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Whole School, Whole Community Pilot Project

A Community of Caring School clearly articulates the essence of Catholic education—“What makes a Catholic School distinctive is its attempt to generate a community climate in the school that is permeated by the Gospel Spirit of freedom and love” (Alberta Catholic School Trustees’ Association, August, 1997). This spiritual process also enhances and supports the two fundamental objectives of the Bishop Carroll philosophy: to humanize education and to professionalize the teaching role.

The original aim of the Community of Caring program was to see a reduction in teenage pregnancies and in the problems resulting from them through the teaching of universal values and improvement of self-esteem. The values affirmed were deeply rooted in the family: the family itself, love; caring; truth-telling; and the value of sexual abstinence as the most healthy choice for young people. The value of schooling and productive work and the importance of responsible planning for the future are the core of the program. We must work together within our schools, families and communities to provide all individuals with caring and support, to share high expectations, teach values and to help students make wise choices and grow into healthy adulthood.

The Community of Caring is a program developed by the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation under the direction of Eunice Kennedy Shriver. The program is a values-based approach to positive decision making. It is a tested and proven program of values education. Based on the universally accepted vales of caring, responsibility, trust, respect and family, the Community of Caring School Process provides a curriculum and creates a caring and respectful environment. In this environment students learn to avoid risk taking behaviour through responsible decision making and thoughtful future planning. Teens receive an extra boost by observing the caring and responsible behaviours modeled by parents, teachers, school personnel and community leaders involved in the program. This model has proven effective in greatly reducing many destructive behaviours including teen pregnancy, drug and alcohol abuse, use of violence, dropping out of school, vandalism and truancy.

Through the influence of the Community of Caring School, students experience heightened self- esteem and self-awareness and gain insights to the questions they ask such as “Where am I going?” and “How am I going to get there?”

In a Community of Caring School, academics, athletics, and the fine arts are not all that is important. Equally important are the relationships that take place within the school. Respectful, responsible caring relationships enhance the dignity and worth of each person (staff, student, parents) within the building.

Projects 2008

Theme of this year is “Spirit—The Students of Carroll”

Student Forums

• Mini Forums for all Grade 10 students on Harassment.

• Monthly seminars on Community of Caring Values.

• Smart Grad (May).

Student Ministry

• Student volunteer program through Religious Studies Deptartment, ACTS (Ongoing).

• Charity Cart—Each TA Group will have 2 weeks to promote the need for giving all year long and to encourage their TA to bring in gifts for various organizations. e.g. St. Vincent de Paul, the Calgary Interfaith Food Bank, “Mustard Seed”, “Jacket Racket” etc.

• Operation Christmas Child (October).

• Foster Child—Full Year.

• Local charity “Adopt a Family” (Advent), paired with Sacred Heart Elementary as a sister school in the Community of Caring.

• Charity project, International Development & Peace (Lent).

Emphasis on Values Across the Curriculum

• Integrate values in Curriculum. e.g. Social Studies “Ending Poverty” Unit, “Active Citizenship”, and Science “Moral Dilemmas & Issues”.

• Each area will present large groups on specific issues related to Values & Moral dilemmas. e.g. “Coffee Crisis Forum”, “Landmines” etc.

• KARA Presentations.

Positive School Culture & Climate

• Celebrating “Spirit—The Students of Carroll” with a Community of Caring speaker during transitional days.

• Celebrating Carroll Success Stories, Bulletin Boards, Activity Calendar & Communicator.

• Respect & Tolerance Program. Commitment by all Grade 10 students to keep Bishop Carroll a Safe & Caring School. (Handprinted & Signed Statement)

• Set up a Club Day to promote all the activities offered at BCHS. e.g. Student Council, Math Club, Student Action Committee, Drama, Athletics etc.

• Promotion of all School Activities.

Positive Adult Modeling

• Role of Teacher Advisor; interactions between students and adults in the building.

• Conscience effort in using the community of caring language of Respect, Responsibility, Caring, Trust, Faith & Family.

Parent Involvement

• Parent volunteer program at Bishop Carroll.

• Parent / Teen Forum : Career Forum.

• Communication emphasis through the Carroller, Internet, and phone calls.

Community Involvement

• Business partnerships involvement with the community.

• Certificate of appreciation for those organizations & individuals that have helped Bishop Carroll achieve their goal of being a Catholic Community of Caring School.

Adopt A Family

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