CURRICULUM SUMMARY FOR PRESCHOOL AND KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM
Preschool-Age 3, RCL Stories of God’s Love
This program is especially
designed for 3 year olds who will be turning 4. This activity-rich text
provides experiences for the child to explore the Bible and the stories
that God has given us so that we know how much He loves us and how He
wants us to live. Prayer experiences foster and nurture the young child
in prayer. Activities focus on development of faith through language,
visual, motor and listening skills, and games. Scripture and theme-based
stories, songs, poems, chants, finger-plays, and movement activities
present life and faith themes.
Preschool-Age 4, RCL Stories of God’s Love
This program is
especially designed for four and five year old children to learn about
Jesus. The activities in this program offer themes about caring in our
families, for our families, for others, and for God’s world. With stories,
songs, activities, and games, the children are exposed to the life and
stories of Jesus and the place he fills in a Christian life. The children
are brought to an understanding of how much Jesus loves each of us
especially the children.
Kindergarten, Harcourt, Call to Faith--Kindergarten
The
children explore the wonderful world God made, and how God made people to
be like Him and to love Him and others. God shows His love through others
and how when we pray, we are talking to God. God wants us to care for His
world. Jesus is the Son of God and the Son of Mary and how all Christians
are called to follow Christ. The children learn about the Church as a
family created by God and how all creation is called to live by the law of
love. They are introduced to the words and actions of the Sacraments and
how they show the wonders of God.
CURRICULUM SUMMARY FOR ELEMENTARY GRADES
Call to Faith Series Grades 1-6
Harcourt
First Grade
The “lens” through which the Christian message is
presented this year is God. The children are encouraged to learn about
God and to grow in their relationship with the Holy Trinity. The seven
key areas of catechesis are Revelation, Trininty, Jesus Christ, The
Church, Morality, Sacraments, and the Kingdom of God. God shares with us
his creative work by entrusting all creation to our care. The children
deepen their understanding of Jesus as the Son of God. They learn that
Jesus is both divine and human. They get to know Jesus’ human family.
They learn about the community of God’s people and the sacraments as signs
and celebrations of God’s loving presence.
Second Grade
Jesus Christ is the
central theme for the 2nd grade students. They learn about the
Son of God become human to save us from the power of sin and everlasting
death. They see how Jesus calls all people to holiness and how He called
us to follow him, using stories and signs to show us about God’s love. In
Jesus’ actions of feeding and forgiving, the children come to understand
the Sacraments of Eucharist and Reconciliation. They come to understand
that the Mass celebrates Jesus’ saving love. The children learn that
Jesus will come again, to bring the kingdom of God in its fullness. They
practice the kingdom values of justice, love, and peace.
Celebrating Our
Faith: Reconciliation and Eucharist are the additional books we
use for the sacramental preparation programs. These books are for parents
and catechists to work together to prepare the children to celebrate the
Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist for the first time. There are
also sessions for the parents for each sacrament.
Third Grade
With the Church as the
focus of study, the students explore the Church as both community and
institution. They see that all members of the Church have a share in the
Church’s ministry according to their state in life. The students see how
the marks of the Church, signs of the spirit’s presence, are lived today.
They also learn to look to the Church for moral guidance as they grow in
the virtues of faith, hope, and love.
Fourth Grade
The students explore
what it means to sin. They see that sin is more than mere lawbreaking; it
is a rejection of God’s love. The students explore the Beatitudes to
describe the reign of God that Jesus announced and how they show them how
to live and act as a follower of Jesus. They also explore the Ten
Commandments in detail as a foundation for morality. They come to
understand that we are free to choose how to respond to God’s love, and
that the Holy Spirit gives us gifts to help us choose.
Fifth Grade
Focusing on the
sacramental experiences of ritual and symbol and the centrality of the
Paschal mystery is a great way to touch the religious imagination of young
people. They focus on an in-depth presentation of the Eucharist, our
great sacrament. They explore the role of the assembly and liturgical
ministers and learn more about the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of
the Eucharist. The students reflect on the nature of the Church as
sacrament, exploring their own place in the Church’s rich sacramental
life, and what place each of the sacraments have in our life and how we
integrate them into our lives.
Sixth Grade
Sixth graders learn that the Scriptures are the
love story of God and humans from creation to the coming of the kingdom in
fullness. The students are presented with their connection to all members
of the communion of saints. They see that despite the tragedy of historic
divisions, the Church continues to work for the unity in which it began.
They use the powerful imagery of the Book of Revelation to look to the
future coming of God’s kingdom in fullness. They will also see that the
mission of the Church is to proclaim the Gospel in word and deed to all
people.
CURRICULUM FOR JUNIOR AND SENIOR HIGH PROGRAM
Seventh Grade Harcourt
Jesus Christ
The Church Revelation
Seventh
graders are taught how to use the Bible and to understand the New
Testament. Incarnation, Jesus as a model of wisdom, His relationships, Our
Savior and how the Church is One in Christ are topics that are studied.
Also studied are the Church as a community of disciples, Catholic, the
Body of Christ, the source of life, Apostolic and made up of the Christian
Faithful. The final topic studied is Revelation—how God is revealed to
His people, how we know God through Scripture, and Faith and Tradition.
