By Bonny Van
The Catholic Commentator
Shortly before the start of the 10 a.m. Catholic Schools Week Mass at St. Gerard Majella Church in Baton Rouge, a trailer from Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Baton Rouge was set up in the parking lot to accept donations from hundreds of school children and faculty members who would be arriving soon.
During Catholic Schools Week, students from throughout the Diocese of Baton Rouge donate items for Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Baton Rouge. Students have averaged $17,500 in donations annually to Catholic Charities. The items are distributed throughout the year. Photo by Bonny Van | The Catholic Commentator
Within 45
By Bonny Van
The Catholic Commentator
Catholic Schools Week in the Diocese of Baton Rouge kicked off Jan. 27 with the annual Distinguished Graduates Banquet at the Renaissance Hotel in Baton Rouge.
Following Catholic Schools Week Mass at St. Gerard Majella Church in Baton Rouge, awards were presented to Glynis Davis, a teacher at St. Joseph’s Academy in Baton Rouge, for Distinguished Educator; Ellen Lee,
After Mass on Jan. 22, representatives of the Bishop Stanely J. Ott Knights of Columbus announced three students from St. Jude School in Baton Rouge won the top spots in the KOC Patriotic Essay Contest. There were more than 200 essays submitted from six different schools and 10 total essays were chosen as winners. Pictured, from left, are Frank Zaeringer, Patriotic Chair; Henry Hargrave, first place winner; Taylor Van, second place winner; Erin Sullivan, third place winner; Kelly Mestayer, English teacher; and Dave Goldsmith, KOC.
Sacred Heart of Jesus School in Baton Rouge celebrated the 90th day of school during its 90th year on Jan. 9 with students and faculty dressed in 90s-themed clothing and competed in a 90s trivia contest. The celebration included lessons in dial-up Internet and the Oregon Trail. Pictured dressed as 90s characters “Wayne” and “Garth” are kindergarten teacher Brandi Clay and fourth-grader Luke Partin dressed as Wayne, while kindergartner Jordy Partin and art teacher Rayma Farlow dressed as Garth. Photo provided by Lisa
Students at Holy Family School in Port Allen participated in “Ugly Christmas Sweater Day” and raised more than $1,000 for Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital in Baton Rouge. Photo provided by Annette Fitzgerald | Holy Family School
Students at St. Elizabeth School in Paincourtville are recognized for their kindness with an award as Caring Cubs. Caring Cubs for the month of November are Aubrey Mabile, pre-K 3; Avery Hahn, pre-K-4; Fisher Daigle, kindergarten; Lylah Ory, first grade; Liam Dupré, second grade; Easton Chiasson, third grade; Naomi Naquin, fourth grade; Ella Hahn, fifth grade; Isabella George, sixth grade; Renee Ryland, seventh grade; and, Luke Viator, eighth grade. Photo provided by Sister Maria Alphonse CMC | St. Elizabeth School
The National Junior Honor Society at Holy Ghost School in Hammond purchased toys to donate to Louisiana’s toy drive for children in foster homes. Pictured, front row from left, are Aubrey Dufrene, Therese Adams, Katelyn Hemel, Reese Fitzhugh and, back row, Charles Ragan, Noah Slaton and Jude Delatte. Photo provided by Cindy Wager | Holy Ghost School
Students in the Beta Club at Mater Dolorosa School in Independence visits residents of the Amite Nursing Home on Dec. 14. The students sang a variety of Christmas songs, distributed gifts and shared homemade Christmas cards with each resident. Photo provided by Erin Mendez | Mater Dolorosa School
St. Elizabeth School | Paincourtville
Catholic Elementary of Pointe Coupee School | Pointe Coupee
St. Theresa Middle School | Gonzales
Our Lady of Mercy School | Baton Rouge
Catholic of Pointe Coupee School in New Roads announced their 2019-2020 Students of the Year. Pictured, from left, are eighth-grader Anna Jean Eaves, fifth-grader Amelia Chauvin and twelfth-grader Jenna Guidry. Photo provided by Megan Girlinghouse | Catholic of Pointe Coupee
