The students of Mount Royal celebrated Catholic Schools’ Week with liturgical events, a schoolwide spelling bee, and two time honored traditions: a classroom door decorating contest and themed essay contest. Both contests were based on this year’s Catholic Schools’ Week theme: Mary, Queen of Peace and Mother of Hope.
Each year, every class from Pre-K through 12th grade attempts to produce the most creative interpretation of the Catholic Schools’ Week theme on their respective classroom door, and winners were announced at the conclusion of the week. In the elementary school, the 5th grade took first place with a display of Marian artwork and apparition-based writing; in the junior high, the 8th grade won with a “hands for service and hearts for love” design; and in the high school, the 12th grade edged out the other classes with a large rosary surrounded by Scriptural quotes.
Dr. Mitchell Kalpakgian, perennial judge of the student essay contest, commented on the innocence and love of the good reflected in this year’s essays. Winners of the essay contest were Olivia Heath (1st grade); Claire Thibault and Lucy Fryckowska (2nd grade); Taylor Goodspeed (3rd grade); Luke Moorehouse (4th grade); Paul Thibault, Sean Beturne and Brennan Walsh (5th grade); Anya Moorehouse (6th grade); Annie Klucinec (7th grade); and Rosie Treece and Anna Yost (8th grade).
“Students and teachers always look forward to Catholic Schools’ Week, and we never forgo the opportunity to remember how grateful we are for all the sacrifices that have been made to make Catholic education possible for our families.” remarked Headmaster Derek Tremblay.