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Schoolwide Spiritual Plan
Objectives:
  1. Deepen the understanding and practice of Catholic faith among students, staff, and families.
  2. Integrate Catholic teachings and values into all aspects of school life.
  3. Promote a culture of service and social justice.
  4. Foster a supportive and inclusive community where every member feels valued and respected.
  5. Encourage personal spiritual growth and development.

Key Components:
  1. Faith Formation and Education
    • Religious Education Curriculum: Implement a comprehensive curriculum that covers Catholic doctrine, scripture, sacraments, and moral teachings.
    • Daily Prayer: Incorporate prayer into the daily routine, including morning prayers, grace before meals, and end-of-day reflections.
    • Sacramental Preparation: Provide programs for the preparation of sacraments such as First Communion, Reconciliation, and Confirmation.
    • Retreats and Spiritual Days: Organize annual retreats and spiritual days for students, staff, and families to deepen their faith.
  2. Liturgical Life
    • School Masses: Celebrate regular school-wide Masses, including special liturgical celebrations for major feast days and Holy Days of Obligation.
    • Prayer Services: Conduct prayer services and liturgies for significant events, such as the beginning and end of the school year, Advent, Lent, and other special occasions.
    • Adoration and Rosary: Offer opportunities for Eucharistic Adoration and praying the Rosary, fostering a deeper connection with Christ.
  3. Service and Social Justice
    • Service Projects: Organize regular service projects and outreach programs to support local, national, and global communities in need.
    • Social Justice Education: Integrate Catholic social teaching into the curriculum and extracurricular activities, highlighting issues such as poverty, human rights, and environmental stewardship.
    • Mission Trips: Provide opportunities for mission trips and immersion experiences to broaden students' understanding of global solidarity and service.
  4. Community Building
    • Family Involvement: Encourage family participation in school events, liturgies, and service activities to strengthen the home-school-parish connection.
    • Student Leadership: Develop student leadership programs that emphasize faith-based leadership and service to others.
    • Faculty and Staff Development: Provide ongoing spiritual and professional development for faculty and staff to enhance their ability to integrate faith into their teaching and interactions with students.
  5. Personal Spiritual Growth
    • Spiritual Direction: Offer opportunities for spiritual direction and counseling for students and staff.
    • Faith Sharing Groups: Establish small faith-sharing groups for students, staff, and parents to discuss and reflect on their faith journeys.
    • Reflection and Meditation: Create spaces and times for quiet reflection and meditation within the school day.

Implementation Plan:
  1. Formation of a Spiritual Committee
    • Establish a committee composed of administrators, teachers, parents, and students to oversee the implementation and ongoing development of the spiritual plan.
  2. Annual Calendar of Spiritual Activities
    • Develop and distribute an annual calendar that includes all liturgical events, retreats, service projects, and other spiritual activities.
  3. Professional Development
    • Provide training and resources for faculty and staff to effectively implement and support the spiritual plan.
  4. Communication and Engagement
    • Utilize newsletters, social media, and the school website to communicate upcoming events and spiritual reflections to the school community.
    • Engage parents and the wider community through regular updates and invitations to participate in spiritual activities.
  5. Evaluation and Feedback
    • Conduct regular surveys and feedback sessions with students, parents, and staff to assess the effectiveness of the spiritual plan and identify areas for improvement.
    • Review and adjust the plan annually based on feedback and changing needs of the school community

By implementing this Schoolwide Spiritual Plan, we aim to create an environment where faith is lived, celebrated, and integrated into every aspect of school life, fostering the spiritual growth and development of the entire school community.

Trimester Focused Service Projects

In the trimester-focused service projects, each grade level group is assigned a specific global outreach project to support during a particular trimester. This structure allows students to engage in meaningful service activities that contribute to various charitable causes throughout the school year. The projects are as follows:

  • Trimester 1: Operation Gratitude (Grades PS-2):
    • Project Focus: Students in grades preschool through 2nd grade will support Operation Gratitude, a charity that sends care packages to deployed troops, veterans, first responders, and military families.
    • Activities: These young students might create letters, drawings, or small handmade items to include in the care packages, helping to spread joy and appreciation to those who serve.
  • Trimester 2: American Heart Association (Grades 3-5):
    • Project Focus: Students in grades 3 through 5 will focus on supporting the American Heart Association, an organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke.
    • Activities: Students might participate in educational activities, fundraising events, and awareness campaigns to promote heart health and raise funds for research and prevention programs.
  • Trimester 3: Room to Read (Grades 6-8):
    • Project Focus: Students in grades 6 through 8 will support Room to Read, a global organization that focuses on literacy and gender equality in education.
    • Activities: These older students might organize book drives, host fundraising events, or conduct awareness campaigns to support the creation of educational opportunities for children in underserved communities around the world.

