Vocal and instrumental music students make up McAuley's Choir, Vocal Ensemble, Show Choir (with young men from LaSalle), and Orchestra. Each year McAuley drama performs one play in the fall, one in the winter, and one musical in the spring. Students enrolled in visual arts classes are frequently selected to exhibit their artwork in local venues.

Many school principals have discovered the power and potential of using school-wide themes to build school spirit, morale, camaraderie, and test scores. At Lewis Vincent Elementary School in Denham Springs, Louisiana, this year's theme is teamwork and the slogan is "We're On the Same Team." "Themes are a great way to coordinate all activities throughout the year," Vincent Elementary's principal, Carol Robertson, told Education World. "Our teachers and I choose a theme before we leave for the summer. That way,…