Holy Spirit's Religious Education page

Religious Education

Religious education is an essential and integral part of the life and culture of a Catholic School. Our students participate in formal Religious Education through our Religion programs but in Catholic schools, we also have informal Religious Education. This includes opportunities to learn about and apply our faith in additional ways such as through permeation of faith in all curricular areas, prayer and liturgical celebrations, and works of charity and social justice. Like all schools, the Catholic school intends to promote the student's development towards full adulthood.

A Catholic School presents three fundamental dimensions:

1. an explicit and respectful presentation of the Catholic faith;

2. a priority attention to human relationships and the values and attitudes needed to build a relationship with God and community through the person of Jesus Christ;

3. the will to educate the whole person (physical, intellectual, emotional, social, spiritual)

It is the special function of the Catholic School to develop in the school community an atmosphere animated by a spirit of liberty and charity based on the Gospel. The Catholic school places at the heart of its educational purpose, the person of Jesus Christ. He should inspire and animate every action in the school's life. We employ people who share our commitment to Catholic faith and the promotion of Gospel values.

Students in the Holy Spirit Catholic Schools follow the curriculum of Alberta Learning within a Christ-centered environment. That community is committed to partnership with home, parish and community. We recognize and value the diversity of our students and the school communities that we serve.

The Five Marks of a Catholic School

Archbishop Miller presents five characteristics or marks that identify a school as authentically Catholic.

Mark One: Grounded in a Christian Anthropology
At their core, Catholic schools view the human person as having inherent dignity as a child of God. Since the foundation of our lives is in Jesus Christ, the Catholic school looks to him as our model and inspiration.

Mark Two: Imbued with a Catholic Worldview
The vision of the Catholic school is grounded in the teachings of Jesus and the Church. It is evident in our physical spaces, in how we use our time and resources, in our relationships, and in the quality of teaching and learning in our schools.

Mark Three: Animated by a Faith-Infused Curriculum
All areas in the Alberta curriculum are infused with our faith. Catholic schools promote a wisdom based society, teaching our students to be critical thinkers who evaluate facts in light of their faith and values and who are guided by the Church’s social doctrine.

Mark Four: Sustained by Gospel Witness
The most important condition for being an effective educator in a Catholic school is being in a relationship with Jesus Christ. Adults in our schools are expected to model this relationship in words and actions as they work with students who are deepening their own relationship with Christ.

Mark Five: Shaped by a Spirituality of Communion
Catholic schools strive for the unity found in the Trinity and this is evident in the relationships between Bishops, clergy, trustees, administrators, staff, students, and families. We see schools as community, not institutions, and create school climates that model the warm atmosphere of family life.

To download a copy of the "Five Marks of a Catholic School", click here.

Notice of Parent or Guardian Religious Permeation

The Alberta Human Rights Act requires a school board to give notice to a parent or guardian when courses of study, education programs, institutional materials, instruction or exercises include subject matter that deals primarily and explicitly with religion.

All of the schools in this district are Catholic Separate Schools, the essential purpose of which is to fully permeate Catholic theology, philosophy, practices and beliefs, the principles of the Gospel and teachings of the Catholic Church, in all aspects of school life, including in the curriculum of every subject taught, both in and outside of formal religion classes, celebrations and exercises.

Every course of study and educational program, all institutional materials, instruction and exercises will at all times include subject matter that deals primarily and explicitly with religion.

All parents and staff are invited to contact the Director of Religious Education regarding any questions on the above information by phone (403-327-9555) or email.

 

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