St Rose of Lima School began its celebration of Catholic Schools Week, recognized nationally January 29 to February 3, with a pep rally, near the end of the school day, on Monday, January 30.

For the day, students dressed in the school's red and white colors. Nonperishable food items were also collected for the FAITH Food Pantry, according to Principal Sister Colleen Therese Smith.

The pep rally gathered students in the school's Monsignor Weiss Gathering Hall.

"Welcome to Catholic Schools Week 2017!" Sr Colleen said while welcoming the gathered students to the event.

The pep rally included a pig race, with educators racing their class or department's electronic stuffed animal pig against other contenders. Each group decorated its pig and named it, like Professor Dumblepork, inspired by the Harry Potter series.

rofessor Dumblepork went on to win first in the competitions, earning a first place trophy for first graders in teacher Jill DeRenzi's class.

School cheerleaders also performed during the pep rally, and a new mascot was unveiled.

The ram mascot had visited the school the night before and left pictures and clues, including hoof prints around the school.

According to Sr Colleen, the mascot was pictured in the school office using the intercom and in her own principal's office, with his hooves up on her desk. The hoof prints and clues had students looking for the mascot all day leading up to the pep rally.

"He went to get water," one kindergartener said while following hoof prints to a water fountain.

After members of St Rose of Lima's eighth grade 2017 graduating class were introduced to the pep rally, the ram mascot made his entrance and posed for a picture with the eighth grade students.

St Rose of Lima has other planned activities throughout Catholic Schools Week. Events include a faculty and staff appreciation day that, along with celebrations of faculty, will also raise money for the Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary; a student appreciation day that will include a student talent show; and the eighth grade students taking on members of the faculty and staff in an evening basketball game.