Fellowship and Field Day brought about 340 students to Sacred Heart Catholic School in Shawano on Wednesday.
The students were entertained by a Christian singer, played games and made new friends.
Sacred Heart Principal Elisha Wagenson said the students, amid the fun, were learning two key lessons: “It is for each student to recognize the unique quality that God has given them as an individual, and to recognize ways those qualities can be used to better themselves and the world around them in service.”
The event kicked off with a meet-and-greet for students from six area schools to establish common bonds and share stories of faith.
The goal was for students “to meet students from other Christian schools so that they can share their faith together and network with their peers,” Wagenson said.
The schools participating were Sacred Heart; St. James Lutheran, of Shawano; All Saints, of Antigo; St. Anthony’s, of Oconto Falls; St. Rose and St. Mary’s, of Clintonville; and Assumption BVM, of Pulaski.
San Francisco-based Christian singer Sam Kauffman, who got the students enthusiastically clapping and singing during her visit, was touched by their attitudes.
“The children were so wonderful to work with and they gave great answers, and I loved their singing,” Kauffman said. “So grateful for bringing together all of these schools so that they can get to know one another.”
The singer/songwriter/recording artist has been in the music industry for 22 years. She is known for her storytelling talents and has developed more than 50 theme-based programs based on Scripture.
Following Kauffman’s presentation, the school played a variety of games, including partner tag, where students paired up with a peer from another school; name-tag tag, where students greeted each other by name; a team game of rock, paper, scissors; and moon ball, during which students worked together to keep a beach ball in the air.
Sacred Heart athletic director Randy Panzer coordinated the games.
“This just allows kids to be silly and have fun,” he said. “As soon as they begin having fun, and being silly together, it is amazing how their communication opens up and how comfortable they are.
“The theme was to integrate and allow students to mingle with other schools and just use communication skills, meeting people face to face, and getting to know other students from the area.”
Wagenson would like to see the event continue.
“We are hoping that it will possibly become an annual event for the Catholic schools of the northern region of the Diocese of Green Bay,” she said.
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