Faith Life And Curriculum

Faith Life and Curriculum

St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Schools

2008-2009

Nothing More Beautiful…

“There is nothing more beautiful than knowing Jesus Christ and telling others of our friendship with him”

Benedict XVI

NMB banner, Fr. Lacombe

Faith Life and Curriculum

Goals and Outcomes

Challenges Successes Future Directions

DIVISION GOAL: PROVIDE OPPORTUNTIES FOR ALL MEMBERS OF THE DIVISION TO ENCOUNTER JESUS CHRIST

Outcome D.1: Schools have an explicit Catholic Christian environment.

Outcome D.2: Schools are partners in evangelization and Christian formation.

Outcome D.3: Schools incorporate church teaching into all curricular areas. Mass at St. Augustine

School

Outcome D.1: Schools have an explicit Catholic Christian environment.

Challenges: How do all stakeholders

perceive “environment”? “Explicit Catholic Christian?”

Chapels: Lack of physical space Lack of use

Communication of the vision of Catholic culture

Scale of Priorities

Lenten celebration at Notre Dame School with Fr. Mike

Outcome D.1: Schools have an explicit Catholic Christian environment. Successes

Religious Education Committee attending admin sessions on “Architects of Catholic Culture.”

Creation of a ‘blueprint for Catholic culture.

New Teacher workshop on classroom environment.

Values visioning at St. Anthony, Sacred Heart, Holy Trinity, St. Benedict.

Creation of chapel space (St. Augustine Primary)

Classroom prayer tables at CTK top priority

Use of electric candles Grade one Resurrection Eggs, Use of the resource library.

Chapel at Holy Trinity Academy

Outcome D.1: Schools have an explicit Catholic Christian environment.

Future DirectionsContinue formation of

administrators with Architects of Catholic Culture and blueprint guide.

Add Catholic Christian environment as part of the classroom walkthroughs.

St. Augustine high school students wearing “Nothing More Beautiful” toques

Morning prayer at Father Lacombe

Outcome D.2: Schools are partners in evangelization and Christian formation.

ChallengesFunding for formation

experiencesTime out of curriculumPreconceived notions of

religious experienceCTS program at Newman

College cut

St. Benedict students’ field trip to St. Michael’s parish

Celebrating Candlemas at Fr. Lacombe

Outcome D.2: Schools are partners in evangelization and Christian formation.

Successes: Examples of STAR prayer experiences published

in Embrace the Spirit Eight of our nine schools have student

retreats. Eight of our nine schools had staff retreats 20 staff attended SPICE. Seven were

facilitators 9 attended Blueprints. 16 completing the CTS program from Newman;

two enrolled in graduate programs. Staff lead student retreats (Father Lacombe, St.

Augustine, St. Anthony, St. Benedict) Other schools have retreats from other groups.

The Edge program (parish based led by Jordan Robinson)

Sacred Heart “SPICE” program, RCIC Father Lacombe.

Board-parish “book club” on Catholic evangelization.

Fr. Tony Ricard at Sacred Heart School

“STARS” at SPICE 2009

Outcome D.2: Schools are partners in evangelization and Christian formation.

Future Directions Explore chaplaincy in

our high schools. All schools to have

staff retreats Fish! for schools Values Visioning. Staff morning

prayer/Bible share.

CTK students at Providence Retreat Centre

Thanksgiving celebration at St. Anthony School

Outcome D.3: Schools incorporate church teaching into all curricular areas.

Challenges:Formation of staff on Church

teaching.Narrow definition of

“permeation.”Competing prioritiesDifficult to assessDifficult to differentiate the

needs of adult learners.How do I provide central

support?

Shared reading, St. Benedict School

Outcome D.3: Schools incorporate church teaching into all curricular areas.

Successes: Social Studies, Literacy and faith-

teacher tool kits St. Augustine teachers required to

provide a permeation goal in their professional growth plan.

NCEA resources Performance based assessments in

grades 1-3 All learner outcomes on Rubicon Atlas Sacred Heart teacher developing Prolife

kit for schools.

Anne Bourassa, 2009 recipient of CCSSA’s Excellence in Catholic Education award.

Outcome D.3: Schools incorporate church teaching into all curricular areas.

Future Directions New RS 20 text resource and

curriculum New K-9 syllabus for religion District wide report card will mean

consistency in reporting of progress in RS.

Grade 6-9 workshops on literacy and the social teaching of the Church.

Senior High Science, St. Augustine School

Nothing More Beautiful