CATHOLIC SCHOOLS SHOW AREA GROWTH

Local Catholic Schools are celebrating continued enrollment growth; administrators say families are looking for alternatives in education.

This is Catholic Schools Week. Schools have planned a variety of activities to mark the occasion.

In conjunction with the activities, Bishop John Leibrecht of the Springfield-Cape Girardeau Diocese will be conducting mass Feb. 14 at Notre Dame High School for students from Notre Dame, St. Mary's and St. Vincent's schools. He will eat lunch with student leaders at noon and conduct mass beginning at 1:45 p.m.

Notre Dame's principal, Sister Mary Ann Fischer, said enrollment this year stands at 287 students.

"Our enrollment is on the rise," she said. "We had a placement test for incoming freshmen last Saturday and had 101 eighth graders come," Fischer said. "We're are anticipating an enrollment close to 315 next year."

One reason Fischer said enrollment is going up is that Notre Dame offers an alternative to public high schools. "We combine faith with living and learning. We continue a tradition of faith and value-centered education."

On a practical side, Fischer said, the high school's relatively small size is attractive to some students and parents.

"Plus, the involvement of parents in the education of their sons and daughters here is really admirable," she said. "It makes our task here at Notre Dame more pleasant."

As part of Catholic Schools Week on Thursday, the student council is sponsoring a luncheon for the school staff. Thursday night, the Cape Girardeau Knights of Columbus has invited the staff to an appreciation dinner.

St. Vincent de Paul Grade School Principal Rita Fisher said, "We have 421 students enrolled and we are growing. We're getting ready to do kindergarten enrollment, and we do expect a large kindergarten class."

"I think people are looking for the values that are found in a Catholic school," Fisher said.

At the school, parents were invited to visit classrooms.

On Friday, an all-school liturgy is planned along with the school's annual "Trash to Treasure" auction. Proceeds will be sent to Sister Jeanne Goessling, formerly principal at St. Mary Cathedral School and now a missionary in Africa.

At St. Mary's Cathedral School, Principal Carol Strattman said enrollment is holding steady at around 220.

"I think it's the family atmosphere and the fact that we can offer religious and moral instruction that interests parents," Strattman said.

As part of the school's activities, parents and grandparents have been invited to visit and school volunteers were honored.

At Immaculate Conception in Jackson enrollment is up to 227 students. "We're getting ready for next year's enrollment, and it looks like it will be up again," said Principal Roxanne Pearce.

"I think more people are beginning to choose Catholic education," Pearce said. "In our society, the support is lacking and people are realizing that they want their children to have more of a moral background. Catholic schools are a place where it can be taught.

"Part of our philosophy, the purpose of our school, is to develop the whole Christian person and to help each student develop his or her fullest potential," she said.

Tonight, a prayer service is planned at 6 p.m., followed by a picnic dinner in the school gym.

"We are inviting parents and students back to school. We will spread out blankets on the floor. It should be a nice, social evening," Strattman said.

St. Joseph School in Scott City has 56 students in grades 1 through 8. The school has planned a slate of activities for the week. Today, national appreciation day for Catholic Schools, grandparents, parents and senior citizens have been invited to spend the afternoon socializing with students.

On Thursday, student council officers will trade places with teachers. The students will teach a class. And Friday volunteers have been invited to work with students in their classes.