School Name: St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School

Transcription

1 PASTORAL PLAN School Name: St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School School Motto or Mission Statement: Faith, Hope, Love Theme for the Year: This year s celebration entitled, Catholic Education: Renewing the Promise will allow our students to focus on the attainment of the Catholic Graduate Expectations as they continue on their journey of faith. Retreats Grade 9: We R Aquinas Retreat at Camp Robin Hood (Markham) / Facilitated by school mentors and staff, Chaplaincy Leader / September 14 th, 2017 Grade 10: Community Building and Christian Leadership, facilitated by Bernadette Bowyer and held at Chinguacousy Park and Loafer s Lake in Brampton. Grade 11: Temple Tours to Buddhist Temple, Hindu Mandir, and Jewish Synagogue Grade 12: Religion Classes to Regen Brampton for community building, direct service and poverty awareness. Page 1 of 9

2 Other retreats (e.g. student council): Student Council Retreat at Cedar Glen, September 2017 Leadership Classes Retreat at Cedar Glen, September 2017, February 2018 PIP Retreat, January 2018 HEAL Bereavement Retreat, November 2017 & June 2018 Activities of a Religious Nature Activities of a Religious Nature with a substantial component of ritual and prayer Opening Mass / September 21 st, 2017 Father Joseph Advent Mass / December TBD (Available dates December 5th-7th or 12 th - 14th Ash Wednesday Liturgy / February 14 th, 2018 Holy Thursday Liturgy / March 29 th, 2018 (Stations of the Cross offered to Classes in the Chapel) End of Year Mass / May 29 th Graduation Mass / June 28 th, 2018 Weekly Invitational Mass, Thursdays, 7:30 a.m. in the chapel Reconciliation offered during Lent Page 2 of 9

3 Other Pastoral/Outreach Activities Daily Reflection and Prayer Pastoral Activities Faith Talk & Meditations for all Gr 9 Religion Classes Faith Talk & Meditation for all Gr 10 Careers Classes Terry Fox Fundraiser TBD Remembrance Day Celebration, November 11 th 2018 Development & Peace Conference, November 2018 Put Yer Pinkies Up, Violence Against Women Awareness, December 6 th, 2018 Christmas Food / Gift Drive, November 27 th -December 15 th, 2017 Black History Month, February 2018 Ordinandi Luncheon by Invitation Earth Week, April 16 th -20 th, 2018 Solidarity Week, April 23 rd -26 th, 2018 National Anti-Homophobia Day, May 17 th, 2018 Cambodia Social Justice Trip, Jan 26 th -Feb 5 th, 2018 Connections Night For Grade 8, May 31 st, 2018 Other campaigns as per student and staff initiative Social & Emotional Support offered by Admin, Guidance, Support Staff & Chaplaincy Leader Sympathy Cards sent to students and staff who have lost a family member. Wide range of clubs and sports to engage students in the school community Rainbow Squad meets bi-weekly to support LGBTQ youth HEAL Bereavement group, for students who have lost a parent or sibling Service With A Smile, Meets every Thursday Student Chaplaincy Team / Meets once per month Page 3 of 9

4 Youth for Christ / Meets the last Thursday of the month Catholic Education Week This year s celebration entitled, Catholic Education: Renewing the Promise is scheduled for the week of May 6 May 11, The scriptural passage that guides our theme is, For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him. Acts 2:39 Catholicity across the school Department Departmental Activities and/or Events Art Create and display posters that represent the Catholic Graduate Expectations (CGEs) Establish a link on the departmental website to the Catholic Graduate Expectations Use the CGE as promotion in the RAP program Business Business classes will develop attitudes and values founded on Catholic social teaching and acts to promote social responsibility, human solidarity and the common good Witness Catholic social teachings by promoting equality, democracy, and solidarity for a just, peaceful, and compassionate society Work closely with the school Chaplain and invite the Chaplain into classrooms to discuss virtues and CGE and how they apply to the human person and world Use and integrate the Catholic faith tradition, in the critical analysis of the arts, media, technology and information systems to enhance the quality of life Articulate the connection between technology and the Catholic Church s view on technology Guidance Acculturating First Nations, Metis and Inuit Spirituality and culture into school-wide liturgies An FMNI-focused social justice project to create community awareness and a connection to our Indigenous community A service oriented initiative that allows Alt Ed students to take on a leadership role in the community that will Page 4 of 9