Eighth Grade Harcourt
Morality - Sacraments - The Kingdom of God
The eighth grade will study Morality—freedom and responsibility, valuing life, being virtuous, honoring God and family members, and everyone’s dignity. The will also review the Sacraments of the church. Their last topic of study will be the Kingdom of God and how we are called to be a part of God’s World.
Ninth Grade RCL
Understanding the Catechism:Creed
Harcourt
Journey Through the Old Testament
This course deals with the most fundamental and significant of all life-truths. The students will cover topics including the meaning of faith, professing Christian faith, prayer and celebrating the Christian mysteries, and living as a Christian. They will also study the Old Testament Scriptures and the main themes addressed in it.
Tenth Grade RCL
Understanding the Catechism: Morality
Harcourt
Journey Through the New Testament
This course is about moral decision making—about applying Christian principles toward the resolution of ethical dilemmas in real life in the real world. While individuals face different specific issues and decisions, everyone confronts these basic questions: How do I decide what is morally right or wrong—especially in a complex situation? On what should I base such decisions? What can help me act according to those decisions? The New Testament will also be a part of their year of study.
Eleventh Grade CONFIRMATION
The entire eleventh grade year of Religious Education is devoted to a systematic study of faith and the Catholic teaching of that faith. Our text is
The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth which is the youth version of
The New Catechism. The candidates will also be expected to participate in 2 retreats, do Christian service for the community and the parish, and through prayer and discernment of how the Catholic Christian faith is present in their lives make a choice to be confirmed. The Sacrament of Confirmation is a time for the young person to ratify the "Yes to Catholicism" that their parents have until now given for them.
Twelfth Grade
This program focuses on the personal, social, and faith tasks confronting young adults, and nurtures the attitudes and skills required by young people to live as Christians after they leave high school. There are many opportunities for prayer and reflection as well as time to share with others. There is also a concentrated study of Scriptures and how they apply to all life’s lessons.
MIDDLE SCHOOL YOUTH GROUP
St. Bernard’s Middle School Youth Group is undergoing evaluation and
changes. Consult your bulletin for more information.
HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH GROUP
St. Bernard’s has a High School Youth Group that meets twice weekly in the Dawg House. This group is for youth in grades nine through twelve. Wednesday nights are devoted to Bible Study and Sharing followed by a social time that meets in the Dawg House at 7:30 p.m. Sunday nights the High School meets for various activities which are also advertised in the bulletin on the Youth Page. Activities range from Movie Night in the Dawg House to dinner out together. Paint Ball, Retreats, Swimming Parties, All Souls Prayer Services, etc. are just a few of the fun and service activities offered by the Youth Group. For more information, please contact our Director of Youth Ministries, in the Parish Office.
SIX FLAGS OVER TEXAS and SPRING BREAK SKI TRIP
Every year during the summer, we plan a joint trip for Middle School and High School Youth to Six Flags Over Texas. During Spring Break we also have a joint Ski Trip for all youth in Grades 7 and older. If more information is needed, please contact our Director of Youth Ministries.
SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION
Baptism
Parents and Parents-to-be who wish to have their child baptized are requested to attend a Baptismal Preparation class. These are held bimonthly at the church. The specific dates are published in the parish bulletin. The class presents the theology of Baptism, the roles and responsibilities of the parents and godparents, the symbols used in Baptism, and the Rite of Baptism itself. After attending this class, arrangements may be made with the Pastor for the date and time of Baptism.
RCIA
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults meet weekly under the direction of Rosemarie
Gulla. The RCIA is a process of conversion and growth into a community culminated within the Sacraments of Baptism/Profession of Faith, Confirmation, and Holy Eucharist at the Easter Vigil.
Eucharist
Children prepare for First Holy Communion in the second grade at St. Bernard's in the regular Religious Education Program. Older children will have special classes arranged with the Director of Religious Education. First Holy Communion will be celebrated on Sunday,
May 3, 2009, at both of the morning Masses.
Reconciliation
Children prepare for First Reconciliation during their 2nd grade at St. Bernard's in their regular Religious Education classes. 3rd graders will participate in the 2nd grade classes. 4th grade students and older will have special classes arranged with the Director of Religious Education. First Reconciliation will be celebrated on Thursday, December
4, 2008, at 7:00 p.m.
Confirmation
Confirmation
will be offered to people who are Juniors in High School or older and have
been attending Religious Education classes in the past. For people who do
not attend High School, the minimum age will be sixteen years old.
Preparation will include: Classes from September through May on Sunday
evenings; service projects that reflect the values and gifts of the
student that benefit others; 2 retreats; interviews with the Director of
Religious Education and the Bishop; dialogue with adult leaders, sponsors,
parents, and catechists; prayer experiences together and privately.
Candidates are to discern through prayer and reflection, through
discussion with parents and sponsors, and through class attendance if they
sincerely desire the Sacrament of Confirmation. Confirmation is a
Sacrament of Commitment, saying yes to our Baptism, our Church, and all
God might want us to be. This call and response cannot be accepted by
anyone except the candidate. We respect this decision. Confirmation will
celebrated on Saturday, April 25. 2009.
An adult member of the parish seeking
Confirmation is to contact the Director of Religious Education for more
information. |
