ESFDB kicks off Catholic Schools Week

Fr. Sid Ogomuro and the administration, faculty, students, parents, and guests of San Francisco de Borja pose for a picture in celebration of Catholic Schools Week. (Contributed Photo)

This year’s theme for National Catholic Schools Week is “Communities of Faith, Knowledge, and Service.”

Eskuelan San Francisco de Borja, along with Mount Carmel School and Sister Remedios Early Childhood Development Center on Saipan and with the rest of the nation, will commemorate that experience with National Catholic Schools Week.

Eskuelan San Francisco de Borja has a slate of activities planned for Catholic Schools Week, which kicked off last Sunday, Jan. 29, with a Mass. The celebration will run through Saturday, Feb. 4.

Catholic education built on “Communities of Faith, Knowledge, and Service” is the key attraction for parents looking for an alternative to public school education.

“Our school shares the same mission as any other Catholic schools. Our goal is to support the parents in their children’s education. We want to assist them in any way we can. We are about reinforcing our faith and good moral character, and building virtues,” said administrator/principal Carmen H. Atalig. “The biggest benefit we are able to offer our students is the individual attention. Every day we get to practice our faith and the children can have God in their life.”

Atalig thinks the theme for 2017 is great because it is a focused on Catholic schools and the community.

“We are more community-oriented here in Rota,” Atalig said. “It is what we are about.”

“I believe Catholic education is successful because we get to bring God into every class subject,” student council president Jeremy John Atalig, II said. “ESFDB focuses on the student’s soul and their personal relation with Jesus as well as their intellect.”

Student council vice president Marvin Clitar said, “Catholic education is important. Parents sacrifice a great deal to send their children to Catholic schools and so we encourage them through our prayers and support.”

Eskuelan San Francisco de Borja has prepared a full week of events that are aligned with Catholic Schools Week theme for each week.

• Sunday, Jan. 29: “In Our Parish”
– Mass at San Isidro Church at 8:30am, roadside waving.

• Monday, Jan. 30: “In Our Community”
—Student will be serenading at the Man’Amko Center and homebound. Students will pick up trash at various designated locations;

• Tuesday, Jan. 31: “Celebrating Our Students”
– Recognizing student academic achievements and the benefits of a Catholic education. Student’s academic and religious competition;

• Wednesday, Feb. 1: “Celebrating the Nation”
– Elected leaders to talk about the value of Catholic education and contributions in their role in preparing students to be good citizens;

• Thursday, Feb. 2: “Celebrating Vocations”
– Priest or nuns to talk about vocations.

• Friday, Feb. 3: “Celebrating Faculty, Staff, and Volunteers”

“It is nice to take a week out and highlight what a Catholic school education has to offer. …It comes at a perfect time as enrollment draws near,” said STUCO and class adviser Edward C. Maratita Jr. “We need to show how Catholic schools produce students strongly dedicated to their faith, values, families and communities by providing an intellectually stimulating environment that is also rich in spiritual character and moral development.”

National Catholic Schools Week is an annual celebration of Catholic education in America. It has been a yearly tradition since 1974. The administration and faculty would like to extend their appreciation to the parents, legal guardians, alumni’s, alumni, volunteers, benefactors, and donors who had helped shaped Eskuelan San Francisco de Borja as one of the finest Catholic education institution in our beloved and faithful Luta community. (Eskuelan San Francisco de Borja)