“What I think is really cool about morning prayer is that we have the chance to take on a leadership role,” stated London, an eighth grade student at the Upper Campus. London is specifically referring to the weekly Wacky Wednesday.
“ Yes,” added Evy, a current seventh grader. “ And with all the new activities, like Trivia Tuesday, it is definitely more inclusive and the students are much more involved by leading and participating in all the activities.”
Wacky Wednesday? Tuesday Trivia?
While gearing up for the new school year back in August of 2024, the Upper Campus faculty decided to change up their all school morning prayer in the gym in a few different ways. With the goal of making that time together more communal and participatory, planning began. First faculty chose to center daily prayer on the liturgical year with the target of highlighting the “why” of the liturgical seasons, events, and feast days. In an effort to engage all students, Trivia Tuesday and Wacky Wednesday were born.
Now, each Tuesday, prayer culminates with a trivia question based on what students learned the week prior during morning prayer. On Wednesdays, an appropriate Catholic kid joke is shared. On both days, students quickly gather around their homeroom teachers, vote on an answer, and then take turns announcing their responses. You would think there would be only one answer to the weekly wacky, but often times grades are given extra points for creativity in the answers shared. There have been some pretty amazing answers that showed higher level thinking and connections to the religious knowledge our students have.
Wanting activities for the remaining days of the week, Movement Monday, Fun Friday, and Theology Thursday were created.
On Theology Thursdays, the message of the daily Gospel is shared before students head up to Mass. Along with sharing the message, students are asked to give examples of how they can live that message at home and at school in the year 2025. Previewing the Gospel makes for a good foundation before Mass begins, and it encourages confidence in answering questions that Fr. Ayub, Fr. Christopher, Monsignor Ed, or any visiting priest may ask during homilies.
Movement Monday and Fun Friday round out the week. Movement Monday is anything from whole group Simon Says, Would you Rathers, or cheering on a friend as classes take turns with a quick game of Lightening. Fun Friday is a minute to win it type of class competition. One class goes each week as the rest of the student body cheers on.
As staff members take monthly turns creating the liturgical year content for the prayer portion of our morning get together, a newly formed prayer team comprised of seventh and eighth grade volunteers help out, too. Eighth graders Fletch and Lily often lead us in prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and daily announcements that include celebrating birthdays. As mentioned above, London and Evy lead the trivia and wacky joke portions.
“Everything is fun. I’m always wondering what’s going to be the new challenge on each Friday,” shared Madelyn, a new member of the team. Because of her curiosity, she is going to take over planning the “fun” on Fun Fridays come February.
Andrew sets up each morning, and Jesus is soon to take on that responsibility. As Andrew contemplates his next move on the prayer committee, he reflects, “ It’s just been a fun way to start each day together this school year.”
