By David Myers

Southwest Kansas Register

The entire student body of Sacred Heart Cathedral School in Dodge City roared with laughter in the school’s gymnasium Tuesday, Nov. 23, when Father Wesley Schawe, dressed in full nun’s habit, began reciting an opening prayer in his best Julia Child-like voice.

Ever the good sport, Father Schawe quickly calmed the laughing children down, and began to pray in earnest, officially opening the first ever Grateful Heart Assembly.

The Grateful Heart program was the brainchild of school principal Wayne Winkler, who sought ways in which students could tangibly recognize the good in each other. Students were asked to write on a "Grateful Heart Card" why they think a person is a blessing to the school. They were then asked to give the card to the person, who then turned it into the main office.

"The Grateful Heart program is a way to let people know that you are grateful for the good things they do at Sacred Heart School," Winkler wrote in a program flyer. "By looking for the good in others, we will make our school a loving and sacred place. We want to recognize volunteers, students, parents, staff, and friends of SHCS who make our school sacred."

Lori George, president of the home and school association and emcee for the event, told those gathered that the program was designed to help make the school a place where, by seeing the good in each other, they could create peace in their corner of the world. George later received an award for her involvement in the program.

Receiving the most Grateful Heart Cards were teacher Jennifer Milton, fourth grader Crystal Manriquez, and eighth grader Tegan Turley, who each were awarded a prize basket and a plaque.

Awarded honorable mention medals were: kindergartners Matthew Vogel and Rylan Allen; first graders Mark Lewis and RJ Cooper; second grader Jairo Morales; third graders Corey Pederson and Rachel Durley; fourth grader Sara Robinson; fifth graders Tylyn Shrader and Allan Sanchez; sixth graders Taylor Oldham and Jonae Enriquez; seventh graders Shannon Harrington and Rachel Wessel; and eighth grader Sydney Matheny.

Father Schawe was one of several teachers voted at the recent Halloween Fair to "perform an embarrassing act" in front of the entire class at the assembly. Also receiving such "honors" were teachers Robert Burcher and Mike Dunn, who, with the help of three cheerleaders, performed a dance routine dressed in their cheerleading best. Teachers Becky Ginther, dressed as a Christmas tree, and Nora Bertholf, dressed as a present, also gave a performance, drawing rousing belly laughs from the young audience.

Students watched a slide show set to music highlighting staff and students at the school, resulting in different groups of students erupting in laughter when a friend or teacher would appear on the large screen.

Following a jump-roping event in which nine eighth graders jumped rope at the same time earning the entire class a "non-uniform day" Dec. 17, students received rewards for sales they made to earn money for new playground equipment.