Student Life at Saint Elizabeth of Hungary

Saint Elizabeth of Hungary exposes students to a rigorous and inclusive curriculum in the classroom. Additionally, students have many opportunities to expand their education and use their talents outside of the classroom with the following activities:

Faith Formation

Religion is taught in all classrooms on a daily basis where children explore and strengthen their relationship with Jesus Christ. Children receive opportunities to develop their faith through a variety of service activities. Here are some recent examples:

+ Sending school supplies to students and funds to build a water tower in Uganda
+ Penny Wars and Quarter Mile collection for Holy Childhood Association
+ Donating socks to the homeless
+ Collecting food and toiletries for Saint Vincent de Paul Society

Students in grades 1-8 attend Mass each Wednesday morning; the TK & Kindergarten class joins them monthly and on special holy days. Once a month our school families join the parish community to celebrate Sunday Mass. Students participate in the Stations of the Cross during Lent.

Students in grades 4-8 are invited to be altar servers, assisting priests during the Mass. Students in second grade are prepared to make their First Reconciliation in March and First Holy Communion in May.

Extra-Curricular Activities

Students have the opportunity to participate in a variety of extracurricular activities based on their grade level. Some of these opportunities are described below

Chess Club – meets weekly to learn techniques and tips for improving students’ chess skills. Children of all ages and skill levels are welcome.

Academic Decathlon – is open to 6th-8th grade students. Under the guidance and tutelage of teachers and parents, students compete in ten events. Two are collaborative team efforts – a logic quiz with 20 rigorous thinking problems, and a super quiz with 50 multiple choice questions on five broad academic themes. The remaining eight events test individual knowledge of the Roman Catholic doctrine, English, Literature, Science, Mathematics, Current Events, Social Studies, and Fine Arts (Art and Music). Awards are given for individual and team performance, and the winning school team from each geographic diocese competes in the annual state championship.

Dance Production Group – Students in grades 2‐8 have the opportunity to augment their growth and experience of the arts program through the dance arts. The primary goal of the dance‐arts program is to provide opportunities for students to learn about and explore a wide variety of dance forms as they stay fit and enjoy a community that shares their interests and joy in movement. Students will showcase their talents at a dance production that takes place in the spring.

Choir – is open to students in grades 3rd through 8th. The choir sings at school Masses and provide students an opportunity to express their faith through music.

Yearbook team – is led by staff. It produces a keepsake annually, full of pictures representing the activities and events that students have engaged in during the year.

Musical Theater – under the guidance of Ms. Kathy Jordan and Lisa Bennett, produce a Christmas play and full-length spring musical each year. Students create the sets and learn the art of makeup application. Students can participate behind the scenes as members of the stage crew, or on stage in a variety of roles. Past performances include Bye, Bye Birdie (2018), Fiddler on the Roof (2017), and South Pacific (2016).

Student Council

Junior High students are elected to Student Council each spring, to serve the following school year. Student Council is responsible for a variety of activities throughout the year, including: Leading weekly assemblies, planning and carrying out special assemblies such as the Halloween Parade and Teacher Appreciation, acting as ambassadors for the school, planning spirit week, fundraising and planning a dance for the junior high student. Student council members are held to a high standard as leaders of the student body.

Sports

Saint Elizabeth Parish School participates in the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) after school sports program. CYO Athletics endeavors to help young people be more Christ-like in the way they live.The programs focus on the total development of participants in order to influence the formation of Christian values.

St. Elizabeth Parish School, 1840 N. Lake Avenue, Altadena, (626) 797-7727 or visit www.saint-elizabeth.org.