Pastoral Plan
2015-2016
PASTORAL PLAN
School Name:
School Mission Statement:
St. Valentine Catholic School is committed to honouring the diversity of individuals in a
safe, nurturing environment where one can learn with dignity, live with self-respect and
grow in love and faith.
We are the unique creation of God in which members of this school community
exemplify the teachings of Jesus Christ. We are centred on Christ and focused on
students.
We believe in a shared responsibility of education that exists between the school, the
family, the parish and the community.
We believe we are a school community anchored in the Catholic Faith where Christian
values apply to life's opportunities, challenges and choices.
We believe in the provision of a variety of enriching and integrated opportunities for
spiritual and social growth and providing a curriculum and learning environment that is
dynamic, practical and relevant to enable our students to have the power and
responsibility to create a future just society.
We respect the diversity of individuals, value self-esteem and place importance in
creating a welcoming atmosphere of mutual respect that is safe, secure, co-operative
and equal.
We believe we must actively fulfill the mission statement of St. Valentine School
throughout our daily interactions.
We believe in the wholeness of a person and that we need to live, learn, love and pray
to our best potential with mind, heart and soul.
School Motto: Learning , Loving, Praying
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Pastoral Plan
2015-2016
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. Francis Xavier
Pastor: Rev. Msgr. Edgardo Pan
Parish website: www.stfrancisxavierchurch.ca
Message from the Pastor:
Catholic Education aims at forming students into faithful disciples of Jesus. Its threefold objectives are:
a. To provide an environment in which students are enabled to build and
deepen their relationship with God.
b. To foster an academic culture aimed at the pursuit of truth.
c. To actively promote growth in virtue.
Parents are the primary educators of their children through words and exemplary
actions, and the school is but an active, yet essential, extension of parental education. I
am very happy with the relationship and cooperation among the parish, the school and
the parents. However, we should not be contented with what we are all doing now.
Let’s do more to realize the three-fold objectives of Catholic Education.
Msgr. Edgardo Pan
Pastor
Message from the Catholic School Council:
The St. Valentine 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.
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Pastoral Plan
2015-2016
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.
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Rosary Apostolates – Crowning of Mary Celebration
Prayers over PA System
Liturgy to begin or end the week
Welcome to Kindergarten
Spring Concert
Classroom visits
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.
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La Capella – room dedicated to students and staff for group and private prayer
Prayers over PA system
Youth Ambassadors leading many social justice initiatives
Monthly staff liturgies
Relationship with parish Youth Minister
School wide confessions for Lent
Ash Wednesday liturgy
Monthly visits by Rosary Apostolates
“Gift” provided to each student at Easter
Advent and Lenten prayer calendars sent home to each family
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Pastoral Plan
2015-2016
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
Communion Inscription
Mass
Communion Preparation
Masses
First Holy Communion
Confirmation Retreat
Confirmation Inscription
Mass
Confirmation Preparation
Mass
Confirmation
Grade 2
Friday January 29, 2016
Grade 7 and 8
Sunday November 8, 2015
January 24 and February
7, 2016
Saturday April 23, 2016
TBD
Sunday December 6, 2015
Thursday January 28,
2016
Thursday May 12, 2016
Liturgical Celebrations:
The Liturgical calendar is marked by the gathering in community to celebrate the
Eucharist and share in prayer.
Celebration
Beginning of Year/Thanksgiving Mass
Advent Mass
Feast Day Mass
Lenten Mass
End of Year/Graduation Mass
Date
Friday October 2, 2015
Wednesday December 16, 2015
Friday February 12, 2016
Wednesday February 24, 2016
Monday June 27, 2016
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Pastoral Plan
2015-2016
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
 Terry Fox
 Hats off for Kidz
 Food drives
 Toonies for Autism
 St. Joseph Secondary School Shoe Drive
 Mitten and Hat Tree at Christmas
 Christmas Gift Cards for St. Vincent de Paul
 Dr. Simone’s warehouse
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:
 Service projects for grade 8 students
 PALS
 Lion’s Den and Buddy Benches
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Pastoral Plan
2015-2016
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
 virtue t-shirts (provided by Catholic School Council)
 virtues highlighted on announcements and in newsletter
 monthly pencils provided to each student with virtue of the month
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 in classrooms
 Floor cross and altar with bible, chalice and plate, liturgical candles
 Catholic Education Week and Virtue of the Month displays
 Banners: St. Valentine, OCSGE, Welcome
 Photo of Pope Francis
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Pastoral Plan
2015-2016
Resource List for Parents/Guardians:
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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
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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
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Max Lucado – Children’s Treasury
Large Bible for Altar
Altar cloths
Chalice and paten
Liturgical season banners
Virtue banners
OCSGE floor banner
St. Valentine School banners
Various religious prints and banners
Stations of the Cross plaques
La Capella – school sacred space
Classroom altar tables with various items, including classroom bibles
Library resources
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