AUGUSTA — St. Michael School plans to celebrate Catholic Schools Week, Monday through Saturday, Jan. 30-Feb. 5, according to a news release from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland.

The school community will participate in a major service project for the Augusta Food Bank, donating items on the food bank’s wish list including canned pasta, canned cord, mayonnaise, vegetable oil, baked beans, canned soup, cereal bars, and juice boxes. Established in 1981, the food bank serves an average of 350 households on site.

On Tuesday, reading and writing will take center stage on “Drop Everything and Read Day,” an event that will feature a visit from Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Barbara Walsh, who will read and talk to the students about how she finds and crafts her stories.

Walsh has worked for newspapers and magazines in Florida, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire and Ireland. Her book, “Sammy in the Sky,” is illustrated by painter Jamie Wyeth and was inspired by her family’s first dog, Sam, who died in 2004.

Walsh is also the author of “August Gale: A Father and Daughter’s Journey into the Storm,” an adult biography and memoir. Her published children’s books include “The Goose Lady” and “Rhoda’s Rescue.”

Students will also go head to head in a number of trivia competitions during the week. Themes range from music to books to the holidays. There will also be athletic contests such as four square and hula hoop showdowns.

A spelling bee will be held on Monday and a geography bee is set for Thursday. The students will also write thank you notes for priests and participate in an animal photo contest. The school’s parent association will host a staff appreciation lunch on Friday.

Students will be able to enjoy clothing-theme days as well, including Tie Dye Dress Down Day, What You Will Look Like at 100 Day, Favorite Sports Team Day, Favorite Holiday Colors Day, and Dress Like a Superhero Day.

For more information about Catholic education in Maine, visit mainecatholicschools.com.

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