5 provide service to people, but also serve as a growth and learning opportunity for the students Post visuals of the Catholic Graduate Expectations Create a link to the expectations on the Guidance area of the school website The Co-Operative Education department will allow students to examine and reflect on their personal values, abilities and aspirations through reflections English Students can exemplify the CGE through short answer questions, essay responses, presentations, tableaux and graphic posters, power points and Prezi. Teachers will be encouraged to share their personal faith experiences and sacraments with students Incorporation of current affairs into the study of literary works in light of CGEs Mathematics Increase the amount of time the CGEs are discussed in class. Align activities in class that connect to the CGEs Moderns Work towards developing effective communicators, who write and speak confidently in both French and English In our Extended French Histoire course, we encourage our students to be responsible citizens, by taking ownership and contributing positively to our society Encourage students to be reflective, creative and holistic thinkers, by asking them to express their opinions on such crimes against humanity such as the Rwandan Genocide and ask them to express their opinions in light of the CGEs and promote the sacredness of human life Physical Education Have students reflect on the connection between Healthy Active Living and the Catholic Graduate Expectations Display posters that represent the Catholic Graduate Expectations (CGEs) in all changerooms Have students self-identify how they currently meet the CGEs as part of their assessment as learning Science Focused activities and class discussions on ethical and moral applications of scientific principles that are designed to help students become reflective and creative thinkers Develop lifelong learners through goal setting Page 5 of 9

6 Demonstrate responsible citizenship through environmental stewardship Social Science Visual display of the Catholic Graduate Expectations on large cork board outside Social Science office and in classrooms Include CGEs as part of the civics curriculum Reinforcement of CGEs in Environmental Geography and Gr. 9 Geography courses through several units Include the CGEs on assignments and handouts to highlight where they fit within the graduate expectations Special Education Create and display posters that represent the Catholic Graduate Expectations Explicitly discuss examples of how we live out the CGEs on a daily basis Technological Studies Each technology class will focus on one Catholic Graduation Expectation. Each expectation will be designed into a puzzle piece. The puzzles will be assembled with others to form a St. Thomas Aquinas student. The whole design will be displayed on the technological education department webpage and will also be reflected in all our display cases around the school. The technology department will come together to focus on community involvement in and outside the school through use of the outdoor classroom. Teachers will be encouraged to incorporate the expectations on all rubrics and outline the CGE on the assignment/rubric. Religion/Theology All courses will explicitly link curriculum and Catholic Graduate Expectations on tests and exams Teachers will display and connect to CGE throughout classroom activities and in Learning Goals Success Criteria will clearly link CGE to lessons and activities The department will share with the school community/parents (via website) updates on our retreat program and Catholic school culture. Increased awareness of vocations and closer connection to local parishes. Collaboration between home and school via newsletter. Page 6 of 9

7 School Environment reflective of our Faith These religious icons, symbols and visible expressions of our Catholic identity are present in the school environment: Catholic Graduate Expectations Murals Faith Based Quotes St. Thomas Aquinas Picture St. Thomas Aquinas statue at Main Entrance Statue of Mother Mary, Prayer Table outside of Chapel Cross in Cafeteria and in each classroom Prayer Table in classrooms throughout the school Pictures of Religious Sayings and Quotes Collaborative School Culture These activities are organized by the School Catholic Community Culture and Caring Action Team: Anti-Bullying Week, November 2018 Mentorship Programs through the Urban Grant and Priority High School Grant CCCC Climate Survey Data Analysis Presentation (parents, staff, students, guardians) ABC Online Reporting Tool Poster Campaign Crime Stoppers Partnership with Peel Regional Police Partnership: Student Leadership and Student Council Initiatives (on-going) Parish Connections Planned and existing initiatives that maintain and enhance positive relationships with the local parish communities: Graduation mass to be held at the Parish Local priests celebrate mass and reconciliation regularly with the school Local priest is invited to school-wide events Collaboration with Parish Pastoral Team when such support is needed Invitations to Parish Priest and Youth Director to join in liturgical events Bulletin Board outside Chapel advertising Parish based events Page 7 of 9

8 Staff Faith Development Catechesis and faith formation among our staff: Element of prayer and faith development at each staff meeting Prayer resources provided to staff Staff Masses/Liturgies held before staff meetings throughout the year 3-4 /year Transitions Students supported in the area of Transitioning from Grade 8 to Grade 9, from Grade 12 to Post Secondary as well as from one grade to another: GPP Leadership Students visit coming students at our feeder schools Mentors send welcome postcards to incoming Grade 9 students in the summer Connections Night for Grade 9, May 31 st, 2018 Orientation for Grade 9, August 29 th 2017 Grade 9 Retreat / Camp Robin Hood Grade 11 Students are trained to mentor grade 9 students Girls Night and Boys Night held in October 2017 School-wide Mental Health Initiatives from CYW s Vocations Vocations to religious life and pastoral ministries promoted through: Daily school wide morning prayer and reflections Classes begin or end with prayer and reflections across the curriculum Page 8 of 9

9 Signature Page Pastor Chaplaincy Leader Faith Ambassador(s) (as applicable) Department Heads (as applicable) Chair of Catholic School Council Vice Principal(s) Principal Superintendent Page 9 of 9