By DIANE GASPER-O'BRIEN

dobrien@dailynews.net

Alexis Ralph had her hands full Wednesday, and then some. And she didn't seem to mind a bit.

Three youngsters clung to Ralph as they made their way down a crowded hallway at Thomas More Prep-Marian High School, two in front tugging at her skirt and the third following behind with her arms around Ralph's waist.

Students in kindergarten through 12th grade were giddy as they changed sessions during activities for Catholic Schools Week involving TMP and the two Catholic elementary schools in Ellis County -- Holy Family in Hays and St. Mary in Ellis.

Two of the kindergartners from Holy Family climbed onto Ralph's lap as they sat on a flight of steps and waited for the student center to clear out from the previous session.

Older students often get a lot of attention from the visiting youngsters during Catholic Schools Week, but this particular high school senior was extra special to Madelyn Rozean and Emma Basgall.

Ralph teaches the two girls in a dance class Tuesdays at Jackie Creamer's Vision Dance Company.

Officials from the three schools had met and divided the 600-plus students into several smaller groups for the activity at midweek.

Ralph was pleased when she looked at the list and saw a couple of familiar names.

"I told (Madelyn and Emma) in dance class that they were in my group, and they were pretty excited," Ralph said.

Ralph, who had two older sisters graduate from TMP, said she remembers that same anticipation for CSW when she attended Holy Family.

"I was always very excited about this day," she said, admitting it's now almost as much fun being on the other end. "I love it when they come over. It's fun to see them enjoy it so much."

The groups were set up in three different rotations -- watching a portion of the program that will be performed by the TMP Singers at their annual dinner show this weekend; activities in several different rooms around the building; and lunch in the cafeteria.

Jana Simon, principal at Holy Family, said her students start talking about the trip to TMP weeks before Catholic Schools Week, anticipating hanging out with the older students.

"Even the ones they don't know, by the end of the day, it's like their big brother or big sister," Simon said. "They'll talk about this day for the rest of the school year."

CSW activities will continue today and Friday for three Catholic schools in the county.

The final event in Hays will be Friday night, called "Future Monarch Night" at TMP's Al Billinger Fieldhouse, where the Monarch basketball teams will host Scott City. Students with passes that were handed out at the local schools will be admitted free to the game and receive a free pop and popcorn.