Catholic Community of Caring All schools in our district are Catholic Communities of Caring. This means we provide a safe, caring, welcoming and inclusive environment for all those in our school community. The core values of Faith, Caring, Respect, Responsibility, Trust and Family are embedded and modeled within the daily life of the school and its culture. The Catholic Community of Caring philosophy is deeply rooted in our Catholic faith through which the other values flow. Faith We are all called to live out our faith every day at school, at home and in our community. The Bible and Church teachings help us make right choices that are for the good of us all. At school, we read and listen to Bible stories to hear the word of God, which provides direction on how we should live and work with those around us. Caring When we care for others we treat them with love and kindness. Jesus showed us many examples of what it means to be caring. He was kind to Zacchaeus even though no one else liked him or wanted to be his friend. He reached out to the lepers and cured them. He did not ignore them when they asked for assistance. Like Jesus, we need to be caring and look for opportunities to follow His example. Respect We are called to respect ourselves and respect others. God has created each one of us uniquely and has given us special gifts and talents. We are called to use our gifts to help others and make this world a better place. Being respectful means listening to others when they speak, remembering our manners, speaking politely and following home and school rules. Responsibility We have responsibilities at home, school and in our community. At home we might be given chores to complete. At school we are asked to be responsible students by completing our work and using our class time effectively. In our communities we are expected to be good citizens. One way to demonstrate good citizenship is by not littering and being good stewards of creation. Trust When we trust others it means that we can depend on them to be honest and always do their best. We trust our parents to love, support and take good care of us. At school, we trust our teachers and other adults to help us to learn and become the best version of ourselves. We trust our friends to be respectful and honest, looking out for our best interests. Family Jesus family was called the Holy Family (Joseph, Mary and Jesus). We use them as our model on how to show love, respect and caring for all family members. Our parents are our first teachers and will continue to be part of our education journey throughout life. Parents and teachers work together to help us learn and grow, to become contributing members of society. Within the Catholic Community of Caring, each person in the school community continues to play a significant role in creating and sustaining the school s culture and climate. Students, parents and staff work together to co-create an inviting environment in which gospel values are embedded within the curriculum and expressed through daily activities. This total community approach creates a caring and respectful environment while enhancing student learning. https://www.cssd.ab.ca/aboutus/catholiccommunityofcaring/pages/default.aspx
Ask, and it will be given you; The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is in the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God Matthew 7:7 One of the things that Jesus taught his disciples was to Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:48). Jesus hope is that each of us will become what we were intended to become beloved sons and daughters of God who develop and use their God-given gifts and live in love and unity with one another. Jesus knows, however, that, despite our best efforts, we are unable to achieve perfection on our own and so he also taught us about the importance of prayer. In addition to teaching the Lord s Prayer (Our Father), he taught that we are to Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. (Matthew 7:7) This scriptural verse will be our faith theme for the next three years and, during the 2017-2018 school year, we will focus on the first part: Ask, and it will be given you. To ask in faith is to pray. Prayer, according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, is the raising of one s mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God (paragraph 2559). In other words, prayer is talking to God and expressing the things we need from God. Prayer also involves listening to God for answers. Prayer takes many forms and can take place at any time during the day and be a part of all of our activities. Prayer is an important part of our lives because our journey of faith lasts a lifetime and has many ups and downs along the way. We will face times of joy during which we will express our gratitude. We Romans 8:26-27 will also face times of doubt during which we will need to turn to God again and again. Throughout our journey, we will need to lift our hands and hearts in prayer often. The invitation to Ask search [and] knock indicates that, regardless of where we are on our journey, we are to be continually engaged in prayer. There is to be an increasing intensity to our prayer as we strive to grow in our relationship with God. We need to ask repeatedly, search earnestly, and knock increasingly.
