Next week is National Catholic Schools Week, but for St. Patrick’s School in Perry the festivities begin today.

At 4:30 p.m., there will be a special Mass at St. Patrick’s Church, with students participating in principal roles. Then starting Monday, the school will host activities throughout the week, with the theme of: “Learn, Serve, Lead, and Success.” One event in particular will happen on Wednesday, where the daily theme is “Celebrate the Nation.” Students will be allowed to wear red, white, and blue to school, and will be able to help create gift packages to be sent to the military outfit of St. Pat’s parent, First Sergeant Chris Cromwell.

Students are asked to bring travel-size containers of several items, including: toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, individual bagged tissues, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, chapstick, aspirin, and deodorant. As a reminder, classes will be dismissed at 11 a.m. on Wednesday because the teachers and staff will be attending Mass in Des Moines in honor of Catholic Schools Week. There will be no bus service and no childcare offered on Wednesday.