Virtues Program
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“The best way to educate our children in the Faith is to model prayer and virtue for them.” - Pope Francis
St. Isaac Jogues K-8 Students Embrace A New Year-Long Program –
“The Language Of Virtues”The students, parents, faculty, and staff of St. Isaac Jogues School are learning to use a new language this year—the language of Virtues. The program and materials were written by Sister John Dominic, O.P., called Disciples of Christ. The mission of the school is to integrate the language of Virtues into all facets of daily life, not just as a lesson in Religion class. These virtues can be found in our classrooms, on the playground and in the cafeteria and in our gym. Each grade level highlights one virtue each month.
Kindergarten: Kindness 1st Grade: Respect
2nd Grade: Courtesy 3rd Grade: Patience
4th Grade: Honesty 5th Grade: Self Control
6th Grade: Gratitude 7th Grade: Humility
8th Grade: Obedience School Virtue: Prayerfulness
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Our Religion Curriculum
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"Be it known to all who enter here that Christ is the reason..."
The Religion curriculum for St. Isaac Jogues students includes an immersion in the Catholic faith. In the classroom students learn through prayer, stories, Scripture, activities and discussion. All school Masses are held weekly and on Holy Days of Obligation. These Masses are led by student readers, altar servers, and cantors. Many devotional practices are observed as well, these include receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation (twice a year), Stations of the Cross weekly during Lent, praying the Rosary as a school once each quarter, observing the Virtues in daily class and highlighting one virtue a month, and participating in the Diocese of Joliet Annual Devotion Project. St. Isaac’s begins and ends each year with a Faith Rally, an event involving Praise and Worship Music, Eucharistic Procession, Adoration, Benediction, and small group catechesis. The school gathers in Faith Families, one group of students from grades K-8 in each classroom, for many of these special events. Religion is a graded subject taught in each grade as follows:
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Kindergarten
An emphasis is placed on Catholic virtues as well as the importance of sharing, caring, and loving. Religion activities include singing songs, completing faith-based workbook pages, participating in craft activities, and learning about feast days and religious holidays.
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1st Grade
- saints;
- Baptism;
- Holy Family;
- liturgies;
- apostles;
- Loving God;
- Jesus our Shepherd; and
- age appropriate prayers will be learned.
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2nd Grade
- God’s laws of love (The Ten Commandments);
- preparation for the Sacrament of Reconciliation;
- preparation for the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist;
- how Jesus Christ is with us in the seven sacraments;
- how Catholics are called to serve God in different ways;
- parts of the Mass;
- seasons of the Liturgical year
- selected saints;
- Our Blessed Mother; and
- introduction to the rosary.
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3rd Grade
- the church as a faith community;
- the mysteries of faith—the Creed;
- the Kingdom of God;
- service to others;
- prayer and the Rosary; and
- family life.
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4th Grade
- virtues
- God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit;
- planning, assisting in liturgy and other forms of worship;
- Commandments;
- service;
- liturgical seasons;
- morality;
- church structure; and
- Beatitudes.
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5th Grade
- Worship of God as Catholic Christians;
- Sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation, Eucharist, Confirmation;
- celebrating God’s healing love;
- Anointing of the Sick;
- special ways to holiness;
- Christian Marriage, Holy Orders;
- worship of God by living in love;
- seasons of Advent, Lent, and Easter; and
- the Bible.
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6th Grade
- The Old Testament/Hebrew Scriptures;
- Bible organization;
- Hebrew scripture;
- Salvation history;
- God’s plan for us; and
- Family Life: students’ life experiences in the church, in the family, and in the community.
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7th Grade
- develop prayer life using Liturgy of the Hours;
- use Bible citations in all Religion work;
- participate in the planning and execution of the Mass and Devotional Events;
- develop skills in making moral choices and living a virtuous life with the guidance of the Holy Spirit;
- grow in knowledge and love of Jesus Christ through a study of Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and the Catechism of the Catholic Church;
- develop a habit of prayer through use of traditional prayers and reflection on the presence of Jesus in our lives;
- prepare for and celebrate the Liturgical seasons and feasts; and
- understand the daily journey to reach God by modeling the values of Jesus through service to others.
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8th Grade
- develop prayer life using Liturgy of the Hours;
- use Bible citations in all Religion work;
- participate in the planning and execution of the Mass and Devotional Events;
- develop skills in making moral choices and living a virtuous life with the guidance of the Holy Spirit;
- study major events of Church History;
- prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation by participating in parish-wide activities;
- understand the daily journey to reach God by modeling the values of Jesus through service to others; and
- develop a further understanding of the Liturgical Year through Sunday Readings.
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