As we know, there are many different forms of prayer, such as the Liturgy of the Word, our Sunday Eucharistic celebrations, the rosary, litanies, prayers of thanksgiving and petition and so forth. There are also prayers based on scripture and on an examination of conscience. Some of these methods are formal and others are informal. In every occasion, however, it is the Holy Spirit who helps us to pray, giving us words to say and drawing us into an ever deepening relationship with God our Father. To help us grow in our understanding and experience of prayer, we will examine two methods of prayer that we may use to pray each day. God is pleased with our prayers and wants us to turn to him. It is important to realize, however, that prayer does not guarantee that we will get the answer we want. Sometimes, we will get a Yes ; but at other times, the response to our prayer will be No or Not right now. Whenever we pray, we need to believe that God has our best interests in mind and that God wants what is best for us. We can trust in God s love and wisdom and patiently wait on God. As God s Spirit works in our lives and we grow in faith, we will find that our prayers change from what we want to what we truly need. We will grow in our ability to trust that God knows what we need before we ask him. You, Who, Do, That, Through One way to pray is to follow the form of prayer used in the Collect we hear in Church on Sundays. These prayers have five sections which may be described using these simple words: You, Who, Do, That, Through. The You is our greeting to God using phrases such as, Lord God, Good and gracious God, or Ever-living God. Who expresses truths about God such as, who is glorious in majesty, who is the source of all goodness, or who loves us without condition. The Do section of the prayer is the place in which we express our needs. For example, we might ask, help me to be a good student, or grant me wisdom as I prepare for my final exams, or keep my family safe on our travels. The That section expresses the change we want to see. For example, that we might walk in holiness, that we might grow in love, or that we may become merciful like Jesus. The final section always ends the same as we make every prayer Through Christ our Lord. Amen. or In Jesus name. Amen. Put it all together and the prayer may resemble the following: Lord God, who blesses us with good things, give us the grace of your love that we might be your faithful witnesses today. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. Trust in the Spirit and try writing this type of prayer below:: The Examen A second form of prayer, which may be used at the end of the day, is the Examen. Developed by St. Ignatius of Loyola, the Examen includes five steps: gratitude, petition, review, forgiveness and renewal. We begin by expressing gratitude to God for the many blessings we have encountered during our day (the warmth of friendship, the gift of life, etc.). Next we ask for the grace to see how we have failed to be our best selves during the day as well as the grace to overcome our failings in the future. We also review our day to see what we have learned spiritually from our experiences so that we might better understand why we did the things we did. We then ask God to forgive us. Finally, we renew our commitment to strive to become more like Christ-like in the future. The exercise shows us our faults and also helps us to see our strengths and what went right with our day. In our asking, seeking, and knocking, we strive to be perfect. Through prayer, we learn to participate with the gifts of God s grace in our lives and to respond to the action of Holy Spirit s inspiration, guidance, and correction. We learn to trust God and to more closely follow God s will for our lives. May our practice of prayer help us to grow in faith and holiness.
CHAMPIONS OF STUDENTS
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT WHERE AM I GOING? What Is It? Teachers use formative assessment in their classrooms every day. It is important for students and parents to understand how it is used to benefit student learning. Formative assessment includes sharing goals and expectations with students and giving them feedback while they are working towards those goals. The purpose is to help students understand how to improve. Parents can also play an active role in this process. HOW DO I CLOSE THE GAP? WHERE AM I NOW? What Does Formative Assessment Look Like in the Classroom? Think of the teacher s role as similar to a coach. Coaches need to be very clear about what they want players to do to be successful. Players need time to practice new skills and feedback to help them improve. In the classroom, students also need time to practice new skills and need to know: what to do (using goals and expectations) how to improve (using feedback) where to improve (using self-reflection) Research Says : Formative assessment is one of the most powerful ways to help students learn. Clear goals and expectations are important for student success. Students are more motivated when they are involved in creating goals. At Home: To be successful, children must know what they are supposed to do, written in language they can understand. Ask your child to explain the requirements of the assignment. If neither of you understand it, have a conversation with the teacher. Look at the expectations for the assignment with your child. Has your child carefully completed all the requirements? Be sure they understand what they are being asked to do. When your child asks for feedback, be specific. Tell him/her what he/she did well and what could be improved in relation to the expectations. Have your child read his/her work to you, or read your child s work aloud to him/her. What did he/she notice? Did he/she leave out any important ideas? Communicate with the teacher. It shows your child that the school and home are a team. When your child asks for help, provide guidance, not answers. Formative vs. Summative Assessment Formative assessment involves ongoing feedback that guides the student and teacher in the learning process. Summative assessments are measurements often recorded as grades or marks that are used at the end of instruction to evaluate student performance. Both formative and summative assessments are important components of the teaching and learning process.
