The Five Marks of a �Catholic School
Dear Jesus,
Let your light shine in our Catholic schools.
Let your grace rain down
bringing hope to each person we encounter.
bringing wisdom to our teachers and leaders,
bringing strength in times of trial
Protect us from harm.
Let the children come to You, for the kingdom of God is theirs.
St Thomas Aquinas, patron saint of Catholic schools,
Pray for us.
Amen.
Where it all began…..
The key aspects of the symposium were captured and recorded in an ACSTA document: Growing Forward.
This launched Alberta’s understanding and application of the 5 Marks of a Catholic School.
��In 2015 the Council of Catholic School Superintendents of Alberta (CCSSA) wrote a companion document for Catholic teachers titled: The Excellent Catholic Teacher.�� The goal was to “make real” and operationalize the marks of a Catholic school��The document is available on the CCSSA website.�
�CCSSA recognized the need for the marks to be viewed through the lens of Catholic leadership. They created The Marks of a Catholic Leader. ��Over the last six years, the 5 Marks of a Catholic School/Catholic Teacher and Catholic Leader have been used to deepen our understanding and perfect our practice of Catholic education. �
About this presentation…
The 5 Marks of a Catholic School are used, to varying degrees, across Alberta as a way of describing and celebrating Catholic education.
GrACE has partnered with 5 Catholic divisions in the province to create this presentation. Thanks to their efforts, each mark has been illustrated through a video created within a specific Catholic school division.
We invite you to learn, discuss and reflect on these fundamental and critical aspects of a Catholic school. We invite you to see these marks alive in one of Alberta’s Catholic School districts.
The 5 Marks of a Catholic School are:�
Copy the marks into your processing booklet.
Created in the Image of God
Mark One
Mark 1 �
Catholic schools are driven by a mission which views all men and women with an inherent dignity as sons and daughters of God.
If we get it wrong about who students really are, that is persons created in God's image and likeness and given life in Christ through the Holy Spirit, then, from the onset our Catholic schools go off track.
Most Reverend J. Michael Miller, CSB�
�
�
�In a Catholic school we...�
Where and when have you seen Mark 1 in your Catholic education experience?
What do you want to remember about Mark 1?
MARK ONE
Catholic Worldview
Mark Two
Mark 2
Catholic schools have a visible and tangible Catholic vision evident in their physical space, liturgical celebrations, and prayer life.
When Catholic worldview permeates a school’s life, then it is the driving force behind every activity, so that the Church’s mission may be served effectively.
�Most Reverend J. Michael Miller, CSB�
�
�In a Catholic school we...�
Where and when have you seen Mark 2 in your Catholic education experience?
What do you want to remember about Mark 2?
MARK TWO
Faith Permeation
Mark Three
Mark 3 ���
Catholic schools have an academic curriculum that integrates a vision of faith within the learner outcomes and teaching strategies.
Most Reverend J. Michael Miller, CSB
�In a Catholic school we...�
Where and when have you seen Mark 3 in your Catholic education experience?
What do you want to remember about Mark 3?
MARK THREE
Witness
Mark Four
Mark 4
Catholic schools nurture teachers that are living witnesses to the Gospel, and intentional disciples of Jesus Christ and his Church.
Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses.
What educators do and how they act are more significant than what they say – inside and outside the classroom. This is how the church evangelizes. The more completely an educator can give concrete witness to the model of the ideal person [Christ] that is being presented to the students, the more this ideal will be believed and imitated.�
Pope Paul VI, Evangelii Nuntiandi, 1975�
But above all with your life be witnesses of what you communicate.
Educators…pass on knowledge and values with their words; but their words will have an incisive effect on children and young people if they are accompanied by their witness, their consistent way of life. Without consistency it is impossible to educate!
Pope Francis, June 7, 2013
�
A school's authentic Catholicity is found in the vital witness of its teachers and administrators. With them lies the primary responsibility for creating a Christian school climate, as individuals and as a community. Indeed, it depends chiefly on them whether the Catholic school achieves its purpose.
Most Reverend J. Michael Miller, CSB�
�
�In a Catholic school we...�
MARK FOUR
�In a Catholic school we...�
Where and when have you seen Mark 4 in your Catholic education experience?
What do you want to remember about Mark 4?
MARK FOUR
Community
Mark Five
Mark 5
Catholic schools recognize that each and every stakeholder is responsible for the common good.
“An authentic Catholic school and the Catholic school district strives for the unity found in the Trinity and will be evident in the authentic relationships among Bishops, trustees, administrators, staff, students and families”
�Most Reverend J. Michael Miller, CSB�
�
�In a Catholic school we...�
Where and when have you seen Mark 5 in your Catholic education experience?
What do you want to remember about Mark 5?
MARK FIVE
5 Marks of Catholic Education�
Celebrating the 5 Marks
Catholic schools are unique and distinct. They create genuine opportunities for encounters with Christ.
By deepening our understanding of the Marks of a Catholic School, educators can teach and lead our schools more faithfully and fully and all stakeholders can participate in the communal work of authentic Catholic education.
Thank you to our GrACE partners. � We couldn’t do this without you!
