Pastoral Plan
2015-2016
PASTORAL PLAN
School Name:
School Mission Statement:
We believe that each member of the St. Andrew School community is unique and
special and has a positive contribution to make to society.
We aspire to be living examples of Christ’s message of love, serving as role models
in the Christian formation of all members of the community.
We endeavor to “touch the hearts and minds of those with whom we work,” and
in co-operation with parents and the parish priest, we will assist children in their
own personal development of faith and their appreciation and understanding of
the Gospel values.
Together, we will provide a friendly and caring environment, which inspires
academic excellence, fosters self-esteem and promotes respect for others.
We believe that education is a life-long process, involving physical, intellectual,
emotional, social and spiritual development. To this end, we will strive to
promote the full development of children in the image of Christ.
School Motto: Achieving, Believing & Caring
Pastoral Plan Links to Strategic Plan/Catholic Board Learning Plan:
 Link: Strategic Plan 2014-2019 Strategic System Plan
 Link: Catholic Board Learning Plan CBLP 2013-2016
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Pastoral Plan
2015-2016
Our Parish: St. Timothy
Pastor: Rev. Sean Lee Lung
Parish website: www.sttimothyparish.com/
Message from the Pastor:
St. Andrew School. is under the pastoral care of St. Timothy Parish in Orangeville. We encourage our
families to register with the parish, and join us for mass-Saturdays at 5:00 pm and Sundays at 9:00 am,
11:00 am. We are aiming to form St. Timothy Catholic Church in Orangeville as one of the most active
and relevant parishes with Youth Ministries in Ontario. We want to offer our youth of the parish the
best opportunities to connect with authentic Catholic faith in community of parish life and beyond. We
invite the local Catholic elementary schools to promote and support the well-received EDGE programing
for Grade 6-8 students held on the second and fourth Fridays of the month during the school year at St
Timothy parish and our Rite of Confirmation preparation. We encourage teachers and parents to
contact our St. Timothy Parish Youth Minister, Adam Kozak to continue to promote the school-parishparent connection.
Message from the Catholic School Council:
Our Catholic School Council is an integral part of the school-parish-home connection at St. Andrew
School. Through collaborative practices, we support many faith-forming and community-building
initiatives and events which develop the whole child and contribute to improved student achievement
and overall well-being. We value and depend on the strong partnership that already exists among our
parents, staff and parish. We look forward to building on this and to continue demonstrating our united
commitment to Catholic Education.
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Pastoral Plan
2015-2016
Catholic Education Week Theme: Opening the Doors to Mercy
Throughout Catholic Education Week, we ask you to reflect on the significance of Catholic education’s
presence and contribution in our Church, and in our society.
May 1 – 6, 2016 is Catholic Education Week.
Theme: Catholic Education: Opening the Doors of Mercy
Pope Francis has declared 2016 a “Holy Year of Mercy” as a way for the Catholic Church to “make
more evident its mission to be a witness of mercy”. The year will be celebrated from December 8,
2015 - November 20, 2016.
Five sub-themes, one for each of the five days of Catholic Education Week during the first week of
May, 2016, help students to understand the rich meaning of this year’s theme:
Day 1..... Mercy that Welcomes - (Jesus and the Woman at the Well)
Day 2 ..... Mercy that Loves - (The Good Samaritan)
Day 3 ..... Mercy that Forgives - (The Prodigal Son)
Day 4 .....Mercy that Lives the Gospel - (Zacchaeus)
Day 5 ..... Mercy that Rejoices - (Healing of the Paralytic)
The students at St. Andrew Catholic School will be demonstrating a spirit of awareness and reflection
during Catholic Education Week on the significance of Catholic education’s presence and contribution
in our Church, and in our society. We invite all members of our community, to participate in the
celebrations and activities that will mark the celebration of Catholic Education Week 2016 in all our
Dufferin-Peel schools.
Some examples of how we will specifically celebrate Catholic Education Week at St. Andrew School
 Parents/Guardians visiting classrooms
 School liturgy
 Daily activities supporting the theme of Mercy
 ‘X-Movement’ initiative which promotes wellness, collaboration and anti-bullying
 Principal promoting Catholic Education at St. Timothy Parish
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Pastoral Plan
2015-2016
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.
