their participation in these fundraisers.

Each student received a cabbage seedling in a paper cup. They were to nourish and care for their plant and watch it grow. Victoria DeTrolio (now in 4th grade) took special care of this project along with help from mom and dad, Linda and Paul , and was the only student in her class able to watch her cabbage grow to a magnificant 40 lbs. The cabbage was harvested on July 31 and was entered in the NJ State Fair where she received Second Place in the Open Vegetable Show.

Victoria will now go on to represent our school in the Bonnie Plants contest and hopes to win the $1000 scholarship!

During the month of January, students participated in a math-a-thon completing hundreds of math problems to raise $3,069 for the St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Many students earned t-shirts and back packs. Our top fund-raiser, Steven Kunis, raised $160 and won a digital camera. Since the school raised over $3000, St. Rose also earned a prize! Principal, Ms. Tomlinson, with the assistance from our middle school science teacher Mrs. Lato, selected a weather station that will help with science lessons.

The school quickly changed into "Pennies for Patients" mode to raise money for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. During the 3 week program, classes competed against each other to try to raise the most money and exceeded the school’s $1,000 goal to raise a total of $1,500. The kindergarten class collected the most in donations with $345.00.

Congratulations and many thanks to all the students, teachers, friends and families who helped St. Rose make a $4,500 difference in the lives of those battling serious illnesses.

Pictured above are Saint Rose of Lima students Dana Sarni, Geneva Bonny, Brandon Theall, Abi Shah and Rachel Prestigiacomo as they are awarded the JV 3rd Place trophy.