Pastoral Plan
2015-2016
PASTORAL PLAN
School Name:
School Mission Statement:
We, at Georges Vanier Catholic School, are a faith-oriented Catholic community of educational
professionals, children and parents. As teachers we honour the unique educational gifts, talents and
abilities of each child. We work in partnership with the Parish and home to help our students develop
into lifelong learners who will be confident, interdependent members of the community, and who will
contribute to their society by living their faith and serving God. Together, we are dedicated to helping
children reach their potential and to respect diversity.
School Motto: Be the Difference, Live the Difference.
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
Our Parish: St. John Fisher
Pastor: Rev. Alfred J. Grima
Parish website: n/a
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Pastoral Plan
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Message from the Pastor:
It is a very proud moment for me. 25 years of a wonderful relationship between School and Church in
my time at St. John Fisher Parish. I have had wonderful dealings with the many Principals, Vice
Principals, Teachers and staff who had a great interest in Religious Education. When I come to visit each
school, I am always very welcomed and when I walk through the school hallways I always hear from all
directions “Hello Fr. Grima!” This warms my heart and this makes me feel very appreciated. I thank God
for all of the wonderful people I work with. They are dedicated to their schools and the children they
are entrusted to. God Bless!
Message from the Catholic School Council:
We serve and support the students at Georges Vanier with our volunteer efforts to raise funds for
educational enhancements like: professional visitors to the school; prizes and giveaways to support
fundraising efforts at Christmas, Easter and other key times in the Church's calendar; and gifts to
celebrate the students' religious milestones reached in sacramental years. We are there to serve and
support teachers when an extra hand is needed.
"As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace." 1
Peter 4:10
Catholic Education Week Theme: Opening the Doors to Mercy
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.
Catholic Education Week is a special time at Georges Vanier School. From our Student led retreat to
our Youth Faith Ambassador liturgy, we take time to celebrate our ‘Catholicity’ in a special way.
School Liturgy for CEW (Youth Faith Ambassadors)
School wide Retreat (time for reflection & re-connection)
Literacy Night (P.J. Night) for students and parents
Special readings/ reflections and stories through school announcements
Classroom liturgy and reflections
Spelling Bee (school wide by division)
Science Fair (intermediate classes- whole school and parents to visit)
Parent Open House
Art Show/Exhibit and Auction
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Pastoral Plan
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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.
At Georges Vanier School we gather as a ‘Community of Faith’ each month for our Virtues
Assembly. Mass, Liturgy and Reflection are common. Our Adult Faith Ambassadors and Youth
Faith Ambassadors lead our faith development through prayer, reflection and retreats. We
continually reach out to our community in times of need, to help support those less fortunate
and to bring people together in celebration of our faith.
During the Advent Season we bring our parent community together to celebrate Advent in a
special way. A tree lighting and dramatization of the nativity coupled with a cup of hot
chocolate and a sing-a-long help us re-connect and prepare for the birth of our Savior, Jesus.
Staff reflections during the Lenten Season, coupled with Youth Faith Ambassador led ‘student
reflections’ help prepare us for the Passion of Christ.
Students in all grades work with the Rosary Apostolate who visit once per month to study the
rosary. This culminates in May with a Mary Celebration for the whole school.
Sacramental Preparation:
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
Sacrament of First Holy Communion
Sacrament of Confirmation
Grade 2
Sunday, April 17
Sunday, May 29
Grade 7 and 8
Friday, May 13
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Pastoral Plan
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Liturgical Celebrations:
The Liturgical calendar is marked by the gathering in community to celebrate the Eucharist and
share in prayer.
Celebration
Advent Mass
Lenten Mass
Year End/Graduation Mass
Date
Tuesday, December 15- 10:00 a.m. @ School
Tuesday, March 22- 10:00 a.m. @ Parish
Wednesday, June 29 -10:00 a.m. @ School
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 with many activities which help raise funds for this
charity. Classes participate in adopting a family within our community during the Advent
Season. We then purchase gift items to help those in need during this giving time of year.
We continue to support local charities like St. Vincent dePaul and the Knight’s table with food
drives. We help the homeless in our community with supplies during the winter months.
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 look for opportunities to help students express
these expectations. We want to make this ‘habit forming’ so that students see the benefits for
others as well as themselves as they grow into responsible, reflective and discerning believers
in the Catholic Faith.
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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.
We have monthly assemblies where classes take turns presenting the virtue of the month. We
pray, reflect and witness how virtues help us all in our faith journey. We also celebrate those
who are ‘caught caring’ on a monthly basis. The smallest gesture becomes a hi-lite during our
Caught You Caring Campaign. An ongoing campaign with monthly prizes awarded to those
who exhibit random acts of kindness. We hope to make a difference by our actions.
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.
We have …Crosses, Bibles, Prayer Tables, a Chapel, a gathering place at the front of our
school, and community service. We celebrate our faith in many ways hoping to give all an
entry point to our ‘faith journey’.
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
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Resource List for Schools:
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
 Family Life Program
 Religious Education Program
 The Ontario Catholic Schools Graduate Expectations
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