Pastoral Plan
2015-2016
PASTORAL PLAN
School Name:
School Mission Statement:
We, the Catholic community of St. Monica School,
are dedicated partners in the lifelong education of our students.
Guided by the spirit to grow as a family, we will continue to foster
spiritual, intellectual, social, physical and emotional development
to ensure that future generations are well prepared
for all challenges on their journey.
School Motto: Guided by the Spirit…Growing as a Family
Pastoral Plan Links to Strategic Plan/Catholic Board Learning Plan:
CATHOLIC LEARNING ENVIRONMENT: At St. Monica we strive to continue to offer all our students the
opportunities to be lifelong learners by instilling the foundational tools they need to learn how to make
the right choices for themselves. God has given us free will to decide our path and His words to guide
us. We strongly encourage, facilitate and continue to model self-directed, responsible, lifelong learners
who will continue to develop and demonstrate their God-given potential. Our students will continue to
be provided with ongoing opportunities to live out our virtues through the lead of administration, staff
and student faith ambassadors. We foster the continuous development of all through a caring, safe, and
inclusive environment.
PARISH-HOME-SCHOOL RELATIONSHIPS: School-Parish relationships continue to be exceptional. Our
Pastor is always welcomed, and continues to be supportive of existing and new initiatives. Additional
opportunities for partnerships include: Monthly Rosary Apostolate visits, St. Jerome Parish Refugee
Family, Pastor's involvement with our virtues assemblies, guide with liturgical celebrations, Lenten
activities, Advent activities, sacramental retreats, share life, special lunches, etc. We believe that strong
partnerships and collaboration among Parish, Home and School are based on mutual respect rooted in
our lived Catholic Faith.
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Pastoral Plan
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STEWARDSHIP OF OUR PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT: St. Monica School invites the voice of all learners and
practices the "ministry of presence" through various leadership opportunities in the school; Student
Faith Ambassadors, Student Council, Speak Up Grants, ECO Initiatives, and Healthy School Initiatives
highlight some of the venues we provide for this. Active listening and respect are alive and well. We are
committed to healthy and safe learning and working environments that enhance well-being,
engagement and achievement.
SACREDNESS OF OUR ENVIRONMENT: We encourage the respectful and sustainable environmental
practices of reducing, reusing, and recycling in our school through our ECO schools program.
 Link: Strategic Plan 2014-2019 Strategic System Plan
 Link: Catholic Board Learning Plan CBLP 2013-2016
Our Parish: St. Jerome
Pastor: Rev. Jan Kolodynski
Parish website: www.stjeromeparish.ca
Message from the Pastor:
Dear Parents, Students and Friends of St. Monica Catholic School,
I prayerfully invoke an abundance of Divine blessings upon the staff and especially our children that they
may continue to grow in knowledge, character and faith during this new school year and throughout
their lives! As always, remember to pray for our parish family and ask God’s blessings as we build His
kingdom here. Please know that I am praying for you, and I ask for your prayers for me, that together
through the intercession of Saint Monica, our Patroness, and united in the Holy Eucharist, we will reflect
the presence of Jesus to the world.
Yours sincerely in the Lord,
Fr. Jan Kolodynski
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Pastoral Plan
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Message from the Catholic School Council:
A new school year promises new faces, new challenges and new opportunities to grow in the love of God.
Catholic religious instruction across the spectrum of the curriculum is highly evident at our school due to the
relationship building as well as dedication of staff and parents. Daily prayers and scripture readings are
coupled with the Character/Virtues Education program and The Ontario Catholic School Graduate
Expectations that supports the identity of St. Monica School as a faith and ethics based community, while
enhancing the experience of Catholicity in our school. Grade 2, 7 and 8 students prepare for the
sacraments of initiation with in-class instruction, retreats and celebrations under the spiritual guidance of
our Pastor, Fr. Jan. At St. Monica School we notice and appreciate the visible and non-visible signs
relating to our Catholic Mission Statement, and are proud to support and assist in continuing to further
promote and enhance all signs. Catholicity and Spiritual leadership is happening at our school, and we trust
it will continue. The warm welcome everyone feels when entering our school continues to make it a Safe,
Caring School where all are appreciated, valued and acknowledged. “Together we aspire, together we
achieve!”
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.
•Crowning of Mary, Living Rosary, Encouraged to wear Blue
•Welcome to Kindergarten
•Sacramental Retreat (Gr. 2)
•Celebrating our Safe and Caring School, 40 students Mandarin Lunch
•Classroom visitations; Excellence in Action
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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.
