Catholic Schools Week is a national event that is celebrated in most catholic schools around the country, including Benilde St. Margaret’s. This year it was the week of January 30-February 3. The BSM student council plans dress-up days and events to help contribute to making the week fun for all, while still remembering the purpose of the week.

Student council has the freedom to pick dress-up ideas for the entire student body and staff. They want to make the days fun and inclusive at the same time. “Monday we’re gonna have brick fit or monochromatic. Tuesday is crazy hat or hair day, it is very inclusive and very easy for a lot of different people to do. Wednesday is anything with a backpack day. So, it still goes with our dress-up for a mass. Thursday we have rhyme without reason. So for instance, you would dress as Yoda and someone else would dress as a can of soda, and then Friday is Spirit Day,” Assistant Principal of Activities and Student Life Cami Dahlstrom said.

The student council has different goals with dress-up days this year. In years past there tended to be repeats of ideas and outfits. “I think the main goal was not to make the dress-ups as basic as they were last year. So, trying to change that,” sophomore student council member Lauren Carlson said.

The convocation this year was different from past events that have been held during Catholic Schools Week. There is usually a speaker, but students had options this time. Through Sign Up Genius, students had a wide variety of options such as yoga, karaoke, coloring, and more. “[We have it planned where] you go around [to] any of the classrooms that you want and there are 50 different activities going on that you can pick from,” Carlson said.

The Catholic identity is reflected throughout the week. Trying to welcome people with open arms is the school’s main goal. “One of our Charisms is Lassalian [and they are] very inviting and hosting and together with the community, which is a big part of it. So I think that part of our Catholic identity is really trying to be inclusive to everyone and getting everyone involved in fellowship and community so that’s kind of why we’re also doing the activities to get everybody together and talk to each other in a different way,” Dahlstrom said.

Involvement is a big part of the school. Giving kids the opportunity to see what a club is like is important. During Catholic Schools week, BSM really wanted to push kids to get involved. “I feel like this time of the year kids aren’t joining a club… we want to push that and just get more students involved in BSM because four or five months of a new friend group or meeting new people and doing something you really enjoy can completely change your outlook on school,” Dahlstrom said.

This week sets the school apart from most others. “I think going to a Catholic school is something that’s special. It’s different than going to a public school. You get to celebrate your faith, you get to be part of a faith community, and this is just one week a year when we celebrate our differences,” Senior High Principal Stephanie Nitchals said.