St. Michael School’s commitment to service, the importance of reading, and providing faith and fun to its students will all be highlighted throughout Catholic Schools Week (January 30-February 5) at the Augusta school.

The school community will participate in a major service project for the Augusta Food Bank, donating items on the food bank’s wish list including canned pasta, canned cord, mayonnaise, vegetable oil, baked beans, canned soup, cereal bars, and juice boxes. Established in 1981, the Augusta Food Bank serves an average of 350 households on site.

On Tuesday, reading and writing will take center stage on “Drop Everything and Read Day,” an event that will feature a visit from Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and author Barbara Walsh who will read and talk to the students about how she finds and crafts her stories. Walsh has worked for newspapers and magazines in Florida, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, and Ireland. Her book, Sammy in the Sky, is illustrated by painter Jamie Wyeth and was inspired by her family’s first dog, Sam, a loyal and loving hound who died in 2004. Barbara is also the author of August Gale: A Father and Daughter’s Journey into the Storm, an adult biography and memoir. Her published children’s books also include The Goose Lady and Rhoda's Rescue.

Students will also go "head-to-head" in a number of fun trivia competitions during the week with themes ranging from music to books to the holidays, and athletic contests like four square and hula hoop showdowns. A spelling bee will be held on Monday and a geography bee is set for Thursday. The students will also write thank you notes for priests and participate in an animal photo contest. The school’s Parent Association will host a staff appreciation lunch on Friday. Students will be able to enjoy clothing theme days as well, including Tie Dye Dress Down Day, What You Will Look Like at 100 Day, Favorite Sports Team Day, Favorite Holiday Colors Day, and Dress Like a Superhero Day.

Catholic Schools Week is an annual celebration of Catholic education in Maine and across the United States. The week celebrates the mission of Catholic Schools: to evangelize students by nourishing faith and encouraging academic excellence while accentuating the importance of community and service in a nurturing environment. For more information about Catholic education in Maine, visit www.mainecatholicschools.com.