Holy Spirit School in Almaden is all set to celebrate national Catholic Schools Week and its theme of "a faith-filled future." The school will kick off its CSW activities on Jan. 24, with an open house at 3:30 p.m., followed by a Mass at Holy Spirit Church at 5 p.m. led by its new pastor, the Rev. Brendan McGuire.

The National Catholic Educational Association and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops established CSW in 1974 "to build community awareness of and involvement in Catholic schools throughout the country." Holy Spirit Principal Eileen Beck says it's traditional for the 8,000 Catholic schools nationwide to begin the observance of CSW with a liturgy. The open house, Beck adds, will allow parents of prospective students to visit Holy Spirit, the newest school in the Diocese of San Jose. The K­8 school opened in September 2000.

CSW continues on Jan. 27, with Community Appreciation Day. San Jose Vice Mayor Pat Dando, who represents Almaden on the city council, will present Beck with a commendation from the city at an 8 a.m. assembly.

Holy Spirit and the other schools in the San Jose diocese will mark Student Appreciation Day on Jan. 28, with the second annual benefit for the Diocesan School Scholarship Fund. The benefit is slated for 6 p.m. at the Fairmont Hotel in downtown San Jose.

Students from Holy Spirit will lead public tours of the campus, located at 1198 Redmond Ave., from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Jan. 27, and Jan. 29.

The school wraps up CSW on Jan. 30, with a visit from Bishop Patrick J. McGrath, followed by a Mass at Holy Spirit Church.

For more information on CSW activities at Holy Spirit, call 408.268.0794 or log on to www.holyspirit-school.org.

A fundraiser that's
easy to stomach

The Union Education Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports the Union School District, has joined with BJ's Restaurant in Oakridge Mall to start the "Cash for Kids" program. Through March 31, BJ's will donate 15 percent of diners' tabs to the foundation, which funds educational programs at the district's eight elementary and two middle schools. Diners must present a voucher from the foundation, available at www.usd-ef.org.