Blessed Sacrament School, Washington

“My favorite thing about my Catholic school is my friends. They are always there for me, and they understand me. When I go to school, it feels like I’m with my second family, and I feel at home there. I can count on them being nice to me, and they can count on me treating them with respect also. I believe that people here are so nice, because this is a Catholic school, and we are encouraged to follow Jesus Christ. My friends are what I look forward to every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. I love them, and in my opinion, no better friends could exist.” – Orla Hurley, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington, D.C.

“I love my Catholic school. The most obvious reason is because of Mass… Twice a year I go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and it is so nice to go home forgiven. Also, when the school day starts, elementary school students stay in the gym, and we all do the Pledge of Allegiance together, then people from the fifth grade to kindergarten read religious readings or prayers. If it is almost Christmas, we read about the Nativity. Also at recess or when I am stressed or worried outside of school, I can just visit the Mary statue near my school blacktop. These are the many reasons why my Catholic school is awesome!” – Drawing and writing by Anya Chaban, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington

“I like my Catholic school for many reasons. One of them is because we get to go to Mass. Going to Mass is important, because we want to show our appreciation to God, worship him, learn more about him, pray, receive the Eucharist and more. Doing activities in class is fun, too… We made Ojos de Dios as a craft project, and it reminded us of God’s watchful love. I really like religion class too, where we get to learn about God and saints while reading stories and doing activities.” – Drawing and writing by Lucia Sonza De Windt, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington

“The thing I like about going to a Catholic school are the teachers. What I like about teachers is the way they help us with work when we can’t figure out the answer to a question. Another thing is that every teacher is nice to me and the other students. One thing I like about the students is they include everyone. They also are always helpful and kind. The students are also really funny and can lighten up any conversation.” – Bo Andrews, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington

“What I like about Catholic school is going to Mass as a whole school. Going to Mass is really nice, plus we get time to talk with God which will strengthen our relationship with God. Having religion class is also nice. In religion class, we learn about God, his disciples, saints and much more. We are also able to participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation twice a year. Catholic school is a very good way to connect with God.” – Dina Mezgebu, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington

“What I like about Blessed Sacrament School is that we read the Bible. I love reading the Bible because it tells me all about the miracles that were made by Jesus and God. I also like it because the stories in the Bible tell either about how to be a good Christian or about what happened before or after Jesus.” – Artwork and writing by Mary Cauthen, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington

“I like Blessed Sacrament School for many reasons. One of my favorite reasons is learning about Jesus’s life in religion class. I like learning about all of Jesus’s miracles and about God. I also think that we have amazing teachers who are very nice. I feel like if I didn’t go to a Catholic school, I would have a totally different education. Another reason is all of my friends are really nice, and they make me a better person. That is why I love Blessed Sacrament School.” – Oakley Behr, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington

“My favorite thing about going to Blessed Sacrament School is our church. We go to Mass once or twice a month. I also like that we go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This is really nice for me, because it is a wonderful opportunity for me to become closer to God. I can be forgiven for my sins in a welcoming place.” – Elyse Rodgers, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington

St. Thomas More Catholic Academy, Washington, D.C.

“What I like most about St. Thomas More Church is Father Moore preaching God’s word. He is very kind and loving. He makes me feel excited about church. I like to help Father Moore with the food pantry for people who need food. Father Moore has a big heart. As you can see, Father Moore is very nice.” – Artwork and writing by Aiden Lewis, third grade, St. Thomas More Catholic Academy, Washington, D.C.

Academy of St. Matthias the Apostle, Lanham

“My favorite part about my school is that we attend Mass. I love that we pray daily in school and at Mass. This allows students to spend time with God and strengthen their relationship with Him.” – Patrick Lara, eighth grade, the Academy of St. Matthias the Apostle, Lanham, Maryland

“One thing I like about St. Matthias is that it is a very friendly community in which you can easily make new friends. Our community is diverse which means we have students that have a variety of interests. And due to the variety of interests, you can find a friend that has a similar interest as you at St. Matthias. I really like this aspect of St. Matthias.” –  Chijioke Akunwafor, seventh grade, the Academy of St. Matthias the Apostle, Lanham

St. Pius X Regional School, Bowie

“I’ve been going to St. Pius X Regional School since kindergarten, now I’m in eighth grade. There are many things I admire about my school. But something that stands out is the care and compassion that everyone shares for each other. We all strive to help one another to grow as one whole community.” – Artwork and writing by Evania Nikodimos, eighth grade, St. Pius X Regional School, Bowie, Maryland

