LITURICAL YEAR AT A GLANCE
DATE
CELEBRATION
Virtue Assemblies
Once per month
October 11, 2012
10:30 a.m. – School
Opening/Feast Day
Mass
November 11, 2012
Remembrance Day
10:45 a.m. - School
November 28, 2012
Reconciliation for
students in Gr. 3-8
December 2, 2012
Advent Season Begins
December 4, 2012
Advent Mass
10:00 a.m. – School
December 25, 2012
Christmas Day
February 13, 2013
Ash Wednesday
Service
10:15 a.m. - School
February 2013
Sacrament of
Reconciliation (Gr.2)
March 5, 2013
Lenten Mass
1:30 p.m. - School
March 28, 2013
Holy Thursday
Stations of the Cross
March 29, 2013
Good Friday
March 31, 2013
Easter Sunday
May, 2011
First Holy Communion
TBD at the Church
(Grade 2)
TBD at the Church
Confirmation
(Grade 8)
May 5, 2013
Catholic Education
Week begins
May 6, 2013
Catholic Education
Week Liturgy
June 24, 2013
Year End Mass/
Graduation
10:30 a.m.
BELIEF STATEMENTS
We believe that
… we grow in our faith as a community by living the
gospel values of love, justice, compassion, and service in
our daily lives.
… each individual within the community can grow
intellectually, emotionally, socially and spiritually
through meaningful and challenging learning
experiences.
St. Ursula School
Pastoral Plan
2012-2013
… we bring out the best in each other by working
together to create welcoming and supportive
relationships.
… all partners in our school – staff, parish, parents,
and volunteers strive to put children first by building a
community that communicates effectively and works
cooperatively with one another.
… each individual is unique and that treating each
other with courtesy, kindness and respect fosters a
caring and safe learning environment.
… a professional staff working collaboratively to
enhance the learning environment and their own
learning enriches the lives of everyone.
Prayer to St. Ursula
Heavenly Father, St. Ursula, Patron Saint
of Catholic Education, Students and teachers,
loved children and became a teacher.
She taught them about the Good News and instructed
them in how to lead holy lives.
We ask St. Ursula to help all Catholic schools,
that whatever problems they face are resolved
according to your Wisdom, O Lord.
Bless the teachers. May they may remain true to the
Gospel in all of their lessons.
Bless the students. May they learn about the faith
and how to live the faith.
St. Ursula, pray for us. Amen.
“Where Wisdom Begins
In
Faith And Wonder”
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of St. Ursula school community is to
ensure that home, Church and school are
collaborative partners in the building of an
environment that reflects Catholic faith and values
by celebrating each person as a member of the Body
of Christ and by challenging all to achieve
excellence spiritually, socially and academically.
A COMMUNITY GROWING IN FAITH
The triad of home, school and parish working
together to support one another in educating
the whole child is what makes Catholic
Education distinct. Our school mission statement
establishes a strong foundation in which to create
a positive and challenging learning environment
for our school community, rooted in the context
of our Catholic values. Our pastoral plan is an
example of how we can learn and work together
as followers of Jesus.
“The Catholic Education system is distinct in the
way it prepares its students. We prepare our youth
in stewardship. We prepare them to be persons for
the world rather than just preparing them
academically for the future.”- Our Catholic Schools,
Ontario Catholic Trustee’s Association 2000
J. Bryce, Principal
D. Carpe, Vice-Principal
Parish & Home Connections
St. Ursula School works closely with our spiritual
leaders from St. Anne Church. Fr. James, Fr. Paul
and the pastoral team collaborate with the school
to help us celebrate our faith in many ways as we
develop together as a school community.
We continue to invite and seek guidance of
parents on our School Council in the faith
formation of our students. Ongoing and effective
communication between the home and school is
essential for supporting our students’ faith
formation and creating successful learning
experiences. Parents are welcome to attend
school liturgies, sacramental preparations, and to
support our efforts in creating a strong sense of
stewardship among our students by supporting
school outreach projects and community
charities.
SCHOOL PASTORAL PLAN
As we continue with our journey of faith, our
Pastoral Plan will be centered on the faith
formation of the students we serve, and
welcoming the diversity within our community.
Virtues formation will be infused into our daily
life with a monthly virtue as a focus. Catholicity
goals will focus on participation in liturgies,
building knowledge and understanding, and
recognizing the sacred space of our faith. We
will continue to build upon our Prayer room in
the school. Leadership opportunities will be
provided for our Youth Faith Ambassadors.
celebrations include: a Feast Day Mass, Advent
Mass, Ash Wednesday Service, Lenten Mass,
and a Closing Year/ Graduation Mass.
Community Service & Outreach Projects
As a community of faith, we show our
compassion and generosity by giving to those in
need. We will continue to demonstrate our
commitment to Jesus and his ministry through
community service projects. By reaching out to
others, students are encouraged to become
thoughtful and caring members of the
community and to appreciate the importance of
social justice and stewardship. Various outreach
initiatives will occur throughout the year, such
as food drives, supporting families in need,
Share Life/United Way events, Christmas
Operation Shoebox, Christmas gift cards of
H.O.P.E. and ongoing support for the parish
community.
Sacramental Preparation
Prayer
Prayer, O Canada, and a reflection or reading
from Scripture is part of every student’s opening
exercises. Prayer helps to bring us together as a
community of faith and is extended throughout
the school day through liturgies, sacramental
preparation and classroom activities. Students
practice and learn responses to the mass, recite
our school prayer, and a choir is focused on
increasing our celebration of prayer through
song. Prayer is weaved throughout the day, and
by visits from the Rosary Apostolate.
Special Liturgical Celebrations
As Catholics, we praise God every day and we
are thankful for our many blessings. We use
special times of the year to highlight our thanks
to God for all that God has done for us. Our
Sacramental preparation of students is central to
the faith formation of each and every student.
At St. Ursula, our grade two and grade eight
teachers support the parish team at St. Anne
Church, spend a great deal of time preparing
students for the sacraments of Reconciliation,
First Holy Communion, and Confirmation.
Teachers are active participants with the parish
and in delivering the curriculum through the
Religion programme.
Adult Faith Development
Staff at St. Ursula engages in ongoing faith
activities. Adult Faith Ambassadors meet
regularly to plan for adult faith opportunities. By
supporting and nourishing the faith of our staff,
we can model and maintain the rich spiritual
atmosphere in the school.