Primary School Retreats

• Primary students pray and receive religious instruction each day.  The morning begins with prayers offering our day to Jesus and pledges to “be peacemakers by using our hands, heads and hearts to do the work of Jesus.” Throughout the day, children join in meal prayers and intercessions for special needs.  The school day concludes with prayers and blessings.

Religious instruction is age appropriate and cyclical. 

• Students in Preschool learn to treat others with respect, hear simple Bible stories, learn beginning prayers, and sing to and about God.

• Kindergarten students learn about God who loves us all and gives us everything—our families, friends, ourselves, the earth, water, animals, plants—to care for and respect.

• First graders learn that God loves us all and has sent us Jesus who teaches us about God’s love, shows us how to love each other, and calls us to follow him in faith and service.  They hear many Gospel stories about Jesus, learn that we belong to the Church, and study the sacrament of Baptism.

• Second graders focus on the life, words and works of Jesus who offers us forgiveness and calls us to inclusion and celebration.  They prepare for their first celebrations of the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist.  They learn about and enter more fully into the celebration of the Mass and the seasons of the Church year especially Advent, Lent, Easter and Pentecost.

• Third graders learn that Jesus gives us a community, a family of faith called the Church, which is enlivened and animated by the gift of the Holy Spirit who calls us to prayer, worship, holiness, universal love and respect, celebration, service and discipleship.  They learn that we are all called to be saints–joining Mary, the apostles, and all those who have gone before us in faith–by loving and serving God, each other, and the world, and by being the light of the world.

• Students in Kindergarten through grade 3 participate in the celebration of Mass each week.  Children proclaim the Word of God, present gifts, serve at the altar, announce and lead music, pray intercessions, and are greeters at our Liturgies.  Every child, regardless of faith tradition, is given opportunities to participate and lead at Mass.

• We celebrate the gift of life each month when we honor and bless each of our students who observe their birthday during that month.  Children invite parents and special guests to join them at Mass and a treat and in creating a remembrance of the day.

• The seasons of Advent and Lent are especially significant for our youngest students as we celebrate weekly with special prayer times and service projects which broaden our hearts and our worldview.  During Advent we learn about and contribute to a local need such as the ECHO Food Shelf, Theresa House, and CADA House.  During Lent we focus on a global need through such efforts as Kids Against Hunger, Notre Dame Orphanage in Kenya East Africa, Pennies for Peace, Heifer International or natural disaster relief efforts.

• Each spring, our second graders have the privilege of making a day of retreat as immediate preparation for First Holy Communion.  The day includes prayer, stories, songs, art projects and making bread.  The retreat is led by our second grade teachers and parent volunteers and is held during a school day.  First Holy Communion is celebrated with the child’s parish family.  (First Reconciliation is celebrated in the parish as well.)

• Monthly Character Education themes, prayers and practices help us to focus on Gospel values and virtues, learn about saints, and deepen our reverence and respect for God, others and ourselves.  Over the years our themes have included the Beatitudes, the Corporal Works of Mercy, Respect, and the Fruits of the Spirit.