Holy Ghost School | Hammond
Mater Dolorosa School | Independence
St. John Interparochial School | Plaquemine
St. Joseph’s Academy|Catholic High School | Baton Rouge
Sacred Heart
Fourth-graders at Holy Ghost School in Hammond collected toys to donate to the Pediatric Unit at North Oaks Hospital. The students’ annual generosity helps the hospital provide needed toys and supplies for their patients. Photo provided by Cindy Wagner | Holy Ghost School
Students at St. Michael the Archangel High School in Baton Rouge have fun on Tacky Sweater Day, Dec. 6. Photo provided by Kaye Self | St. Michael High School
At St. Peter Chanel School in Paulina, students are learning how to create low-voltage paper circuits with card stock, LEDs, copper tape and coin batteries in technology classes. Third-graders made Rudolf magnets to display on their lockers. Pictured, from left, are Daegan Louque, Sage LeBlanc, Rylan Donadieu, Lillie Gravois, Ava Veillon, Mia Forsyth; back row, Leah Johnson, Brennan Armand, Laynie LeBlanc, Evan Babin and Aydin Loque. Photo provided by Paula Poche | St. Peter Chanel School
Pre-kindergarten students at St. Aloysius School in Baton Rouge collected toys for children for the Christmas season. Photo provided by Edie Boudreaux | St. Aloysius School
Students in Patty Fell’s Family and Consumer Science class at St. Michael the Archangel High School in Baton Rouge made gingerbread houses to celebrate the season. Pictured, from left, are Leah Gil, Elizabeth Angel and Tess Beurle. Photo provided by Kaye Self | St. Michael High Schoo
To begin the Advent season, Father Reuben Dykes, pastor of Mater Dolorosa Church in Independence, blesses the Advent wreath at Mater Dolorosa School in Independence while all students participated. Pictured, Ezra Authement helps Father Reuben by holding the book of prayers. Photo provided by Erin Mendez | Mater Dolorosa School
Holy Ghost School in Hammond announced kindergarten teacher Jennifer Owens as Teacher of the Year and sisters Reese and Riley Fitzhugh Students of the Year. Pictured, from left, are Reese Fitzhugh, Owens and Riley Fitzhugh. Photo provided by Cindy Wagner | Holy Ghost School
Faculty and staff at Catholic Elementary School of Pointe Coupee in New Roads recognize students each quarter for possessing the qualities of a variety of virtues. On Dec. 10, the following students were recognized for the virtues of joy, love, patience and peace: Kylie Boudreaux, Katie Glaviano, Jack Logan, Kegan Blanchard, Braxton Fortie, Amelia Gradney, Sadie McDuff, Gideon Hughes, Camden Cazayoux, Lawson Sanders, Brynn Boudreaux, Piper Jarreau, Stella Cain, Alli Fabre, Samuel Gradney, Grace Ducote, Juliet Cotten, Grant Carriere, Sawyer Pourciau, Logan Olinde, Beau Soulier, Chloe Aucoin, Cole Yarbrough, Mia
The Robotics Club at Holy Family School in Port Allen hosted the FIRST Lego League (FLL) Robotics Qualifier on Dec. 5. It was the first robotics hosted by Holy Family School with schools from throughout the state competing. It was also the first FLL robotics competition held in Catholic schools in the Diocese of Baton Rouge. Photo provided by Annette Fitzgerald | Holy Family School
Students at St. George School in Baton Rouge work on their team spirit during a visit by cheer and dance team members of St. Michael the Archangel High School in Baton Rouge. Photo provided by Kaye Self | St. Michael High School
St. Peter Chanel seventh and eighth graders wrote a list of what they are thankful for to kick off the Thanksgiving break in English and literature classes. Then, for an artistic turn, they turned the words into smoke rising from a turkey. Students started the year reading “Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad,” then took a field trip to see the movie “Harriet” to close out the unit. Next, students studied Edgar Allan Poe’s short story, “The Tell-Tale Heart” and created a tableau of the horror story.