CHAMPIONING STUDENT WELLNESS Here s what kids say about being resilient and what has helped them bounce back. Their advice: Learn to know how you feel Talk it out Ask others for help Get active and have fun Try something new Keep trying Ask God for help (pray) Focus on the positive (Adapted from: Well Aware, Developing Resilient, Active, and Flourishing Students Pearson, 2015. P.139) Think about one person you can tell things to when you are down Remember to help friends when they need help. We are stronger together! We all need someone to help us when we are going through a tough time
FAITH FORMATION Introduction to Faith Formation One of the four priorities for the Calgary Catholic School District is that of Christian faith formation. Faith formation is defined by John Roberto as a lifelong journey with Christ, in Christ, and to Christ. 1 Faith formation equips us to live as disciples of Christ by helping us to: a) grow in our relationship with God for the whole of our lives; b) live as disciples of Jesus at home, at work, in the community, and in the world; c) develop an understanding of the Bible and our faith tradition; d) deepen our spiritual life and practices; e) engage in service and mission to the world; and f) participate in the life and ministries of our faith community. 2 Family, Church and School Parents are the primary educators of their children. They are the first to demonstrate what love and human dignity mean by their dedicated care to their newborn infants. They are the first to nurture language in their children, and teach lessons about the beauty of the earth and the wonders of the night sky. As children grow, parents continue to educate them by encouraging good habits of study and instilling values. Parents are also the first to introduce their children to a life of faith, taking them to the Church, teaching them prayers, and guiding them in the way of holiness. In their efforts to raise faith-filled followers of Christ, parents have the support of the Church and the gift of Catholic education. The Church passes on the faith through liturgy, prayer, sacraments and Tradition. Catholic schools instruct students in a broad range of areas, joining parents and the Church in their efforts to help students encounter Christ, integrate faith and culture, and build up the Kingdom of God. Faith Formation Methods Some effective methods of faith formation include: engaging in prayer reading and studying the Bible serving others in the family or community participating in Sunday and weekday Eucharistic celebrations learning about the sacraments celebrating holy days and special occasions displaying and learning about sacred objects and religious images going on retreats or pilgrimages singing liturgical hymns and listening to Christian music talking about faith with others resolving conflict with prayer, repentance and forgiveness studying the Catechism of the Catholic Church or the Youth Catechism What are your favorite methods of faith formation? What method would you like to try? 1 John Roberto. Reimagining Faith Formation for the 21st Century: Engaging all ages & generations. Lifelong Faith Publications, Naugatuck, CT, 2015: 31. 2 Leif Kehrwald. Just what is faith formation? https://www.vibrantfaith.org/2014/09/just-what-is-faith-formation/ Accessed April 27, 2017.
FIRST NATIONS, MÉTIS AND INUIT The FNMI Team The Calgary Catholic School District FNMI education team focuses on supporting FNMI students as they balance maintaining a strong link to their culture and heritage with learning the skills necessary to live successfully in today s society. FNMI home and school liaison workers facilitate effective communication between the home and school community, assist school personnel and encourage active parental involvement in their child s education. The FNMI team provides various services, including: Cultural component in the context of instructional programs Academic support to FNMI students Instructional programs on FNMI history, traditions, art, beliefs and contemporary issues Consultation regarding FNMI issues Support to Calgary Catholic personnel regarding the needs of FNMI students, parents and families Alberta Education FNMI Framework The district works collaboratively with Alberta Education and the FNMI community to support the success of students. The following goals are described in the Alberta Education First Nations, Métis and Inuit Education Policy Framework: High quality learning opportunities that are responsive, flexible, accessible, and affordable to the learner Excellence in student achievement Learners are well prepared for participation in post-secondary studies and the labour market Effective working relationships Highly responsive and responsible ministry
First Nations Facts In Alberta there are: 45 First Nations in three treaty areas: Treaty 6 (Central), Treaty 7 (South), Treaty 8 (North) 140 reserves The most commonly spoken First Nations languages are: Blackfoot Cree Chipewyan Dene Sacree Stoney (Nakoda Sioux) The Calgary Catholic School District serves students from Tsuu T ina, Siksika, Kainai and Stoney/Nakoda First Nations Treaty 7 Treaty 7 was signed at the Blackfoot Crossing of the Bow River and Fort Macleod in 1877. This area covers southern Alberta and is home to five First Nations Chiefs and Counsels. Métis Facts There are eight Métis settlements in Alberta Alberta is the only province that has passed legislation for the Métis people This legislation establishes the only Métis land base and the only form of legislated Métis government in Canada The legislation was created in an effort to accommodate Métis aspirations of securing their land base, gaining local autonomy, and achieving self-sufficiency
Social Media Guidelines for Students 1 Social media sites are public. What you contribute can leave a digital footprint forever, even after it is deleted. Do not post anything that you wouldn't want friends, parents, teachers or a future employer to see. Make sure that what you post promotes a positive image to the world. 2 Be safe online. Never give out personal information including last names, phone numbers, addresses, birthdates and pictures. Never share your password with anyone besides your parents and teachers if necessary. 3 Cyberbullying is not tolerated. Tell a teacher or responsible adult right away if you feel that you or someone you know is being bullied online. What is inappropriate in the classroom or face-to-face is also inappropriate online. 4 Follow your school's code of conduct when writing online. It is acceptable to disagree with someone else's opinions, however, do so in a respectful, constructive way. 5 Do your own work. Do not use other people's intellectual property, including pictures, without their permission. It is a violation of copyright law to copy and paste other's thoughts without giving credit to the author. When paraphrasing another's idea(s), be sure to cite your source with the specific web address. Further information Please visit our Calgary Catholic School District website at www.cssd.ab.ca under Parents/Parent Support/Internet Safety for a list of resources that provide useful information pertaining to safe and responsible online practices.