By Sue Kiesewetter
Enquirer contributor

A Faith-Filled Future is the theme of this year's Catholic Schools Week, which ends Saturday. Several schools are hosting open houses or doing special service projects in observance. A sampling of activities:

Kindergarten teacher Sara Tepe works with Matthew Rose, 6, as he learns how to use "measuring cubes" at St. Joseph Academy, Walton. (Patrick Reddy photo)

Fairfield: Sacred Heart School, 400 Nilles Road, open house 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday. Students are being asked to bring nonperishable food items that will be given to the Open Door Pantry and to parishioners. Coats will be collected through Thursday and given to children at Madison Elementary in Hamilton.

Glendale: St. Gabriel Consolidated School, 18 W. Sharon Ave., will host an open house for current and prospective families 7-9 p.m. Wednesday. Visitors can view student artwork, meet teachers and other St. Gabriel families.

Hamilton: Students at Stephen T. Badin High School can buy an "Out of Uniform" button, with proceeds going to support the Catholic Inner-City Schools Education Fund. After school Thursday, student volunteers will clean up the grounds inside and out.

Mason: St. Susanna School, 500 Reading Road, open house, 7 p.m. Thursday.

Mount Healthy: Assumption School, 1500 McMakin Ave., open house 6:30-8 p.m. Thursday.

Sharonville: St. Michael School, 11136 Oak St., open house, 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

McAuley High hosts motivational speaker

COLLEGE HILL - McAuley High School will host a presentation by motivational speaker Matthew Kelley. He will speak at 10 a.m. Thursday in the school's auditorium, 6000 Oakwood Ave.

He will talk about putting into context the teachings of Jesus Christ while facing the challenges of our modern world. Kelley, an native of Sydney, Australia, has published eight books.

The New School offers annual open house

NORTH AVONDALE - The New School, 3 Burton Woods Lane, will hold its annual open house from 2-4 p.m. Sunday for families interested in learning more about the program. The school offers full-day Montessori education for children ages 3-12. Information: 281-7999.

St. Henry High conducts first raffle

ERLANGER - St. Henry District High School is holding its first raffle to support the school and five feeder elementary schools.

First prize is a two-year lease of a 2004 Jeep Wrangler "X" or PT Cruiser Touring Edition, or $8,000. Second prize is a trip to Acapulco.

Tickets, $5, are on sale through March 6.

Elementary schools that will share in proceeds are Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mary Queen of Heaven, St. Henry Grade School, St. Paul and St. Joseph Academy.

For more information, call (859) 525-0255.

Our Lady of Lourdes teacher certified

WESTWOOD - Our Lady of Lourdes fifth-grade teacher Anita Brackmann recently received National Board Certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

The achievement is recognized at the national, state and local levels as a benchmark for teacher quality.

Purcell Marian High plans boosters event

EAST WALNUT HILLS - The Cavalier Athletic Boosters will hold a Monte Carlo Night, 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Saturday, at Purcell Marian High School, 2935 Hackberry St. Tickets are $10. Information: 751-1230.

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E-mail private school news to suek@infionline.net or fax to 755-4150.