The following article was written by Ella Doyle, an eighth-grader at St. Alphonsus Liguori School in Greenwell Springs, from the Vocations Breakfast on Thursday, Nov. 7. The annual event is sponsored by the Vocations Team at St. Alphonsus Church.
When Father Tat Hoang CSsR, pastor of St. Gerard Majella Church in Baton Rouge, began his homily at the Veterans Mass at St. Alphonsus, I was curious about how he was going to tie the parable of the lost sheep to veterans,
Juniors and seniors from Catholic High School of Pointe Coupee in New Roads were able to meet with multiple colleges and institutes today during the College and Career Fair held in the gym. Students asked great questions to help guide themselves in their post high school journeys. Photo provided by Megan Giringhouse | Catholic High School of Pointe Coupee
During the month of the rosary, October, fifth-graders at St. George School in Baton Rouge celebrated World Mission Day by leading a school-wide rosary. During the rosary, the school community learned more about the situation of migrants, immigrants and refugees. St. George School prayed for peace and prayed for the people of each continent. Photo provided by Charlene Lauman | St. George School
St. Alphonsus Liguori School in Greenwell Springs held its 12th annual Vocations Breakfast on Thursday, Nov. 7. Following Mass, the Vocations Team at St. Alphonsus Church served eggs, bacon, pancakes and fruit to 70 seventh and eighth graders. The guest speaker was Father Tat Hoang CSsR, pastor of St. Gerard Majella Church in Baton Rouge. Provided by St. Alphonsus School
Members of the drama club at Catholic Elementary of Pointe Coupee in New Roads hosted “The Spooky Poem Showcase,” on Thursday, Oct. 24th in the school library. Drama club members gathered with their families and guests and recited poems, told jokes and sang songs. Pictured, top row from left, are Brooke Andre, Amelia Chauvin, Isabella Yates, Oliva Cotten, club sponsor Ashley Chauvin, Olivia LaGrone, Josie Hart and Anna Pinter. Pictured, bottom row, are Sabrina Elliott, Isabella David, Elizabeth Armand, Trayson Smith, Olivia Pourciau and Rilee
St. Jean Vianney School in Baton Rouge held an academic pep rally for students in grades fourth through eighth on Sept. 25. Student progress on Aspire testing was celebrated with prizes and games. Students pictured showed significant improvement in all four test subject areas. Pictured from left are Charlotte Wood, Russel Love, Eva Guidry, Grace Guidry, Adrianna Deselle, Michael McLeod, Aaron Danielson, Vivian Truong and Kaylen Teno. Photo provided by St. Jean Vianney School
Four generations of the Hebert family, all students and former students of Sacred Heart of Jesus School in Baton Rouge, pose in the photo booth during the school’s 90th anniversary celebration. Pictured, front row from left, are second-grader Daniel Campbell and fifth-grader Madelyn Campbell. Pictured back row are Mary Beth Hebert Kling, Class of ’68; Kecia Kling Campbell, Class of ’91; eighth-grader Caroline Campbell; and Kelly Kling, Class of ’65. Mary Beth Hebert Kling’s father, Joseph Hebert, graduated from Sacred Heart of Jesus School in 1935.
By Bonny Van
The Catholic Commentator
Students at Catholic schools across the Diocese of Baton Rouge honored military men and women for Veterans Day in a variety of ways. Gatherings, receptions and special Masses were held at several schools, including St. Alphonsus School in Greenwell Springs, Holy Family School in Port Allen and St. John Interparochial School in Plaquemine.
Students and teachers place their hands on Ray Louviere, who served in the Navy in Vietnam, for a special
Catholic Elementary of Pointe Coupee was filled with hundreds of dads, grandfathers, uncles, and special
By Bonny Van
The Catholic Commentator
Students in first, second and third grades at Mater Dolorosa School in Independence visited with Kathy Stuart, Southeast
Students from Catholic High School in Baton Rouge placed first, third and an honorable mention in the 2018
Father Reuben Dykes, pastor of Mater Dolorosa Church in Independence, gets to know students during his first
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