Pastoral Plan
2015-2016
PASTORAL PLAN
School Mission Statement:
At St. John Paul II Catholic Elementary School, we commit ourselves to nurture and develop the spiritual,
intellectual, physical and social growth of each student, in partnership with the parents and the Church,
in a supportive professional environment.
School Motto: Spiritual. Academic. Social. Excellence.
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: 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 Paul II School Community through liturgy, prayer, and the
Sacraments. St. John Paul II School supports the work of evangelization in the parish through promotion
of parish wide Youth Ministries.
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Pastoral Plan
2015-2016
Message from the Catholic School Council:
“School councils play a vital role in the education system in Ontario. They provide a forum through which
parents and other members of school communities can contribute to improving student achievement and
school performance. Catholic school councils shall promote the vision, values, sacramental life, and
Catholic practices of the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board and be faithful to its mission.”
(Get Involved in YOUR Catholic School Council Brochure)
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.
During Catholic Education week we reflect on the importance of Catholic education in our society.
Parents are invited to participate in prayer, celebrations and activities that highlight the spiritual life,
mission and vision of St. John Paul II school. During Catholic Education Week, prayer centered on the
theme: Opening Doors of Mercy is an essential component of experiencing God’s presence in our
school. As well, students will be given the opportunity to demonstrate and actualize mercy through
charitable activities such as a Food Drive.
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.
It is our belief that as a school community, both staff and students work together to nurture our faith
development by learning more about our faith and acting as living examples of the Gospel Values.
At St. John Paul II there are many school activities that support both adult and student faith formation
including: liturgies, masses, virtue assemblies, faith days, Lenten pilgrimage, Seder meal, retreats (Lent
and Advent) guest speakers (former students who have participated in missions, youth minister,
Father Larry, etc.) Rosary Club and Youth Faith Ambassadors.
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.
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Pastoral Plan
2015-2016
Students prepare for their sacraments with their by families through Holy Family Parish. Weekly
attendance at mass, prayer, and reflection, are ways that students can strengthen their relationship
with God and ready themselves for Reconciliation, First Communion, or Confirmation.
Liturgical Celebrations:
The Liturgical calendar is marked by the gathering in community to celebrate the Eucharist and
share in prayer.
Celebration
Advent Mass
Easter Mass
End of the Year Mass
Graduation Mass
Ash Wednesday Liturgy
Virtue Assembly – Conscience
Virtue Assembly – Hope
Virtue Assembly – Self Control/Decision
Making
Virtue Assembly – Respect
Virtue Assembly – Kindness
Virtue Assembly – Love
Virtue Assembly – Acceptance
Virtue Assembly – Fairness
Date
December 1, 2015
April 6, 2016
June 15, 2016
June 22, 2016
February 10, 2016
November 11, 2015
December 15, 2015
January 12, 2016
February 2, 2016
March 8, 2016
April 12, 2016
May 17, 2016
June 7, 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.
At. St. John Paul II we believe we have a duty to help others as Jesus did. We practice kindness in our
school community, charity in our local community, and stewardship for the earth through many
activities throughout the school year. We raise money for ShareLife and other charities through dress
down days, hockey games, staff social fundraisers, the Terry Fox Run, and spirit council fundraisers.
We give to the neediest in our community and our world through a candy drive for Dr. Simone, a
Giving Tree to collect hats and mittens, a toy drive, ‘shop with a cop’ for families in need, and by
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Pastoral Plan
2015-2016
collecting milk bags. We also serve our community through Grandfriends and work to save our planet
through our Eco-team. Working together we can make a difference in the world.
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.
At. St. John Paul II our Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations are present in the front lobby at
the entrance of our school. We celebrate our graduates through a Graduation mass and present
awards that recognize achievement in behaviours that reflect the OCGEs such as Christian Leadership
and Catholicity. At St. John Paul II we work to create and sustain a safe, caring, and inclusive school
community that includes anti-bullying prevention measures. Some students also attend a diversity
conference to learn more about how to be caring, contributing, responsible citizens.
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. John Paul II we have monthly virtues assemblies to remind us of our commitment to high moral
standards. Each month a different virtue becomes the focus in our classrooms. We have Virtue Trees in
classrooms with symbols of the different virtue of the month. We also participate in activities such as
Random Acts of Kindness to highlight the virtues we strive to demonstrate. Through our PALS
program, ECO team, Spirit Council, and Peace Garden, we provide opportunities for students to learn
about the virtues and practice them in their daily lives.
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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Pastoral Plan
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Our school sign informs the community of our upcoming celebrations and masses. There is also a
passage that reminds all those who pass by the school that we are a school rooted in our faith. At St.
John Paul II our cross and altar are prominently placed by the front door. As we walk in the school,
these symbols are present as a reminder of what we believe. In each classroom there is a prayer table
with a table cloth, changed monthly by our Youth Faith Ambassadors, to reflect the colours of the
liturgical seasons. Classes have crosses, children’s bible stories, bibles, and displays such as Circle of
Friends that remind us of who we are and how we are called to act. Our Advent wreaths are present
during Advent and nativity scenes are displayed during Christmas. These symbols of our faith help to
represent who we are as a Catholic community.
Resource List for Parents/Guardians:
 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.
 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
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