A Closer Look at Service: Living Our Faith During Catholic Schools Week

At St. Mary’s of the Annunciation School in Danvers, service is deeply ingrained in our Catholic tradition. But this year, during Catholic Schools Week, we took service to a new level – not just by giving, but by truly understanding what it means to serve.

Service isn’t new to our school family. From writing cards and raising funds to collecting food
and clothing, our students have always been dedicated to helping others. Yet this year, we
decided to make service something deeper – something more personal. We wanted our students to see firsthand the incredible work being done in our community and to understand how their own actions can make a real difference.

The Heart of Service: Gratitude and Giving

As Catholic Schools Week approached, we reflected on our school’s core tenets – Scholarship, Service, and Self-Discipline. We chose to place particular emphasis on Service, inspired by
Christ’s example and the values of our Catholic faith, culminating in a service-focused
experience that allowed our students to truly witness and engage in service in action.
We came up with the idea to visit different organizations and businesses that serve others in our community – to show our gratitude for their work and to help them in whatever ways we could.
What made this initiative so special was that it wasn’t just about giving from a distance, but
about being present, engaging directly with those who dedicate their lives to helping others.

A Day of Service and Gratitude

On the day of the service project, our PreK students crafted handwritten notes and delivered
cookies and flowers to several administrators throughout the school, spreading joy and gratitude
within our own community. Meanwhile, our Kindergarten through Grade 8 students boarded
buses—an exciting adventure for many—and set off across the North Shore to visit key
community service organizations, bringing with them notes, cards, snacks, and gifts to express
their appreciation. The students made stops at several local institutions, including:

Danvers and Peabody Fire Stations
Danvers and Peabody Police Departments
Danvers DPW
Partner School Bishop Fenwick High School
Beverly Bootstraps
Danvers People to People Food Bank

Students were given the opportunity to tour facilities, engage in hands-on activities, and meet the dedicated people who serve others every day. They witnessed firsthand how these institutions work tirelessly to support our community, whether it’s through providing sustenance, educating our youth, protecting us, or offering critical services to those in need.

A New Perspective on Service

While our school is no stranger to service projects – from writing cards and fundraising, to food and clothing donations – this project offered something uniquely impactful. It gave our students an up-close, personal view of what service truly looks like. It wasn’t just about donating goods or raising money; it was about stepping into the shoes of those who serve and learning how we can be part of that service, too.

“Our students were able to see what it takes to help others, not just from the outside but up
close,” said Principal Gabbianelli. “This was an eye-opening experience. It made the idea of
service more tangible and real. It was a special, memorable day that truly brought the Virtue of Service to life.”

As the day came to a close, the students reflected on what they had learned. Many shared how inspiring it was to see people who give so much to help others, and how they felt moved to give back in whatever ways they could. “It was amazing to see the students realize just how much these men and women do for our community,” said 4th-grade teacher Mrs. Armstrong. “I don’t think they fully understood until they saw it firsthand,” said Mrs. Armstrong. “The workers were genuinely touched by the thank-you notes and how much it meant for a group of students to take the time to express their gratitude. It truly made them feel appreciated.”

Service as a Way of Life

This service project not only reinforced our school’s tenet of Service but also highlighted the
importance of gratitude and active involvement. Through their visits and interactions, our
students learned that service is not just about donating; it’s about being present, showing
appreciation, and making a difference in the lives of others.
The impact of this day will continue to be felt in our school community as students carry forward the lessons they’ve learned. This initiative, rooted in our Catholic faith and the teachings of Jesus, reinforced the message that serving others is a calling – one that each of us can answer in big and small ways every day. As Jesus said in Matthew 25:40, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
Our students now have a deeper understanding of how service is at the heart of what it means to be a disciple of Christ, and we are confident that this experience will inspire them to continue living out the Virtue of Service long after Catholic Schools Week has ended.

St. Mary of the Annunciation School 14 Otis Street, Danvers, MA 01923
stmaryschooldanvers.org 978 774-0307

Founded by Cardinal Cushing in 1958 and staffed by the Sisters de Notre Dame de Namur
Current Enrollment: 317 students from 30 greater Northshore of Boston Communities

Principal: Ms. Erica Gabbianelli
Vice Principal: Mr. Ryan Walsh

Our Mission

St. Mary of the Annunciation School creates a welcoming atmosphere in the Catholic tradition
where faith and knowledge meet to provide a sound foundation for life-long learning. We
empower each child to reach their full potential through an experience that promotes
scholarship, service and self-discipline