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Elementary Pastoral Plan 2019-2020
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PASTORAL PLAN
School:
School Mission Statement:
The mission of St. Teresa of Calcutta School is to develop the faith of our members to
recognize that God lives in all of us and to do small things with great love, as St. Teresa
showed us. As a Catholic School Community, we are committed to nurturing and developing
the spiritual, intellectual, physical and social growth of each student. We strive to promote
academic excellence and the well-being of each individual. We pledge to promote an effective
partnership with home, school and the Parish in a safe, caring, inclusive and Catholic
environment. Faith formation is essential. We will work together to increase student
application of scripture, develop an understanding of sacramental life and apply Catholic
social teachings to daily life to further develop our faith. The focus will be to develop student
understanding of scripture and authentically apply it to the daily life. Our social outreach
programs will assist students to develop healthy minds, bodies and spirits. Instilling self-
respect, respect for others as well as compassion and empathy are our goals as a school.
St. Teresa of Calcutta School works in partnership with the Church. We belong to St. Patrick’s
Parish and are fortunate to have Father John E. Facey celebrate the Eucharist, share in
liturgies and prepare and administer the sacraments.
School Motto: Hands to Serve, Hearts to Love Growing in the Image of Christ
Our Parish: St. Patrick (Mississauga)
Pastor: Rev. John E. Facey
Parish website: https://stpatricksmi.archtoronto.org/
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Message from the Pastor:
St. Teresa of Calcutta school is under the pastoral care of Father John Facey at St. Patrick’s Parish. We encourage our families to register with the parish, and to join in celebration of the mass times listed below:
Saturday Evening - 5:00 p.m. Sunday - 8:30 a.m., 10:00 a.m., and 12 noon ( Children’s liturgy from September to June) , 7:00 p.m.
Weekdays Daily (Monday - Saturday) - 8:15 a.m. Evening Mass - Tuesday & Friday at 7:00 p.m.
Sacrament of Reconciliation Tuesday: 6:00 - 6:45 p.m. Saturday: 4:00 – 4:45 p.m. & any day by appointment
Message from the Catholic School Council:
The St. Teresa of Calcutta 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. Our Catholic
School Council continues to play a key role in helping to create community with activities that
bring families together during and after school hours e.g., Open House BBQ, Positivity
Presentation, Christmas Movie Day Trip, Shrove Tuesday, Communion and Confirmation
celebrations, June Play Day, fundraiser events for student resources and various school needs.
Parents are always invited to attend school masses/liturgies, Virtue Assemblies and social
justice initiatives. Community agencies visit the school to promote safety, mental health and
well-being. We welcome all parents/guardians to the council, for it is through active
participation that our students’ lives will be enriched.
Catholic Education Week Theme: Igniting Hope
Throughout Catholic Education Week, we ask you to reflect on the significance of Catholic education’s
presence and contribution to our Church, and to our society.
May 3 – May 8 is Catholic Education Week.
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“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may
abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)
The sub-themes for Catholic Education Week 2020 are as follows:
Monday: Our Hope in Christ
Tuesday: The Hope Within Us
Wednesday: The Hope Among Us
Thursday: Hope for the World
Friday: A Future Full of Hope
During this week the following activities will take place: French Café for the entire school Individual classroom activities
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.
Our collective goal at STOC is to guide our students on their faith journey from the moment they enter our school until their graduation as young Catholic adults, prepared to become positive contributing members of our society. Understanding of scripture and its connection to sacramental life, Catholic social teachings, and daily life is a focus for our school. We begin every day at St. Teresa of Calcutta by honouring our country and our faith - O Canada is sung, a scriptural reading or special reflection is read, followed by our school prayer of St. Teresa of Calcutta. From September to June, every class, from FDK to gr. 8 is given an opportunity to lead the school in opening exercises, faith reflections and prayer. The organization of regular ‘Liturgy of The Word’ for classes and staff, as well as the continued expectations of both the Virtue and OCSGE are at the forefront of who we are here at STOC- we are a ‘family’ of learners. Monthly Virtue Assemblies are celebrated each month. We continue to look to our patroness, St. Teresa of Calcutta, for guidance and reflective leadership. Rosary Apostolates visit the school monthly and staff and students enjoy praying as a community to Our Lady. Also the Youth Minister from St. Patrick’s Parish
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organized a retreat for the Grade 7 students from St. Teresa of Calcutta, St. Edmund and St. Vincent de Paul. High school members from Edge will also be visiting our students throughout the year to discuss other Youth Programs at St. Patrick’s Church. The Youth Faith Leader has agreed to be part of our liturgies and other school events. She wants to further develop the faith formation of our students who are in Grade 6 to Grade 8.
