Plans for Catholic Schools | Mission & Identity

Schools Goal, No. 1
A management culture that identifies, cultivates, engages, and acknowledges great staff and volunteer leadership will be created and sustained throughout the Diocese.

Objective No. 1
The Office of Catholic Schools will facilitate seminars and workshops to ensure that all professional educators in Catholic schools, along with pastors, are familiar with best practices in the foundational documents (philosophy, mission, vision, profile of graduate at graduation) and to assist them in creating these documents for their schools.

Objective No. 2
The Superintendent of Schools will collaborate with the Diocesan School Board to establish a unified mission statement, characteristics to inform Catholic identity and curriculum expectations for the integration of faith with learning in all Catholic schools.

Objective No. 3
Each Catholic school will provide Eucharistic adoration, weekly Mass, Reconciliation, and celebration of Holy Days of Obligation for the school community and actively invite participation from parishioners, parents, teachers, and the community at large.

Objective No. 4
The Office of Catholic Schools, in collaboration with school leaders, will develop a Diocesan rubric to measure the development of Catholic identity and faith formation at all schools and at each grade level.

Objective No. 5
All Catholic schools will support a culture that embraces Catholic intellectual thought through high academic standards and expectations for student achievement.

Objective No. 6
Each school will encourage staff, students, and families to be integrated into the parish life through active participation, service, and ministerial opportunities.

Objective No. 7
The Diocesan School Board, in collaboration with local School Boards, will annually provide opportunities for families to understand the key elements of Catholic identity, including:  the teaching of elements of Catholic faith, the proclamation of Gospel values, opportunities for prayer and worship centered on Eucharistic Liturgy, community-building, and education for and participation in service.
 

Schools Goal, No. 2
The Office of Catholic Schools, in collaboration with the office responsible for religious education, and professional educators, will develop and implement a vertically-integrated curriculum for the teaching of elements of Catholic faith in grades Pre-K through 12.

Objective No. 1
The Superintendent of Schools will convene a collaborative body to design a full curriculum for religious instruction on a grade-appropriate basis.

Objective No. 2
Training programs will be provided for all grade level teachers with regard to the Catholic curriculum and instructional delivery methods.

Objective No. 3
Each school will implement the national Assessment of Catechesis/Religious Education (ACRE), and will use its results to identify and strengthen the practice of knowledge of the Catholic faith within the school and parish communities.
 

Schools Goal, No. 3
In collaboration with the Office of Catholic Schools and the office for religious education, opportunities will be provided annually for faith formation for school administrators, faculty and staff, and parents that will focus on liturgical and communal prayer and education for Christian service.

Objective No. 1
Each school will implement a program of annual retreats for all faculty and staff in order to ensure that all are understanding of elements of Catholic faith and able to integrate elements of faith with the teaching/learning process. 

Objective No. 2
School administrators and teachers will provide information and appropriate readings for parents on a regular basis so that they are informed about what their children are learning.