Sacred Heart School in Pana is in the Christmas spirit in both a secular and religious sense.  Daily religious services carry out all of the advent-related customs, and students are encouraged to incorporate the Christmas spirit in their everyday lives during and beyond the season.  Faculty and staff look to strike the right balance between the fun aspects of Christmas and the deeper meaning behind the holiday. 

Grace Holthaus is an administrative intern at Sacred Heart School.  She says faith-related lessons are taught in the classroom throughout the day.

Holthaus adds that the school uses holiday-themed activities to advance its goal of building a sense of community inside and outside of the building’s walls.

Sacred Heart School’s Christmas traditions over the years have led to many memories for those who have witnessed many of them.  Principal Deb Zueck – who has been at the school for over two decades – recalls one such story of one of the school’s customs and how a young student took action. 

Holthaus and Zueck were not the only ones to speak.  They invited ten students to speak on their favorite parts of Christmas.  Three kindergartners and two first-graders shared their Christmas wishes.  They include health, happiness, and toys. 

Five second-graders took part to share their thoughts on the holiday, as well.  They spoke about decorating the Christmas tree and living the holiday’s values. 

Sacred Heart School is located at 3 East Fourth Street in Pana.  More information is available at www.shspana.com.

Grace Holthaus, Deb Zueck, and ten students appeared as guests on the WTIM Pana Morning Show.