Faith formation is a process of journeying into a deeper relationship with Jesus. Through prayer and
reflection, we come to know Jesus more profoundly and we are shaped as Christians. In 2015-2016,
we will continue to live out our call to be a Eucharistic community by promoting and empowering
youth to embrace a Catholic worldview through community, Catholic prayer and sacramental life.
 Youth and Adult Faith Ambassadors
 Liturgies for staff, students and parents/guardians to foster faith
 Community Outreach
 Health and Well Being Initiatives aligned to our faith
 ShareLife Spirit Days
 Food Drives for local Food Bank
 Project Mercy Essential Needs Boxes for Canadian Food for Children Foundation
 Monthly Virtues Assemblies
 Regular School Masses
 Reconciliation at School
 Advent Retreat for Staff through BECDM Family of Schools
 Seder Meal for Staff through BECDM Family of Schools
 Sacramental Preparation for Grade 2, 7 and 8 students
 Sacramental Retreats in conjunction with Parish
 Confirmation Service Projects
 ‘Random Act of Demonstrating Monthly Virtue’ program to celebrate and recognize the
Virtues in Students
 Pilgrimage to Parish for the ‘Eucharistic Miracles of the World” (Gr. 3-6 in January, 2016)
 Celebration of Mass at St. Timothy Church (Spring)
 Daily prayers said together as a school community each day and at lunch and dismissal
 Daily Religious/Family Life Instruction
 Living and teaching our faith throughout daily interactions
 Respect for self, others and the learning environment
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Pastoral Plan
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Sacramental Preparation:
As Catholic 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
Sacrament of Reconciliation
First Holy Communion
Confirmation
Grade 7 and 8
th
November 26 , 2015
April 23rd or 30th, 2016
May, 2016
Liturgical Celebrations:
The Liturgical calendar is marked by the gathering in community to celebrate the Eucharist and
share in prayer.
Celebration
Date
Thanksgiving Liturgy
Remembrance Day Service
Advent Mass
Reconciliation Service at School (Gr. 3-6)
Exhibition “Eucharistic Miracles around the World
Ash Wednesday – Distribution of Ashes
Reconciliation Service at School (Gr. 3-6)
Easter Mass
Closing Mass (all 3 Orangeville schools)
Graduation Liturgy
October 14, 2015
November 11, 2015
December 8, 2015
December 9, 2015
January 19, 2016 (at parish)
February 10, 2016
February 16, 2016
April 6, 2016
June 7, 2016
June 29, 2016
Social Justice / Outreach Activities / Charities:
Catholic Social Teachings of the Church root our actions in supporting human dignity and :
preferential option of the poor which calls us to serve the most vulnerable in the world:
Our school participates in:
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Thanksgiving, Advent and Lenten food drives
ShareLife and United Way fundraising activities
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Pastoral Plan
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2015-2016
Christmas Baskets
Terry Fox Day
Project Mercy Essentials Boxes for Canadian Food for Children Foundation
Halloween Hard Candy Drive for Canadian Food for Children Foundation
Out of the Coat/Sleeping Bag Collection for Homeless
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….
 Place our faith at the center of all learning
 Bring awareness of the OCSGE to students during their learning
 Provide varied spiritual, academic and social opportunities for students in order to
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reach their potential
Foster and celebrate God-given gifts and talents of all
Share the Word of God daily with all students
Develop a strong bond between home, school and parish
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.
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Modelling living the virtues every day
Virtue celebrations monthly
“Random Act of Demonstrating the Monthly Virtue” recognition of students at assemblies
Display case showcasing the Virtue of the Month
Daily prayers and school newsletters highlighting monthly virtu
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Pastoral Plan
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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.
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All classrooms have prayer tables, bibles and crucifixes
Cross in front foyer created by students and staff
Statue of Mother Mary in the front foyer
Virtues posters which promote and celebrate our faith
Liturgical Seasonal display in front foyer (eg. Advent Wreath, liturgical colours)
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
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