Elk Island Catholic Schools
Holy Family Catholic District
Edmonton Catholic School District
Christ the Redeemer Catholic Schools
Calgary Catholic School District
Resources
Dear Jesus,
Let your light shine in our Catholic schools.
Let your grace rain down
bringing hope to each person we encounter.
bringing wisdom to our teachers and leaders,
bringing strength in times of trial
Protect us from harm.
Let the children come to You, for the kingdom of God is theirs.
St Thomas Aquinas, patron saint of Catholic schools,
Pray for us.
Amen.
Where it all began…..
The key aspects of the symposium were captured and recorded in an ACSTA document: Growing Forward.
This launched Alberta’s understanding and application of the 5 Marks of a Catholic School.
��In 2015 the Council of Catholic School Superintendents of Alberta (CCSSA) wrote a companion document for Catholic teachers titled: The Excellent Catholic Teacher.�� The goal was to “make real” and operationalize the marks of a Catholic school��The document is available on the CCSSA website.�
�CCSSA recognized the need for the marks to be viewed through the lens of Catholic leadership. They created The Marks of a Catholic Leader. ��Over the last six years, the 5 Marks of a Catholic School/Catholic Teacher and Catholic Leader have been used to deepen our understanding and perfect our practice of Catholic education. �
About this presentation…
The 5 Marks of a Catholic School are used, to varying degrees, across Alberta as a way of describing and celebrating Catholic education.
GrACE has partnered with 5 Catholic divisions in the province to create this presentation. Thanks to their efforts, each mark has been illustrated through a video created within a specific Catholic school division.
We invite you to learn, discuss and reflect on these fundamental and critical aspects of a Catholic school. We invite you to see these marks alive in one of Alberta’s Catholic School districts.
The 5 Marks of a Catholic School are:�
Copy the marks into your processing booklet.
Created in the Image of God
Mark One
Mark 1 �
Catholic schools are driven by a mission which views all men and women with an inherent dignity as sons and daughters of God.
If we get it wrong about who students really are, that is persons created in God's image and likeness and given life in Christ through the Holy Spirit, then, from the onset our Catholic schools go off track.
Most Reverend J. Michael Miller, CSB�
�
�
�In a Catholic school we...�
Where and when have you seen Mark 1 in your Catholic education experience?
What do you want to remember about Mark 1?
MARK ONE
Catholic Worldview
Mark Two
Mark 2
Catholic schools have a visible and tangible Catholic vision evident in their physical space, liturgical celebrations, and prayer life.
When Catholic worldview permeates a school’s life, then it is the driving force behind every activity, so that the Church’s mission may be served effectively.
�Most Reverend J. Michael Miller, CSB�
�
�In a Catholic school we...�
Where and when have you seen Mark 2 in your Catholic education experience?
What do you want to remember about Mark 2?
MARK TWO
Faith Permeation
Mark Three
Mark 3 ���
Catholic schools have an academic curriculum that integrates a vision of faith within the learner outcomes and teaching strategies.
Most Reverend J. Michael Miller, CSB
�In a Catholic school we...�
Where and when have you seen Mark 3 in your Catholic education experience?
What do you want to remember about Mark 3?
MARK THREE
Witness
Mark Four
Mark 4
Catholic schools nurture teachers that are living witnesses to the Gospel, and intentional disciples of Jesus Christ and his Church.
Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses.
What educators do and how they act are more significant than what they say – inside and outside the classroom. This is how the church evangelizes. The more completely an educator can give concrete witness to the model of the ideal person [Christ] that is being presented to the students, the more this ideal will be believed and imitated.�
Pope Paul VI, Evangelii Nuntiandi, 1975�
But above all with your life be witnesses of what you communicate.
Educators…pass on knowledge and values with their words; but their words will have an incisive effect on children and young people if they are accompanied by their witness, their consistent way of life. Without consistency it is impossible to educate!
Pope Francis, June 7, 2013
�
A school's authentic Catholicity is found in the vital witness of its teachers and administrators. With them lies the primary responsibility for creating a Christian school climate, as individuals and as a community. Indeed, it depends chiefly on them whether the Catholic school achieves its purpose.
Most Reverend J. Michael Miller, CSB�
�
�In a Catholic school we...�
MARK FOUR
�In a Catholic school we...�
Where and when have you seen Mark 4 in your Catholic education experience?
What do you want to remember about Mark 4?
MARK FOUR
Community
Mark Five
Mark 5
Catholic schools recognize that each and every stakeholder is responsible for the common good.
“An authentic Catholic school and the Catholic school district strives for the unity found in the Trinity and will be evident in the authentic relationships among Bishops, trustees, administrators, staff, students and families”
�Most Reverend J. Michael Miller, CSB�
�
�In a Catholic school we...�
Where and when have you seen Mark 5 in your Catholic education experience?
What do you want to remember about Mark 5?
MARK FIVE
5 Marks of Catholic Education�
Celebrating the 5 Marks
Catholic schools are unique and distinct. They create genuine opportunities for encounters with Christ.
By deepening our understanding of the Marks of a Catholic School, educators can teach and lead our schools more faithfully and fully and all stakeholders can participate in the communal work of authentic Catholic education.
Resources