It's cheers and songs for the bishop

On this particular day, songs, cheers and breakfast were all the buzz at St. John Neumann Regional School.

Then again, it isn't exactly every day that the school is blessed with a visit by the bishop, as was the case on Thursday at the school's Palmerton campus.

Pastor John Barres, Bishop of Allentown visited the students and parishioners after mass as part of a special "Breakfast with the Bishop" in observance of Catholic Schools Week.

As he settled in, Bishop Barres was seated front and center as he watched kindergarten through third grade pupils from the school's Slatington campus sing songs, and later a performance by the school's cheerleading squad.

Barres said Catholic Schools Week helps in the "formation of young people in the Catholic faith", and "gives a good sense of the Holy Spirit".

"It brings a refined work ethic, great sense of morality, great sense of trust," Bishop Barres said. "We all benefit from their faith because it's so genuine and so sincere."

The activity was one of many the school participated in as part of Catholic Schools Week Feb. 1-5.

On Wednesday, noted educator/ecologist Dan Kunkle conducted a presentation on the benefits of 'The Bug World' on planet Earth at both campuses.

A Scholastic Book Fair accompanied the 'Special Persons Luncheon' at the Palmerton campus on Tuesday, and at the Slatington campus on Thursday.

And the school's Slatington campus opened its doors to prospective students and community members with a 'Meet 'n Greet' Open House on Monday.

Catholic Schools Week is a joint project of the National Catholic Educational Association and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

St. John Neumann Regional School serves students in grades K-8 of all religious, racial, ethnic and income backgrounds.

For more information on the curriculum, admission policies and registration, contact the school office at (610) 826-2354, or visit the web site at www.sjnrschool.org.