This past week, our school launched the morning “Walking Club.” This initiative goes beyond physical fitness and is an opportunity to create a sense of community and spiritual connection as a school.
Older students are assigned to be “Hallway Angels.” They assist the younger students as they drop off school items. Then, students are directed to go to our school gym to join friends in conversation and movement to start their day while being watchful that no one walks alone.
The students are then asked to join their classroom groups, where we stand and pray together, say the Pledge of Allegiance, and celebrate birthdays or other special occasions for the day. While grade levels leave, students are asked to sing a blessing to the departing class.
This is becoming a beloved part of our school’s culture, offering students and staff a unique opportunity to bond daily as a school community in prayer.
The goal is to help students feel connected to their school through prayer and conversation and maybe even discover new friendships. Studies show that when students feel connected, their test scores increase, and they stay in school longer. We hope that starting our day together with walking and prayer will allow our students to add a special memory while building a spiritual connection at SJB because we know that when we pray together and keep Jesus in our daily routine, we never really walk alone.
Founded in 1888, St. John the Baptist School is a Catholic school in Howard where students grow in relationship with Jesus Christ, pursue high levels of academics, and are surrounded by a community rooted in Christian values. Our staff is committed to developing the whole child by nurturing each child’s academic, emotional, spiritual and behavioral development. By partnering with parents, we aim to individualize student learning in a structured environment where students grow and succeed.
St. John the Baptist School is part of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System. It is a private Catholic school serving Preschool and Elementary through 8th grade (PK3-8) with open enrollment. St. John the Baptist provides an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually. For more information about St. John the Baptist Catholic School, visit their website at https://sjbhschool.org.
GRACE stands for Green Bay Area Catholic Education and is a nine-school system that provides excellence in preschool through twelfth-grade education and serves the 23 Catholic parishes within the Greater Green Bay community. GRACE schools range in offerings and locations, and each has its own distinct history, focus, and parish connections. GRACE is among the largest Catholic school systems in the state of Wisconsin. To learn more, visit gracesystem.org.
