This week is National Catholic Schools Week and the event is being celebrated in Ironton’s parochial schools, St. Lawrence Elementary and St. Joseph High School.

The theme this year is dividends for life: faith, knowledge, morals and discipline.

Today begins with a prayer service. Later, students will make Valentines to give to nursing home residents. The high school students will visit the grade school and present the younger students with special buttons they will wear all week.

On Tuesday, magician Gary Booth will entertain elementary students.

Wednesday is grandparents day at St. Lawrence.

The grandparents are invited to a doughnut breakfast and then to spend the day at the school with the kids.

“We’ll have a crowd,” St. Lawrence secretary Sally Cannon said. “The grandparents love to visit. I think they enjoy it as much as the kids do.”

Both school will join for a pep rally Wednesday afternoon.

St. Lawrence students will have an academic fair Thursday as well as a teacher open house at 6 p.m.

On Friday there will be a combined Mass. Grade schoolers will join older students at the high school for a special presentation.

St. Lawrence students will also be treated to ice cream sundaes.

There will also be a book fair at the elementary school all week.