The first COR event of the school year was held at Queen of Peace
High School in Burbank, IL, on Thursday September 30, 2004.
Students from across Chicagoland filled the Little Theater for a
sprinkling-ritual and prayer led by Christie Billups of Notre Dame
High School for Girls.
Students then watched the performance of a play called MORE THAN
YOU CAN SEE. The cast were from Queen of Peace High School. The
8 actors presented stories of teens who were judged on surface appearances
and stereotypes. The play revealed the truth that we are a lot more
than what can be seen from surface appearances.
MORE THAN YOU CAN SEE was written by Megan Carney
and developed frorm real-life stories of high school students who
insist that they are more than they can see. These true stories
dealt with race, culture, ability and disability, sexual orientation
and physical appearance.
After the play, students broke into small groups
for break-our discussion sessions and their responses to the play
and its themes. The students explored their own experiences in relation
to the play's themes and also unpacked the message of each of the
characters in the play and their powerful messages.
The discussions continued as the students and teachers
adjourned to the cafeteria for supper.
The evening ended in a final prayer service. Each discussion group
of students presented their own prayerful conclusions to the whole
assembly :
"We are so much more than
you can see. We are ......"
Because you are more
than you can see, we will ......."
The gathering included students and faculty from
21 schools in the Archdiocese of Chicago. There were over 130 participants
in this COR Play-Supper-Event. There were some requests by teachers
for a touring performance of the play at their own location in the
future.