Collaboration and Community Involvement:

  • Faculty, Staff, and Students: The entire school community, including faculty, staff, and students, will collaborate on these projects. Teachers will guide students in understanding the importance of each cause and assist in organizing activities and events.
  • Family Involvement: Families are encouraged to participate by supporting fundraising efforts, attending events, and helping to spread awareness about the projects and the charities being supported.

By engaging in these trimester-focused service projects, students not only learn about important global issues but also experience the value of teamwork and community involvement. They develop empathy, social responsibility, and a sense of accomplishment as they contribute to meaningful causes and make a positive impact on the world.

Christian Service Project

In addition to trimester-focused service projects, students will also be engaging in a Christian Service Project that emphasizes aspects of morality. Through this project, they will explore the connections between the signs of a joyful disciple and their grade-specific religion standards in morality. This holistic approach helps students integrate their faith into everyday actions and decisions.

Signs of a Joyful Disciple:

  1. I know that God loves me.
  2. I see God working in my life.
  3. I read the Bible.
  4. I follow God’s laws and seek forgiveness when I sin.
  5. I worship God at church.
  6. I talk to God in prayer.
  7. I use my gifts to serve God and others.
  8. I share the Good News of Jesus with others.
  9. People know I love Jesus by the way I talk and act.
  10. I look to Mary and the saints as examples of joyful disciples.

Service Project Themes by Grade (Religion Standards - Morality):

  • PS/TK: Charity and Share
  • Grade K: Charity and Choice
  • Grade 1: All Life is Sacred
  • Grade 2: Conscience
  • Grade 3: Jesus’ Greatest Commandment
  • Grade 4: Beatitudes & Virtues
  • Grade 5: 5 Precepts of the Church
  • Grade 6: Corporal & Spiritual Works of Mercy
  • Grade 7: 10 Commandments
  • Grade 8: Catholic Social Teachings

Monthly Character Pillars and Social Catholic Teaching Focus

  • September: Responsibility-Rights and Responsibilities
  • October: Respect- Life and Dignity of the Human Person
  • November: Kindness- Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
  • December: Cooperation- Call to Family, Community, and Participation
  • January: Self Control- Call to Family, Community, and Participation
  • February: Trustworthiness- Solidarity
  • March: Integrity- The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers
  • April: Tolerance- Care for Creation
  • May: Citizenship

Project Implementation:

  • Collaboration with 8th Grade Leaders: Each student will work closely with an 8th-grade leader and teachers who will help guide them in connecting their monthly character pillars and morality themes with the principles outlined in the book Saints and Social Justice: A Guide to Changing the World by Brandon Vogt.
  • Integration with Assigned Saint: Students will draw inspiration from their assigned saint, using their lives as examples of joyful discipleship.

Activities and Outcomes:

  • Monthly Activities and Retreats: Students will participate in various activities and retreats designed to help them live out and internalize the concepts they are studying.
  • 8th Grade Outcomes:
    • Digital Portfolio: A comprehensive collection of their work and reflections throughout the year.
    • Research Paper: An in-depth exploration of a specific aspect of morality and its application.
    • Digital Submission: A creative project such as a movie, documentary, or other digital format that showcases their understanding and mastery of the concepts studied.

PS-7th Grade Outcomes:

  • Reflections: Regular written reflections on their learning and experiences.
  • Creative Project: A tangible expression of their understanding, which could include artwork, presentations, or other creative formats.

By engaging in these activities, students will deepen their understanding of morality and joyful discipleship, learning to see and respond to God's presence in their lives and the world around them. This integrated approach helps them grow as individuals and as members of their faith community.

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