“One thing I like about my school is that it is a Catholic school that teaches about God and how we can grow with each other to live the way that Jesus wants us to live. I also love how we have Mass at least twice a month, because some people who are also Catholic don’t really go to Mass all the time because of sports like soccer practice. Chorus is another thing I like because I love seeing other students praising God just by them singing at Mass beautifully.” – Priscilla Nwagbo, eighth grade, St. Pius X Regional School, Bowie

“There are many reasons I like Catholic school. In a Catholic school, I can express my religion and faith openly. My faith is important to me, and a Catholic school is a great place where I can grow physically and spiritually. Also, when I talk to my friends or classmates, we are building community. We are sharing our ideas with others. Catholic school teaches students the importance of service, commitment, dedication and self-discipline. This encourages academic success.” – Artwork and writing by Jacob Yogiaveetil, eighth grade, St. Pius X Regional School, Bowie

“At my school, I like how open and free we are to talk about our faith. I like how we are able to ask questions in order to further understand and grow closer to God. Not only are we able to talk about it, but we can also express it through our school activities such as the living Gospel or the Passion Play. I love doing and watching those performances, because it’s a new and fun kind of way to learn and act out those parts of Scripture.” – Alyssa Rottmann, eighth grade, St. Pius X Regional School, Bowie

“What I like most about my school is how easy it is to make friends. Everyone is so kind and nice. You just have to be kind to them as well… If you don’t know much about a person, find a common interest. Another great thing is that you can see how close-knit these friend groups are. Some of these people have known each other since kindergarten.” – Artwork and writing by Ryan Culfogienis, seventh grade, St. Pius X Regional School, Bowie

“One thing that I like about my school is the people I have met. The people at St. Pius X are helpful and kind to the other people that are here. Whenever there is a new student at the school, all the other students make sure that the new person is welcomed and that they make friends really fast. Everyone including the teachers are really nice people.” – Myles Sweeney, eighth grade, St. Pius X Regional School, Bowie

“Something I like about my Catholic school is how nice, caring and how kind they are. I also like field day. Field day is one of the best things in school, where you can play a whole bunch of games that you play in P.E. But the best thing I love about this Catholic school is Mass. I love Mass because it gives us a chance to get closer and to learn about God.” – Andrew Brooks, seventh grade, St. Pius X Regional School, Bowie

“What I like about my Catholic school is the community. By community, I mean the relationship between students and teachers, students and others students, and students and other grades. I love the way we are able to interact with the lower grades and the way it gives me a chance to mature.” – Artwork and writing by Amara Iweanoge, seventh grade, St. Pius X Regional School, Bowie

“What I like about St. Pius is how the teachers are fun with students and how the work is challenging so that the students can be great and go on to a good high school. Plus my school community is one and everyone is uniting as one…” – RJ Thurston, eighth grade, St. Pius X Regional School, Bowie

“I like that every morning, we pray together. I also like that the prayers at the end of the day have a good message. I like that the school takes the time to make the Mass a nice place. I like that every teacher does their best to teach us.” – Valeria Munoz, eighth grade, St. Pius X Regional School, Bowie

 St. Columba School, Oxon Hill

“What I like most about St. Columba School are the teachers and my classmates. The teachers really care about their students, and my classmates are fun to be around.” – Artwork and writing by Gavin Smit, eighth grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill, Maryland

“I like playing basketball with my classmates and having fun with them doing drills with them and working on layups and jump shots.” – Artwork and writing by Cortland Brown, sixth grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill

St. Mary’s School, Landover Hills

“What I like about my Catholic school is the community. Our school is an amazing community to be a part of. Like our principal Mrs. Hayes says, ‘You are loved, loving and lovable.’ Another thing I like about the school is the staff, the staff members are so friendly, they make sure you put all your effort into your work and treat you as if you are actually a part of their family.” – Artwork and writing by Lupita Torres Alcantara, eighth grade, St. Mary’s School, Landover Hills, Maryland

“One thing I like about my school is that our church is right across from our school. The church is important and stands out to me because it is somewhere not only our school community gathers for church, but also the surrounding neighborhoods and areas come together to worship and spread the word of God. The church is a safe place for everyone, and anyone is welcome to join the school for Mass, and they are also invited to weekend and weekday Masses. Every Friday, the whole school walks across to church and gathers for Mass. This is very special, because some schools don’t have the opportunity to have Mass every week as we do. Our church has also been a place for many memories, for example, the Christmas pageants and graduations that the school has held there. Our church is a place for people to come together to worship and praise God.” – Artwork and writing by Lindsey Rivadeneira, eighth grade, St. Mary’s School, Landover Hills

“Something I like about my school is the environment and diversity of the students around me. I like the environment, because there are a lot of students like me, which makes it more comfortable in the learning area. The diversity allows you to experience cultures which are different from your own.” – Artwork and writing by Maya Pefok, eighth grade, St. Mary’s School, Landover Hills

Artwork by Daisy Tanyidah, eighth grade, St. Mary’s School, Landover Hills (drawing shows her singing during a Christmas recording at the school)

St. Augustine Catholic School, Washington, D.C.

