Catholic schools are celebrating Catholic Schools Week this week with a variety of activities.

The theme, "The Good News in Education: Choose Catholic Schools," invites the community to learn more about Catholic education.

In 1991 Catholic schools spent over $11 billion on elementary and secondary education throughout the nation.

Sister Jeanne Goessling said: "Catholic schools are leaders in providing an academic and values-based education. The ability to develop both the mind and the soul is why Catholic schools are the good news in education."

Sister Mary Ann Fischer, principal at Notre Dame High School said: "Setting aside a week to focus on some aspect of life is just the American way. Since Catholic schools have made a very important contribution to the nation, we feel it's important to focus on our contribution to America.

"We try to spread the word of what the Catholic schools are doing for the people in our country," Fischer said. "It also helps to build spirit and helps us to look back with gratitude on our heritage and to challenge ourselves to continue that into the next century."

At Notre Dame, Fischer said the most important event for the week is continuation of education at the school.

At Notre Dame, the Home and School association will meet Monday. On Wednesday, National Appreciation for Catholic Schools Day, a luncheon is planned for staff.

Beginning Wednesday, Notre Dame will begin a parent "phone-a-thon." "Notre Dame parents will be calling parents of eighth-graders to invite them to choose Catholic secondary education for the sons and daughter the next school year," Fischer said.

The eighth-graders will also be invited to take a placement test Saturday at 8:30 a.m.

On Thursday new members will be inducted into the National Honor Society induction ceremony. "This highlights our focus on scholarship here at Notre Dame," Fischer said.

On Saturday, the school's annual fund-raising dinner and dance extravaganza will be held. This is the 10th anniversary of the dinner- dance, which is being held at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Kelso.

At St. Mary's on Monday, a new school song will be introduced. A contest was held asking people to write lyrics based on the tune of "It's a Grand Old Flag."

Also, the Most Distinguished Graduate Award will be presented to Wayne Nenninger. He is a teacher at Notre Dame High School. Teacher Ellen Obermiller will be honored for 10 years of involvement in Catholic education. An open house is planned for parents and guests.

On Tuesday a preregistration meeting is planned for parents with children starting kindergarten next fall.

Wednesday teachers and board members will wear Catholic Schools Week buttons.

Friday, an open house is planned for grandparents and parishioners without children in the school to tour and learn about St. Mary's.

Saturday and Sunday registration will be held for the coming school year.

At Immaculate Conception School in Jackson, Principal Rita Fischer said: "It's a week to show appreciation for the groups who support us throughout the year. It's also a chance to let the community know what's going on."

The week began Sunday with presentation of the school's Distinguished Graduate Award to Sister Patricia Brock, a 1964 graduate who now teaches at Notre Dame High School in St. Louis.

Each day has a theme targeted at honoring specific groups, Fischer said.

Monday, students will be honored as each class does something special for another class. It's also spirit day.

Volunteers in the school will be asked to write down their reasons for donating time to the school. Their comments will be posted in the cafeteria.

On Tuesday students will say thank you to parents by writing letters and inviting them to spend time in classrooms and eat lunch at school.

On Wednesday the principal and teachers will all trade places for 45 minutes to give everyone a chance to experience a different job.

On Thursday school board members and officers of the Home and School will be honored with a pot-luck luncheon.

At St. Vincent de Paul grade school on Monday students and teachers will be honored. Tuesday, students will write thank you letters to school volunteers.

Wednesday is parents day and parents will visit classrooms in the morning. Thursday, school volunteers will be honored with a coffee.

On Friday, Sister Jeanne Goessling from St. Mary Cathedral School will speak about her missionary work in Kenya.

A "Trash and Treasure" raffle is planned Friday to raise money to send Goessling to Kenya.