Clubs & Activities

St. Rose is home to many clubs, which run at various times throughout the year.

Students of varying ages play instruments — Students rehearse in after-school Band

Basketball Clinics
ArtSmart
Cheer
Volleyball
Band Lessons
Girl Scout Daisies
Theater
Chess Club
Finance Club
Student Council
Newspaper Club
Cooking Club
Lego Club
Homework Club

Our curriculum includes academic enrichment programs with components in and out of the classroom designed to reinforce in-class lessons and apply concepts to real-world challenges. Among the programs featured:

Invention Convention (Grades 4-5)
Knights of Columbus Spelling Bee, (Grades 4-6)
National Geography Bee (Grades 4-8)
St. Rose of Lima School is also host to Boy Scouts Troops, which integrate a faith-based aspect to their goals and activities.

Sacraments & Service

The highlight of the week is Friday Mass. At 9:00 a.m. students in grades Kindergarten to 8th grade meet in the church to share in the Liturgy. Each week classes take turns being readers, gift bearers and leaders of song. Students also assist as altar servers. Our Principal is present at Friday Mass, and many school families join us, which makes it a very special time for our school community.

We also celebrate Holy Days together and have special liturgies for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. Another highlight of the year is Grandparents/Special Persons Day, which begins with a beautiful Mass, filling the church with all the people our students hold dear.

Students and grades 3 through 8 receive the sacrament of Reconciliation during school twice a year and gather in the church as a school community to pray the Stations of the Cross during Lent.

St. Rose School students receive preparation for the following sacraments:

First Reconciliation -- 2nd Grade

First Holy Communion -- 2nd Grade

Confirmation -- a 2-year preparation period starting in 6th grade

Our students are blessed to have religion class as part of their daily curriculum; we also participate in a variety of service outreaches as a school community, including food drives, coat drives, a mission drive to support needy children in Ghana, among many others.

Dozens of cereal boxes are arranged like dominos in a spiral — Giant domino spiral made from cereal boxes collected for the Faith Food Pantry

Sister Thaddeus, a member of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, teaches 6th and 7th grade religion and plans our weekly Liturgies and all school retreats. She also runs the Lenten Mission every year and prepares students one-on-one who receive their sacraments at a unique time. Her presence is a gift to our community.

Our Pastor, Fr. Peter Cipriani, is very involved with the school community; he is a great support to the Principal and is a big proponent of our students and families.

Mentorship & Traditions

The Buddy program sets St. Rose School apart. We pair upper grade students with younger students for a variety of activities including service outreaches, school events, and Friday Masses. The beauty of the Buddy program is that younger students look up to older students and older students take on the responsibility of being role models. Buddies wave to each other in the halls, support each other on special occasions like First Communion and Confirmation and are invested in each other’s well-being. The Buddy program underscores the powerful dynamic of being part of a preschool–8th grade school environment.

Preschool students do a coloring craft around a table with their middle school buddies

Traditions are an integral part of St. Rose School life, encouraging school spirit, family bonding, alumni relations, community connections and so much more. Here are some of our favorite things to do throughout the year:

Newtown Labor Day Parade/St. Rose School Themed Float

We kick off the new school year with families getting together to build a float that is part of Newtown’s famous Labor Day parade. Our principal, pastor, parents, and students ride the float wearing the school colors, red and white, and showing great spirit.

Pumpkin Bowl

A friendly game of flag football between the two 8th grade classes. The 7th grade class comes up with cheers, and the rest of the school lines the sidelines wearing their chosen team's colors. It’s an exciting afternoon for faculty, students and visiting friends.

The 12 Days of Christmas

After the school-wide Christmas Mass celebration, all grades participate in singing “The 12 Days of Christmas.” Each class is assigned a day, which they excitedly shout as the rounds go on.

Christmas Buddy Bingo

Following the festive song, everyone heads back to the school for a lively game of BINGO, buddy style.

Catholic Schools Week

During this time we express all of the benefits of being part of a Catholic School. We have a spirited pep rally, a breakfast with town leaders, a school-wide Knowledge Bowl, a day of service including honoring our bus drivers, upper grade students leading a story and craft time at the town library, and a beautiful school Mass. Our Home & School Association provides treats throughout the week for our teachers.

4 students wearing shirts of different colors stand at a table — Students participate in the Knowledge Bowl during Catholic Schools Week

Additional traditions:

Family Bonfire
Trunk or Treat
International Week
Sweetheart dance
Grandparents/Special Persons Day
Field Day
Preschool, Kindergarten and 8th Grade graduations

3 women dance in traditional Peruvian dresses in front of a student audience — Dancers perform a traditional dance from Peru for International Week