“I like St. Augustine School because of the education there that really helped me become a better student.” – Artwork and writing by Chinecherem Joseph, fifth grade, St. Augustine Catholic School, Washington, D.C.

“There are many things I love about St. Augustine Catholic School. I love St. Augustine because of its teachers. They help me have a good education. I also love how they teach us about faith and God. Another thing I love about my school is my friends who are there to support me. I give thanks to all of these people. They help me have a successful future.” – Bethel Assefa, fifth grade, St. Augustine Catholic School, Washington

“I love St. Augustine Catholic School because we celebrate Mass every Friday. Our celebration of Mass helps our religious life. If someone lives far from a church they can attend our school Mass. Finally, a chosen class is selected each week to host the Mass. That’s so cool!” – Artwork and writing by Nathanya Kidane, fifth grade, St. Augustine Catholic School, Washington

“There are many things I like about my school. The first thing I like is the education we receive, because the teachers make learning fun. The second thing I like is the food, because it is hot, delicious food. The third thing I like is how my school disciplines students, so they don’t become a bad kid. The last thing I like is how my school teaches religion in an easy way for kids to understand.” – Eminatsihon Alemayehu, fifth grade, St. Augustine Catholic School, Washington

“I love St Augustine Catholic School, because the teachers are good at teaching us, which makes us learn new things.” – Artwork and writing by Naomi Tewelde, fifth grade, St. Augustine Catholic School, Washington

“I like St. Augustine School because of how the teachers teach you about God and religion. The second reason is the education, because it’s fun. The third reason is the food, because it tastes good. The last reason is how Mass is celebrated every Friday for St. Augustine School.” – Kaine Mbah, fifth grade, St. Augustine Catholic School, Washington

“I like St. Augustine Catholic School because of the teachers. The teachers help us to make learning fun and easy. They help us when we’re stuck on something. They can make math fun with games. They teach us new things every day.” – Artwork and writing by Gabriella Manuel, fifth grade, St. Augustine Catholic School, Washington

“I like my Catholic school because I learn a lot of things.” – Drawing and writing by Wesley Sheppard, third grade, St. Augustine Catholic School, Washington

“The reason I like St. Augustine School is because it gives us the best education for math, reading, science and language arts. St. Augustine provides us with healthy lunches to eat. The school provides after care activities like arts, basketball and chess.” – Bethlehem Barka, fifth grade, St. Augustine Catholic School, Washington

St. Mary’s School, Bryantown

“I like my Catholic school, because I get to receive my First Holy Communion this year. It is one of the seven sacraments I am learning about.” – Artwork and writing by Isabella Welcome, second grade, St. Mary’s School, Bryantown, Maryland

“My favorite thing at St. Mary’s School in Bryantown is church! We get to pray, sing and think about God! I love St. Mary’s in Bryantown!” – Cody Blaine Hile, fourth grade, St. Mary’s School, Bryantown

“My favorite thing about St. Mary’s School in Bryantown is all of my friends. Also, all of the great teachers and staff. The teachers will help you whenever you need help. My friends are always there for me.” – Emma Payne, fourth grade, St. Mary’s School, Bryantown

“What I like about my Catholic school is that when we have an assignment, my teachers always make it fun. When we learn about God, our teachers always try to make sure students have the right perspective on things. Every day I learn something new about God. That’s why I love my Catholic school!” – Samantha Morrison, fifth grade, St. Mary’s School, Bryantown

“At my Catholic school I like going to Mass with my class. I like celebrating God with my friends.” – Artwork and writing by Jacob Potter, second grade, St. Mary’s School, Bryantown

“An activity I enjoy is lectoring. I often volunteer to read at Mass, because to me, it’s a way to connect and grow in my relationship with God.” – Shannon Wenzlick, eighth grade, St. Mary’s School, Bryantown

“I enjoy being able to help younger kids because it helps increase my social skills.” – Chase Houghton, eighth grade, St. Mary’s School, Bryantown

“We take our prayer partners, the first graders, to church to sit, sing and pray with them.” – Vinnie Miles, eighth grade, St. Mary’s School, Bryantown

