A stroll down the red carpet and the Walk of Fame await visitors at St. Gregory Catholic School next week, as long as they do it in six strokes or less.

Hollywood is one of nine themed miniature golf holes designed and created by students to celebrate Catholic Schools Week.

"This started out as a fundraiser idea that we can use every year," said Lori Maloney, event organizer and parent of three children at St. Gregory.

"I know the kids are very excited since they get to decorate the holes."

Each one is a 12-by-8-foot dogleg set up in the school gym. The course will be open to the public Feb. 2 and 3 for $3 per round. A concession stand will also be open.

St. Gregory is among nearly 8,000 Catholic schools across the nation that will celebrate Catholic Schools Week from Jan. 28 to Feb. 3. The theme is "Catholic Schools: The Good News in Education."

The event began in 1974 and is a joint project of the National Catholic Educational Association and the United States Catholic Conference, according to the Diocese of Pittsburgh's Department for Catholic Schools.

In Washington, a delegation of Catholic school students, teachers and parents will visit Capitol Hill to meet with congressional leaders to promote Catholic schools.

Butler Catholic School has been celebrating the event since its inception, said Sister John Ann Mulhern, principal.

"It really is unique to see how every year, Catholic Schools Week always centers on students," she said.

The Pittsburgh diocese represents the fourth-largest district in the state, serving about 28,000 students in 100 pre-K through elementary and 12 secondary schools, according to the Diocese of Pittsburgh.

"It's important because we believe in Catholic education and we know that academically, we're a very, very strong school and we want other people to know that," Sister Mulhern said.

To promote the school, Sister Mulhern said the week is filled with different events for parents and visitors, including special church services, an open house for incoming kindergartners and lunch with students.

Students have activities each week ranging from a pep rally to crazy hat and sock day to a talent show. The week culminates in the Butler Catholic challenge for seventh and eighth graders, where they spend the night together doing team-building activities.

A similar schedule is in place at Holy Sepulcher School in Middlesex Township, which has also celebrated Catholic Schools Week since the 1970s, said Jacki Delaney, principal.

Every year, the school assigns a family project, she said. This year, they were directed to create and decorate a Bible cover using felt and other materials to reflect the "good news" theme.

At the open house on Saturday, each family will receive a New American Bible to put inside the cover.

Students also created thank you notes to pass out to parishioners, acknowledging their support of the school.

"Some of the parishioners that don't get a chance to see the children every day really appreciate it and the children really enjoy it," Delaney said.

"Catholic education is truly a celebration of not only the students but of our faith. It is so important to show what we do and how we do it."

Holy Sepulcher bases its week on meeting the needs of families and students, as well as illustrating how special the family is, she added.

"We hope people can join us in truly spreading the good news."

In addition to fun, Sister Mulhern said the week's activities encourage students to think about the importance of attending Catholic school.

"Over the years, kids are coming to realize more and more that there's more to life than just academic learning," she said.

"The kids want something to hold on to and, hopefully, we're giving them that."