•Family and Board Wide Ambassadors’ Masses, Retreats, Liturgies, Reflections, Bulletin Board
•Commissioning Mass for Staff Ambassadors and Student Leaders
•Faith Ambassador celebrations for staff
• Informal living and teaching of our faith occurs throughout our day in our treatment/respect of
others
•Classrooms have a prayer table/corner for individual prayer opportunities/focus for class
celebrations
• Each class presents morning prayers on the P.A. on a weekly basis, and participates in prayers
before lunch and dismissal
•Daily religious/family life education formal teaching
•Advent Daily Challenges-Entire School; Primary Advent Liturgies
• Holy Week Activities-entire school participation-daily
•Grade Eight Confirmation Service Projects
•School Liturgical Committee meets as required
•Classes/Administration cooperatively plan Liturgies/Masses
•Living Rosary and Devotion to Mary celebrations
•Monthly Rosary Apostolate in collaboration with St. Jerome Parish
•October: Highlight the Rosary in consultation with Fr. Jan
•Facilitate-Ministry of Reading in cooperation with our Pastor-Fr. Jan
•Remembrance/Bereavement opportunities
•Gr. 7 Catholic Community Studies Unit as well as an overview of the history of Catholic education in
Ontario.
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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
Grade 2
Grade 7 and 8
Sacrament of Reconciliation
Feb. 27, 2016
10:00 a.m. or 12 noon
Spring 2016
NA
Advent Reconciliation, Dec. 15,
2015; Lenten Reconciliation TBD
NA
Late Spring 2016
Sacrament of Communion
Sacrament of Confirmation
Liturgical Celebrations:
The Liturgical calendar is marked by the gathering in community to celebrate the Eucharist and
share in prayer.
Celebration
Opening Liturgy @school
Opening Mass @ school
Remembrance Day Liturgy
Advent Mass @ St. Jerome’s Parish
Ash Wednesday
Holy Week Venue DAILY Celebrations,
Times TBD
Living Rosary/Crowning Of Mary
Year End Mass @ St. Jerome’s Parish
Graduation Liturgy and Celebration
Date
September 8, 2015 @ 10:30 a.m.
October 8, 2015 @ 10 a.m.
November 11, 2015 @ 10 a.m.
December 11, 2015 @ 10 a.m.
February 10, 2016 @ 10 a.m.
March 21-24, 2016
May 4, 2016
June 17, 2016 @ 10 a.m.
June 24, 2016 @ 6:00 p.m.
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.
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St. Monica Catholic School Community participates in numerous social justice and outreach
activities, some of the highlights include;
•Share Life/United Way- Christmas Store, Movie Night, School Dances, Dress Down Days, etc.
•Terry Fox Walk for cancer research, Run For the Cure Support
•St. Louise Outreach
•Parish Refugee Family, Other Parish charitable initiatives
•Thanksgiving food drive, Mitten Tree of Warmth-new winter clothing
•Providing lunches/snacks as required
•Gr. 7 Social Justice Group sponsored by the MBC Superintendent
•Student Council/Charity Fundraising, Student Ambassadors
•St. Monica School Christmas Outreach
•Community Response Committee - remembrance for community members in their time of need or
joy
•School to assist with sacramental preparation-specific tokens
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 Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations (OCSGE), at St. Monica Catholic School,
with St. Monica as our model, we journey together - students, staff, parish, parents and others. We
emphasize a Catholic environment, the nurturing of self-worth, self-discipline and respect for others.
As a Catholic educational community, we are committed to the constant deepening of our vision and
mission in reflection of the OCSGE. We are proud to say we are implementing some strategies to
some degree in our own unique style so 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. The Ontario Catholic School Graduate
Expectations are prominently displayed in our foyer, and smaller versions in some classrooms. Our
monthly newsletter and P.A. announcements are reflective of the OCSGE.
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-Classroom Chart Highlighting the Month, Virtue, Scripture, OCSGE
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.
At St. Monica School we have bi-monthly virtue assemblies to highlight our shared belief in
performing virtuous actions.
•Reviewing monthly virtues on the P.A., in the classrooms, in the school yard and in the community
•”Gotcha” boxes
•Student recognition certificates
•Student recognition tokens
•Highlighting students in our monthly newsletter and on our P.A.
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.
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At St. Monica Catholic School, “Guided by the Spirit…Growing as a Family”, we are highly reflective
of visible signs of our faith, with St. Monica as our model, we journey together - students, staff,
parish, parents and others. We emphasize a Catholic environment, the nurturing of self-worth, selfdiscipline and respect for others.
Students’ artistic creations are reflective of the Liturgical seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter,
Pentecost, etc. and are highlighted in the classrooms and throughout the school. The front foyer and
main office of St. Monica School are inviting foci for our beliefs. The altar, altar Liturgical cloth
changed throughout the Liturgical year, crucifix, open bible, prints of our Saviour, St. John Paul II,
Pope Francis, Statue of our Blessed Mother, Statue of Jesus, Ontario Catholic School Graduate
Banners, school banners, painted murals etc., are displayed for students, visitors and staff as visual
reminders of our Catholic faith, beliefs, and traditions.
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:
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.
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 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
 Additional Resources Purchased under the guidance of Fr. Jan our Pastor
YOUCAT
CHOSEN; DVD/Student-Staff Guides for Gr. 7&8 Sacramental Preparation
The Faith We Believe: Unpacking the Creed
Suggested Resource: Living with Christ
Additional resources
 Additional Highlights
Staff/Student created Videos highlighting our Virtues
St. Monica School Prayer Policy
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