“What I like about St. Mary’s School in Bryantown is church, friends and teachers. My friends are so nice, they always help me when I need help. They are just the best friends ever. And I love church so much because I get to go and learn about Jesus’s life and how He gave up His own life for our lives. And our teachers are the best because they always do their best to explain our work or assignments.” – Isabel Kranke, fourth grade, St. Mary’s School, Bryantown 

“One thing I like about my school is going to church. I like that we get the Eucharist and the songs. I also like the stained glass windows in the church. Also, I like the lights, because it’s very bright.” – Artwork and writing by Keaton Krahling, fifth grade, St. Mary’s School, Bryantown

“My favorite thing about my Catholic school is Mass and the community. Mass for me is a place to just be in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ and celebrate Him. My school community is loving, kind and welcoming to everyone into our school family. I never feel left out here at St. Mary’s in Bryantown. The staff is always there when you need help. The students care about each other. Our Lord Jesus Christ is everywhere throughout our school, and you see Him in others all throughout the school day.” – Hayden Watts, eighth grade, St. Mary’s School, Bryantown

 St. Peter’s School, Waldorf

Artwork by Jaela Roberts, seventh grade, St. Peter’s School, Waldorf, Maryland

Artwork by Anya Palmer, second grade, St. Peter’s School, Waldorf

Artwork by Cali Baldwin, second grade, St. Peter’s School, Waldorf

“Hanging out with my friends.” -- Artwork by Duke Costello, third grade, St. Peter’s School, Waldorf

St. Bartholomew Catholic School, Bethesda

“I love St. Bartholomew School because of many things, but my favorite thing is the friendships. All my friends at St. Bart’s are so kind and caring, they all make sure no one is alone at recess. We all get along so well and we all hang out at break. We all walk together to classes and lunch. That is why my favorite thing about St. Bart’s is the friendships.” – Artwork and writing by Claire Schreiber, sixth grade, St. Bartholomew Catholic School, Bethesda, Maryland

“There are many things I like about my Catholic school… Our school has us go to Mass every Friday, and has us do Masses on holy days of obligation and before holiday breaks. We also go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation and have a religion class in our school which brings us closer to God. Going to a Catholic school is a great experience for me, because I really love how it brings me closer to God. I love my Catholic school.” – Coco Chiu, sixth grade, St. Bartholomew Catholic School, Bethesda

“I like St. Bart’s because everybody is a great person there. The teachers are very nice and even make it fun to learn new things. Since everyone is so nice, it’s easy to make new friends. All around, St. Bartholomew School is an awesome school.” – Artwork and writing by Brennan Rump, sixth grade, St. Bartholomew Catholic School, Bethesda

“I like to go to Mass and serve at the altar.” – Daniel Delaney, fifth grade, St. Bartholomew Catholic School, Bethesda

“Something I like about my Catholic school is the community. I feel that the community bonds together at church.” – Artwork and writing by Sofia Delaney, seventh grade, St. Bartholomew Catholic School, Bethesda

“I like going to church. My friends are easy-going and everyone gets along with each other. My teachers are very nice… One thing that I really like about my school building is the style of it. Each building is made of dark red bricks and dark shingle roofs. The windows are all the same and look old-fashioned. There is a lot of space that is all being used well. The buildings feel warm and welcoming.” – Jack Dubinsky, sixth grade, St. Bartholomew Catholic School, Bethesda

“I’m a seventh grader at St. Bartholomew School, and I’ve been at this school for six years. My drawing is based on my friends. My friend Gabby has been my friend since second grade, and Grace has been my friend since sixth grade. We are all very close friends. We have had our ups and downs, but we always fixed the problems! I love my friends so much – they are the best. God really blessed me with them. They have helped me through tough times at St. Bart’s, and I’m very thankful for them. St. Bartholomew is a very happy school, and we are all like family. We all know each other’s names, and we all are friends. I'm really thankful for my teachers for helping me with homework and helping me until I understand what I’m doing.” – Artwork and writing by Ashley Sosa, seventh grade, St. Bartholomew Catholic School, Bethesda

St. Peter School, Capitol Hill

“What I enjoy most about the religion class is learning about Jesus!” – Artwork and writing by Michael Silvestro, first grade, St. Peter School, Capitol Hill

Artwork by Parker Miller, first grade, St. Peter School, Capitol Hill

Little Flower School, Great Mills

“We learn about God every day at Little Flower School, have fun activities on special days and occasions and serve God by being kind to one another.” – Artwork and writing by Taylor Lee, sixth grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills

