A Week Of Generosity And Gratitude At St Rose School

By Larissa Lytwyn

Highlighted with events including a baby supplies drive for new mothers and Bus Driver Appreciation Day, St Rose School’s recent commemoration of National Catholic Schools Week from January 24 to 30 sought to imbue Christian values of generosity and thankfulness with some good old-fashioned community-building fun.

After a mass and kickoff dinner last Saturday evening, St Rose eighth graders began the school week competing with faculty in a “Spirit Day” basketball game.

“The game is a great way to bring the entire St Rose community together,” noted Chairman Eileen Kirk, a St Rose parent and substitute teacher.

St Rose students and faculty also participated in the “Baby Shower” Service Project, donating supplies including diapers, bottles, baby wipes, blankets, and baby formula for new mothers in need. Collection sites, marked by soon overflowing bassinettes, were located in the lobbies of both the school’s main building and adjunct preschool.

Due to last Tuesday evening’s snowstorm, prompting a districtwide early dismissal, St Rose’s “Pajama Day,” in which students had the chance to come to school in pajamas, donating a dollar toward a Catholic charity fund and enjoying a special McDonald’s lunch, was postponed until March.

But the festivities continued the following day, featuring presentations by folk musician Michael Kachuba. A member of the arts education organization Young Audiences of Connecticut, Mr Kachuba has performed for St Rose in the past.

“I have led workshops teaching students how to write songs from [biblical] scripture,” he said.

Though he has a background in zoology, Mr Kachuba returned to his foremost musical passions nine years ago. He currently divides his time between performances and educational presentations.

“He’s very patient and good with the students,” noted Ms Kirk.

The Catholic school-educated musician introduced instruments including both the Mountain and Hammered Dulcimer to students.

Like fellow members of the string family, dulcimers are ancient instruments with thousands of years of world history.

“Dulcimers have been referred to in the Bible,” Mr Kachuba remarked, emphasizing their ancient Middle Eastern roots.

Close to his own roots, Mr Kachuba shared an instrumental Ukrainian folk song on the dulcimer called “Bread and Salt.”

“My grandfather is from the Ukraine,” Mr Kachuba said.

Mr Kachuba also played songs touching on themes including the value of saving, whether the subject was a buttonless shirt that could be repaired or something of a deeper, more emotional worth.

“When a shirt has a tear in it, or has lost a button, it’s easy to go out and buy a new one,” Mr Kachuba said. In older generations, however, people were encouraged to repair what was broken, he said.

A final highlight of was St Rose’s annual Bus Driver Appreciation Day.

In last Friday’s frigid early light, bus drivers arriving to drop off students were greeted with students bringing them steaming cups of coffee, courtesy of Dunkin’ Donuts, and other delectable goodies, including bagels and donuts.

As each bus arrived, a cluster of students would burst from the school’s main building carefully gripping the trays of goods.

Even the school’s crossing guard receiving a rich cup o’ joe.

“All of these events really bring out the importance of community,” concluded Ms Kirk.