Sacramental Preparation:
As Catholics, 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 Grade 2 Grade 7
Preparation Classes for the Sacrament of Reconciliation
Preparation program runs on Saturday afternoons from 4:00 – 4:45 p.m. and Sunday mornings from 11:00 – 11:45 a.m.
Sacrament of Reconciliation
January 15 and 16 at 7:00 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Church
Sacrament of Communion
April 18 at 5:00 p.m. and April 19 at 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. April 25 at 5:00 p.m. and April 26 at 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.
Preparation Classes for the Sacrament of Confirmation
Parent Information Session Sept. 25 at 7:00 pm at St. Patrick’s Church Enrollment Masses October 19 at 5:00 p.m. Mass October 20 at 8:30 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. mass Retreat Day October 9 form 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
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Preparation program runs on Tuesdays from 5:00 – 6:30 p.m., Thursdays from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Sacrament of Confirmation
June 3 and 4
Liturgical Celebrations:
The Liturgical calendar is marked by the gathering in community to celebrate the Eucharist and
share in prayer.
Celebration Date
Thanksgiving Mass
Wednesday October 23, 2019 at 9:30 am in the school gym
Advent Mass Thursday, December 5, 2019 at 9:30 a.m. in the school gym
Lenten Mass Wednesday, March 5, 2020 at 9:30 a.m. in the school gym
Easter Mass Wednesday, May 20, 2020 at 9:30 a.m. in the school gym
Year End/Graduation Mass Thursday, June 18, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Church
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…. As a school community, we continue to be committed to supporting those among us who are in greater need. Through our Faith Ambassadors and School Council, we will ensure that funds, food and other needed items, which are raised through various events, will be directed to needy families of St. Teresa of Calcutta School and agencies such as ShareLife.
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Our Youth Faith Ambassador program continues to provide students with a voice as to what they would like to see going on in the school for school spirit activities, fundraisers, charity work, etc. They take a leadership role in creating and running prayer services and liturgies. Our YFA with the help of the Adult Faith Ambassadors, run a snack program, assist with Angels of Giving, collecting food and toiletries for the needy and for Dr. Simone initiatives. Staff participate in Dress Down Fridays and funds raised are donated to ShareLife. Also the school community participates in ShareLife through having monthly Spirit Days and Christmas activities. At St. Teresa of Calcutta School, we believe the words of St. Teresa, “not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”
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…. The Ontario Catholic Graduate Banner hangs proudly in our front foyer area for all to see and take note of. Teachers embed the expectations into daily curriculum while modeling the OCSGE for students, especially with being lifelong learners. Students are engaged in leadership roles and live our Catholic values through our Youth Faith Ambassador Program, Eco Team, Virtue Program, Circle of Friends, Social justice initiatives and announcements.
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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….
The St. Teresa of Calcutta School community gathers monthly to focus our attention on our ten virtues. We celebrate our accomplishments and give thanks for God’s presence in our daily lives. Classrooms are responsible for presenting/demonstrating the ‘Virtue’ that will be witnessed throughout the month. Students, selected for the virtue being celebrated, are given a certificate and pencil. Parents/Guardians are invited to attend. The virtues we celebrate are:
Sept. - Faith Feb. - Respect Oct. - Empathy Mar. - Kindness Nov. - Conscience Apr. - Love Dec. - Hope May - Acceptance
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, community service When you walk in the front doors of St. Teresa of Calcutta School you can sense immediately the “family” atmosphere that is very much a part of who we are as a school. Upon entering students, parents and visitors, have in front of them our altar with our beloved statue of St. Teresa of Calcutta to greet everyone. A statue of the Virgin Mary is in our display case. The Bible, a symbol of our faith stands tall and proud surrounded by plants and our precious Canadian Flag. The monthly virtue is displayed on the altar. Each class has developed their own rules and routines that help students promote, practice and display virtuous behaviour. Teachers use sacred spaces, Catholic Virtue signs, as well as faith artifacts in the
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classrooms, hallways and front foyer to promote our Catholic values on a daily basis. As a school, we are involved in many student driven charity initiatives, eco-school projects and well-being activities (extra-curricular, prayer, liturgical, social activities and leadership experiences). Virtues, Family Life and Religious Education programs are integrated in all curricular and extracurricular activities and the Ontario Catholic Graduate expectations are part of daily school life. As a school and parish community, we gather together to celebrate social teachings and read scripture at masses, both at the church and school. We strive to authentically put into practice the social teachings from scripture through our daily actions.
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
School-Based
