In kindergarten, basic prayers are taught. Students listen to stories taken from the Bible and to stories about the lives of the Saints. They become aware of God's love for us. The first graders continue to learn prayers and to participate in church celebrations. They become familiar with the Holy Family. Emphasis is on love of God and neighbor, with the Holy Family as the role model. Second grade children prepare for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist . The third grade program presents the main truths that Catholics believe and express in the Creed. As the children's understanding of God grows, so does the appreciation of God's reign of love.
The fourth grade religion program focuses on the study of the Commandments, the Beatitudes, moral choices, and how they apply to our daily lives. The fifth graders continue their journey of faith, by gaining a deeper understanding of the Mass and the Sacraments as signs of Christ's presence in our lives. The sixth graders focus on the Old Testament from the creation, to the birth of Jesus. They take a historical pilgrimage along a fascinating time line of biblical events.
Seventh grade religion focuses on Jesus - The Way, The Truth and The Life. It covers the life of Jesus, His teaching, the Paschal Mystery and the sacraments. It renews their relationship with Jesus as they enter adolescence and along with the Family Life program prepares them for the physical, emotional and intellectual changes facing them. The curriculum advocates a respect for all life, Christian sexuality and family relationships. The course of study in grade eight focuses on the church. The marks of the church are covered individually and in detail. This is followed by a full semester of church history from Pentecost to the present. The program then focuses on an intense preparation for Confirmation. Besides a separate text for this purpose, emphasis is also given to service and how the Christian life is to be faith-filled and measured in intensity and similarity by living and witnessing the Beatitudes. The last part of the course highlights prayer: what it is, what types there are, and how necessary and indispensable it is to cultivate a strong spiritual perspective for everyday living.
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