On Friday, September 3, St. James School (Arlington Heights) sponsored its Second Annual Grandparents’ Day to honor and celebrate grandparents and other family members who impart their faith onto their grandchildren.

The entire student body celebrated Mass together and sat with their families as Father Bill, pastor of St. James, shared with everyone that a Catholic School education continues to build on the foundation set forth onto a child from his parents and grandparents by providing its students with a strong mental, physical, emotional and spiritual education.   It is this education of the whole child that leads the students of St. James to become confident and successful leaders in our community.  At the end of Mass, Mr. Wally Liszka, who has six children who are St. James alumni and is the grandfather of four current St. James students, echoed Fr. Bill’s words and added, “Just like you can’t build a home by starting with the second floor; you cannot begin an education by deciding what college you would like your child to attend.  Rather you begin with a solid foundation that includes an ethical and moral education, which St. James Catholic School provides.”

After Mass, students led their grandparents and parents to their classrooms to meet their teachers and classmates.  It was a beautiful and magical day filled with warmth and love.

Saint James Catholic School, a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, is dedicated to partnering with parents in modeling Christ. Our mission is to provide a foundation from which students recognize and develop their personal relationship with God, an academic culture of meaningful and continuous learning, sensitive to the gifts of each child, and tools to shape beliefs, attitudes, values, and practices in accord with the Gospel message of social justice.   We are called to walk in faith, live in hope, and act in love.