“LFS doesn’t just stand for Little Flower School. It also means Learning, Faith, Service.  I also think it represents Loving, Family, Safety because the people here are loving, they are my school family, and our principal and teachers make sure everyone is safe.” –Samantha Bowes, sixth grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills

“I love Little Flower School because the teachers help me so much. We should appreciate our teachers for all the work they do for us.” – Valeria Campos, eighth grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills

“I love the people at Little Flower School and the amazing education I am receiving here.” – Sienna Johnson, eighth grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills

“I love Little Flower School because I get to see my friends and my teacher.  I really like learning about spelling.  My teacher is kind.  We wear jumpers to school.  I feel happy at LFS!” – Artwork and writing by Gia Nguyen, second grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills

“My favorite thing about Little Flower School is that we are able to attend Mass every week. We also get to go to Confession during Advent and Lent. The staff here creates a great environment for the whole school.” – Colt Keen, seventh grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills

“Little Flower School feels like home. When I come to school, I feel welcome. I feel safe here and I don’t have to worry about being hurt or left out. The teachers help me learn and teach me lots of new things. Everyone here is kind.”— Rylee Goddard, seventh grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills

“I love Little Flower School because I have nice friends and nice teachers. I get to school by bus. I really like learning math. My teacher is the best. My favorite part of school is P.E. We wear a red shirt and blue pants to school. I feel good at LFS!” – Artwork and writing by Madison Merrique, second grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills

“I love Little Flower School because every class is like a family. We make memories and laugh together. We learn how to follow the 10 commandments, to be respectful, and to treat others the way we want to be treated. Teachers greet students each day, and there are always smiles on everyone’s faces.” – Jenna Rowand, seventh grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills

“I love Little Flower School because I want to go to school. I get to school by truck. I like to go to gym. I like to work on my spelling. My teacher is super nice.” – Antonio Diaz, second grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills

Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons

“One thing I like about Catholic school is you get to learn about your religion… You also get to learn about the Mass. That class has inspired me to research other churches, Mass forms, vestments and religious leaders… I might even become a priest thanks to the seeds of faith that my school put into my head.” – Artwork and writing by Daniel DiBonaventuro, seventh grade, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons, Maryland

“I love my school because my teacher is so nice, and she helps me with everything I need, and I have so many friends and they play with me, and I’m glad we can learn all about God.” – Annie Barbour, third grade, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons

“I love that everyone is taught equally. We are taught about our faith with detail. We bond and watch out for each other. We learn and have fun activities. We learn to love and thank both God and each other.” – Nate Mekonnen, fifth grade, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons

“What I like about my school is that I have a privilege to go to a Catholic school and to learn about God… I like that they push us to do our best and don’t give up so we will be ready for life.” – Austin Parks, fifth grade, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons

“I love being able to go to church and learn about God and having friends, getting to know people and having the best teachers ever… I really love learning religion, it brings us all closer to God.” – Harper Hutchins, sixth grade, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons

Artwork by Stella Bailey, fifth grade, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons, Maryland

“I like my Catholic school because I get to go to Mass on Wednesday. I get to see Jesus and pray to Him. I love God so much, so I go to Catholic school.” – Jeff Riggs, third grade, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons

“What I love about my Catholic school is the environment. I love how we get to learn about our faith. I love how we are all friends. I like all the teachers. I have so much fun. I love learning every day. I am always excited to go to school.” – Graci King, eighth grade, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons

“Going to a Catholic school means many things to me. Putting me in a Catholic school has been the best thing my parents have ever done for me. At my Catholic school the teachers are super nice, and will always volunteer to help you if you need help. We also get to learn about Jesus, which you are not allowed to do at a public school. Another thing I like is that all of the kids here are super nice.” – Kaleb Smith, eighth grade, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons

“What I like about my school is the community. As time goes on and we move through the grades, our class stays together. We go to church every Wednesday and Adoration on Tuesdays. In fact, sometimes it feels more like a family than a school. That is why I like my Catholic school.” – Haley Hermann, seventh grade, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons

Drawings and writings sought for February Junior Saints

February is Black History Month. For the February Junior Saints, students are invited to draw a picture of an African American woman or man who made history, and write about what they admire about that person.  The drawings and writings should be emailed to ZimmermannM@adw.org by Friday Feb. 17, 2023 to Mark Zimmermann, the Catholic Standard's editor, and they should include the name, grade and school or parish of the student printed clearly.

Due to time constraints involved with reviewing the volume of submitted work, it is requested that schools or parish religious education programs limit their entries to 10 drawings and 10 writings from their students. The best formats to send are jpegs for artwork and word documents or pdfs for writing, if possible.  Thank you!