Pastoral Plan
2015-2016
PASTORAL PLAN
School Name:
School Mission Statement:
We believe that education is a life-long process involving physical, intellectual, emotional, social, and
spiritual development.
To this end we will strive to promote the full development of children in the image of Christ. We believe
that each member of the St. John the Baptist School Community is unique and special and has a positive
contribution to make to society.
We aspire to be living examples of Christ's message of love, serving as role models in the Christian
formation of all members of the Community. We endeavour to "touch the hearts and minds of those with
whom we work," and in co-operation with our parents, and our parish priests, we will assist children in
their own personal development of faith and appreciation and understanding of the Gospel values.
Together, we will provide a friendly and caring environment that inspires academic excellence, fosters
self-esteem, and promotes respect for others.
School Motto: “Preparing the Way”
Pastoral Plan Links to Strategic Plan/Catholic Board Learning Plan:
 Link: Strategic Plan 2014-2019 Strategic System Plan
 Link: Catholic Board Learning Plan CBLP 2013-2016
Catholic Board Learning Plan
If we are more intentional in creating respectful conditions for well-being, learning and
leading in a positive climate (e.g. creating a healthy social space by inviting the voice of
all learners and active listening; a healthy spiritual space by identifying needs and
practicing virtues), then all learners will feel safe, included, supported and welcomed.
CATHOLIC LEARNING ENVIRONMENT – Strategic System Plan
We foster the continuous development of all through a caring, safe, and inclusive
environment as outlined in our Positive Climate school goals which include;
 School wide Saints Teams
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Connecting with parents, students, and the community through our school Twitter
account
Virtues of the Month and I Can Make a Difference
Girls Night In and Boys Night In
Various lunch time activities (chess, scrabble, art club, tutoring, homework help)
WITS Program for Primaries
Our Parish: Holy Family
Pastor: Rev. Laurence J. Leger
Parish website: www.holyfamilybolton.ca
Message from the Pastor:
Holy Family Parish recognizes how the School and Parish serve the family – the “Domestic
Church”. In this sense the Family and the School are rooted in the soil we call “Parish”.
Holy Family supports the faith formation of students and staff within St. John the Baptist School
Community through liturgy, prayer, and the Sacraments. St. John the Baptist School supports
the work of evangelization in the parish through promotion of parish wide Youth Ministries.
Message from the Catholic School Council:
St. John the Baptist’s Catholic School Council is an integral part of our school community.
Through the active participation and collaboration of parents/guardians, we strive to ensure
that all students reach their full potential in a faith filled environment.
Catholic Education Week Theme: Opening the Doors to Mercy
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Throughout Catholic Education Week, we ask you to reflect on the significance of Catholic education’s
presence and contribution in our Church, and in our society.
May 1 – 6, 2016 is Catholic Education Week.
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Celebration of Mary
First Communion Retreat
Eco-fair
Talent Show
Various in-class activities/celebrations
Faith Formation:
Forming ourselves in our Catholic faith is a foundational element in helping each of us
understand and live in the example of Christ.
School activities that support both adult and student faith formation include;
 Virtues assemblies
 Rosary Apostolate
 Rosary Club
 I Can Make A Difference
 Saint Teams
 Food Drives
 Advent Retreat (staff)
 Seder Meal (staff)
 Staff/student liturgies
Sacramental Preparation:
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As Catholic we understand sacraments to be "outward signs instituted by Christ to give grace."
Together in partnership with our parish, we support the preparation of God’s children in
receiving the sacraments.
Event
Sacrament of Reconciliation
First Communion
Grade 2
Saturday afternoons in Lent
April 9/10 3rd Sunday of
Easter – May 21/22nd Trinity
Sunday
Confirmation (total of 15
dates)
Grade 7 and 8
May 4-6, May 10-12, May
18-20, May 25-26, May 30June 2
Liturgical Celebrations:
The Liturgical calendar is marked by the gathering in community to celebrate the Eucharist and
share in prayer.
Celebration
Opening Mass
Remembrance Day Mass
Advent Mass
Ash Wednesday
Stations of the Cross
Easter Mass
Year End Mass
Graduation Mass
Date
September 24, 2015
November 11, 2015
December 11, 2015
February 10, 2016
March 24, 2016
April 14, 2016
June 9, 2016
June 23, 2016
Social Justice / Outreach Activities / Charities:
Catholic Social Teachings of the Church root our actions in supporting human dignity and the
preferential option of the poor which calls us to serve the most vulnerable in the world.
Our school participates in:
 Sharelife
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United Way
Terry Fox
Operation Christmas Child
Food Drives supporting families in Caledon region
Recognizing Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations:
Framed by the Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations (OCSGE), our graduates will be
effective communicators, reflective thinkers, lifelong learners, collaborative contributors, caring
family members, responsible citizens and discerning believers formed in the Catholic faith
community.
To celebrate OCSGE, we as a school community:
 Embed the OCSGE into all the learning that takes place
 Post visible signs of the OCSGE around the school and classrooms
 Celebrate mass/virtues as a school community
 Promote forgiveness, honesty, and respect when conflicts arise
 Listen to the word of God through morning scripture and prayers
 Focus on respecting the thoughts and opinions of others
 Celebrate our gifts given to us by God
 Care about our school, parish, community, and the world around us
Celebrating Virtues:
A virtue is a habit or established capacity to perform good actions according to a moral
standard. When we practice these virtues we strengthen them and thereby make the presence
of God more and more visible in the world around us.
To recognize and celebrate our virtues:
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Teachers use the virtues as the foundation of their teaching and learning experiences
Monthly assemblies are held celebrating the virtues
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Visible Signs of our Faith:
Through symbol and service, we are instruments of God’s love whose work within our
communities stands as a witness to our faith.
Our school displays signs of our Faith:
 Altar in the foyer of the school
 All classes have crosses and Bibles
 Prayer tables in all classrooms
 Visual displays of many Saints
 Sculpture of St. John the Baptist in foyer
Resource List for Parents:
 Religious Education Curriculum - Ontario Religious Education Curriculum
 Family Life Curriculum - Ontario Family Life Curriculum
 Fully Alive Program information - Ontario Bishops' information on Fully Alive
Resource List for Schools:
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Board
 Vocations Units
We have Vocations units as part of the Grades 2, 5, and 8 curriculum. The goal of these
supplementary units is to deepen one’s understanding of God’s call – the “vocare” – to
various forms of life within the Church.
 History of the Parish
Through the resource book Our Story, Our Tradition, Our Journey, grade 7 students have
the opportunity to learn about the history of our parish.
 Enduring Gift Video
School-Based
 Many Gifts Resource
 Fully Alive Progam
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