Catholic Schools Week in the high school at Everest has a particular flavor with a week packed with fun and healthy competition between the high school class in the annual EC Winter Games. Each year a theme is chosen, classes pick a class name, and competitions are held throughout the week. The class that wins takes home the prize of a day off of school the week after the games. The week brings together moments of unity, prayer, service, teamwork, and leadership – highlighting the best of the Catholic school that Everest is. There are many unsung heroes of the annual EC Winter Games. These individuals work tirelessly behind the scenes to plan, prepare, set up, clean up, and assure that the week is successful.
The EC student government puts a lot of time in brainstorming for the week. They help select the theme, the theme for the winter dance, and student initiatives throughout the week. This year’s theme was Disney week with the class names of: Freshmen of the Caribbean, Monsters University Sophomore Year, Junior in Wonderland, and Señiors. The dance was theme was Neon Night.
The week takes a lot of coordination. It wouldn’t be possible without the deans of discipline. Mrs. Erin Van Wagoner even participated in Disney day! Mr. Cross, academy dean of discipline, spends his days across the driveway but brought the eighth graders over for the lip sync battle and helped out with the all-school pep rally.
The deans are always thankful for the faculty and staff who support the activities throughout the week: from moderating classrooms to serving as referees for Friday’s winter games, the faculty and staff participated throughout the week. Staff help serve as unbiased judges for the hallway decorating contest (congrats, junior), the canvas decorating contest (congrats, freshmen), and the lip sync battle (congrats, juniors). Many thanks to the dance chaperones, to Mrs. Willertz and Miss Mansour for coordinating the lip sync battle, and to our headmaster and high school principal, Mr. Reichert, for his leadership.
National Honor Society coordinated with National Junior Honor Society to plan this year’s apostolic service project to benefit Lighthouse of Oakland County. Congrats, seniors, for collecting the most cans!
One day of Catholic Schools Week is dedicated to gratitude for the religious and consecrated serving in our community. Their dedication of their life to God’s service, particularly to the community at Everest is appreciated by all. Fr. Thomas chaperoned the students who participated in the Archdiocesan Catholic Schools Week Mass. All the priests celebrated Friday’s all-school Catholic Schools Week Mass. Thanks to Mrs. Nalepa, the music ministry, and students who helped read and serve at Mass.
Another day of Catholic Schools Week celebrates our volunteers and our community. Thank you to Mrs. Morrison, Mrs. Wilborn, and Mrs. Herrgott for your help with the week’s activities.
The EC Winter Games launches with the faculty film each year. Special thanks goes to Mrs. Krogh, Mrs. Mazure, and their team for coordination of this year’s faculty film.
Deserving special thanks is the scoring guru whose formulas are full-proof and leave no room for doubt about the winner of the games. Mr. Nguyen is not only an excellent math teacher, he is also the master of formulas and all things Google. His formulas have revealed the what was once believed impossible is possible. The games are not, in fact, rigged. The Juniors of Wonderland dominated with 442.5 points just ahead of the Señiors who had 412.5 points. The seniors deserved special mention for their leadership and sportsmanship throughout a week of fun competition. The qualities they demonstrated throughout the week are an illustration of the reason for celebration: our Catholic school is a special place.
Dean of discipline Mrs. Van Wagoner shared that Tuesday afternoon after all the classes had dismounted their wall decor from the hallway competition, two students stopped by her office to ask if she needed anything else before they went home for the day. The virtue that is taught, shown, and lived at Everest is part of what makes Everest a special place. Catholic Schools Week 2020 was a blast. Here is to next year’s celebration of Catholic schools!
