Secular Easter party at Catholic school...how can I add meaning to it?

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dove_of_peace

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Hi,

I am one of 4 Room Mothers for my son’s 3rd grade class at a Catholic school. We just came back from planning and shopping for the annual Easter party and while I too want it to be fun for the kids with crafts, goodies, and games, I seem to be the only one concerned about also instilling a sense of reverence for the actual meaning of the holiday. I thought we should at least begin the party with a story of the first Easter and Christ’s sacrifice for us and some sort of ritual (maybe that is not the best choice of word) to mark the occasion. The other moms seem to think of me as a “Debbie Downer”.

Can you help me think of some ideas to start this party off on the right Catholic foot? These aren’t babies I’m talking about- the children are all between 8 and 10 years old and have all recieved First Communion.

Any comments are appreciated.
Thank you:)
 
If your school religioun curriculum is sound, I don’t see anything wrong with just having a fun day.

Our school has prayer 3 times each day and weekly Mass. They are not lacking in the catechesis department. My daughter in kindergarten had a “Santa Breakfast” but even at that age were taught the real meaning of Christmas in class and at Mass.

If the children are educated to the real reason for Easter. I see no harm in just having a fun event. 😃
 
Thank you idrum!

Well, we have a short prayer service each morning and Mass on Holy Days of Obligation. I in no way wanted to horn in on any fun, just thought I would remind us all what we were really celebrating…it’s so easy to get caught up in the Easter Bunny, candy, etc…
but I see what you mean…
Hmmm…
 
At my kids school, the party is pretty secular (egg hunt, bunnies, etc.) but what I found refreshing was the timing. The party is after the kids come back from Easter break to emphasize that we shouldn’t celebrate while it is still Lent. Can you sell that idea?
 
Hi Corki!

Never in a million years could I sell that one! But I love the idea!!:love:
 
From someone whose kids are now at public school and can’t ever have anything other than the most sanitized “holiday” or “winter” party—go for it and good for you for wanting to put some meaning into your party!! 👍

One thing we have done in Catholic and public school that is fun, simple and can be meaningful/instructive is the “Who am I” game. All you need is a roll of masking tape and a marker. Each student has the name of a “famous” person taped to his/her back. They have to guess who they are, but are only allowed to ask questions of each other that can be answered yes or no. You can use biblical characters, the Pope, your Bishop, Pastor, Principal, saints, etc…at Easter instead of actors, musicians, politicians or pop-cultural names. You can give prizes for those who guess in 5 questions or less, 5-10 questions, etc…[If you want to save time in the classroom it helps to use either a piece of paper or a self-adhesive name-tag and pre-write the names the kids will be guessing on paper/name tag which can be then pinned onto or stuck to the kids clothes]
 
Corki said:
At my kids school, the party is pretty secular (egg hunt, bunnies, etc.) but what I found refreshing was the timing. The party is after the kids come back from Easter break to emphasize that we shouldn’t celebrate while it is still Lent. Can you sell that idea?
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I really like that idea! 👍

:o Come to think of it, I am not sure if my daughter’s class is having any type of Easter “party.”

I’ll have to check on that tonight. Hmmm…
 
A Catholic school should not have an Easter Party until Easter. Please don’t say they are having an Easter Party at a Catholic School during Holy Week :eek:
 
This has been going on at least since I was a student there, and I am 37 years old- back then it was even run by Sisters of Mercy.
 
One thing we have done in Catholic and public school that is fun, simple and can be meaningful/instructive is the “Who am I” game. All you need is a roll of masking tape and a marker. Each student has the name of a “famous” person taped to his/her back. They have to guess who they are, but are only allowed to ask questions of each other that can be answered yes or no. You can use biblical characters, the Pope, your Bishop, Pastor, Principal, saints, etc…at Easter instead of actors, musicians, politicians or pop-cultural names. You can give prizes for those who guess in 5 questions or less, 5-10 questions, etc…[If you want to save time in the classroom it helps to use either a piece of paper or a self-adhesive name-tag and pre-write the names the kids will be guessing on paper/name tag which can be then pinned onto or stuck to the kids clothes]
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I love this idea Island Oak! Sounds engaging and fun! Thanks!!👍
 
the only way is to make them move it to after Easter–you will be fighting the administration, kids, teachers and most of all other parents, so good luck, try working toward next year.

our unbreakable rule is no parties in penitiential seasons.
I know the teachers and parents will bring snacks and treats on the last day of CCD no matter what, so we call it a retreat.

We present something relevant to the season and feast we are anticpating. Began with Palm Sunday gospel and procession (kinder leading, with “palms” they made and the song).
Teaching & sharing on the gospel and activity sheet.
2nd grade class did a Passion Play-terrific, great alternative to video on Stations (which everyone has seen before).
Then crafts–decorations for Easter Dinner to be served to the needy.
Then the snacks are served, and goody bags taken home.
Gives Confirmation kids a service project–they did a great job, and even cleaned up.

this works well because it is also last day before Spring Break and attendance will be down, and catechists will be missing, so we don’t miss a teaching day, anything they get this even is gravy.
 
As you start the kids on one project or another, you can tell them about the symbolism of each of the items. Here is a page with some ideas:

annieshomepage.com/symbols.html

For example - eggs symbolize new life, and you can talk about how we have a new life in Christ through our baptism. You get the idea. 🙂

~Liza
 
A happy party during Holy Week does seem like bad timing. We never had an Easter party at the school I went to when I grew up. Now I know why! You should definitely talk to the principal and priest about this being inappropriate. The reason of “that’s how we’ve always done it” shouldn’t cut it. Ask the Holy Spirit to speak through you.

If your pleas fall on deaf ears, you can do your best to bring out the christian meaning behind the secular easter symbols. Easter eggs as a symbol of Christ coming out of the tomb, for instance.
 
[As you start the kids on one project or another, you can tell them about the symbolism of each of the items./QUOTE]
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Lizaanne,
I LOVE this idea! It can be incorporated seamlessly into the party! And thanks for the link! :love:
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There are so many things that are both fun and religious, I can’t believe that there is even any discussion! At Christian bookstores they sell easter eggs with bible verses in them. If you don’t want to buy them, you can always just print them from the computer, and cut them out and make them yourself. They also sell foam christian cutout stickers, like crosses, bibles, God Loves Me stickers, etc. you can use these to decorate your easter eggs or easter baskets. Hopefully the party will not be on Good Friday… maybe if it on Holy Thursday, you could work in a fun Passover Dinner re-inactment with washing of the feet. I remember when I was in 3rd grade, we had a real Sader Meal (the traditional Jewish Passover meal) it was memorable, and fun, but helped me think about what Jesus ate (Matza bread (unlevened bread…they explained how for Passover there was no time to let the yeast work, which is why Jews to this day still celebrate with unlevened breat) , herbs, grape juice, and other Jewish foods, we toured a synagogue as a Jewish / Catholic exchange, it was really nice, fun, and memorable and made the feast meaningful). After the Sader meal we walked outside and prayed in the garden, concentrating on what Jesus and his apostles really experienced.

Please keep up the protesting to stop the secular world from taking over the Catholic schools. Don’t we have a haven anywhere anymore?
 
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