St. John the Evangelist Lower Grades

Academic Information (Family Handbook, pages 6-7)

Religion and Liturgies

An integral part of the educational experience at St. John the Evangelist Catholic School is Christian development. Religious instruction is provided daily through religion classes, liturgy, individual and group prayer, and community service. The day begins with participation in the Mass or Prayer Service. Children (Grades K- 6th) attend the Liturgy of the Eucharist Tuesday through Friday and on all Holy Days. Students are directly involved with the preparation of the liturgy. “Buddy Group '' is an integrated multi age grouping of children which forms a “family” for various activities including prayers. Prayer Services, Stations of the Cross, the Rosary, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation are encouraged throughout the year. During Prayer Services, both formal and creative prayers are said to help students realize the need to relate to God. Spontaneous requests from the students for special intentions are encouraged. Classroom prayers are said daily before and after meals, beginning and end of the day, and at times of special needs.

Sacrament Program

Sacraments are signs of the presence of Jesus within us and within our lives. Through His actions, Jesus confers the Holy Spirit upon His people, drawing them into union with Himself and with each other. As a Eucharistic community we reach out to the parish, to the world and beyond, and come closer to our full life in Jesus every time we share the sacraments. Sacrament preparation for Reconciliation and the First Eucharist occurs in the second grade. Parents and St. John School students join together with the Parish School of Religion students to prepare for the reception of these sacraments. School parents are required to attend the Parent Sessions which strive to deepen their own awareness of Reconciliation and the Eucharist and to help them prepare their children for reception of these sacraments. These Parent Sessions provide the historical development and theology of the sacraments.

Curriculum

St. John the Evangelist Catholic School (K-6) is accredited by Lemun as part of the Diocesan-wide system accreditation as well as by the Indiana Department of Education. School administration and staff participate in the continuous improvement process following the IDOE State Standards. St. John the Evangelist Catholic School strives to provide high quality education for its students. Its goal is continuity of the curriculum with an integration of the Christian philosophy of our school. The methods of instruction vary depending upon the subject and student needs. The most important aspect of St. John the Evangelist Catholic School is its total Christian environment. Spiritual growth is a part of every school day and includes instruction in the Catholic faith and Christian living. Daily we strive to “live our faith for Jesus.”

Homework

Homework consists of reading, reviewing, and writing. The purpose of homework is to reinforce what has been taught in the classroom, as well as to challenge students to search for information on their own. The greatest help that can be provided at home is a regular and quiet time, and a definite place, that is free from distractions (no TV). Full credit may not be given for late homework. The approximate time allotment for homework is as follows: Grades K-3rd      15-30 minutes

Grades 4-6th      30-45 minutes

Also, daily reading is encouraged at home with the television turned off.