Catholic Schools Week brings alum back to St. James

WASHINGTON — A week spent celebrating Catholic private schools across the nation has drawn numerous alumni and community members to Saint James in Washington, for a variety of games, gatherings and other activities.

The yearly tradition is long-standing at the 150-year-old elementary age private school, according to Faith Formation Director Lori Fritz.

“It’s a celebration, just like how we have homecoming celebrations for schools,” she said. “We have dress-up days, and fun things that we do … and lots of things to make them proud to be in our school, proud to be a Saint James student.”

Fritz said the week of festivities served as both a celebration of the Christian school’s values, and a way to draw community members to the building, whether they’re school families, alumni, or just people in town.

  Buy Photo

“We have had a really good turnout,” she said. “We had lots and lots of alumni come in, I couldn’t tell you how many … and we talked about how your neighbor is anybody, not just your next-door neighbor, but anyone in our community.”

Audrey Reed completed her Saint James education in 1949.

Like many graduates of the school, she said it was important to come back and show her support during the weeklong celebration.

“I have grandkids here and great grandkids, and my children, six of them graduated from here,” she said. “It’s important that we keep this school operating … we hope it continues forever down the road. We need a parochial school in town.”

  Buy Photo

Younger alumni attended an event on Monday, where students competed in a series of unusual races in the gym, including one where participants had to carry an egg on a spoon, or blow up a balloon and pop it on the other side of the basketball court.

High school-aged, former Saint James students said they were happy to be there as well.

“Being back in the building, it brings back a lot of memories,” said Logan McDole.

  Buy Photo

This year’s Catholic Schools Week was the first for Principal Erik Buchholz. He said he was having a blast.

“We had alumni of past generations, (and) kids asked tons of questions, we actually had to cut the questions short,” he said. “Today, our turnout is fantastic for our pancakes and prayers, we had two full rows of adults, our neighbors, who had the chance to show up today with the kids they were associated with.”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com