Our Lady of Consolation Catholic Church at 4865 11 Mile Rd NE, Rockford, MI 49341 US - Elementary

To ensure that the beliefs of our faith are introduced and reinforced for the young people as they grow, develop, and mature as Catholics the Blest Are We curriculum has been chosen.  Our Catholic faith tradition and its foundational elements are the basis of the scope and sequence of Blest Are We.  The doctrinal content is organized according to the four pillars of the Catechism of the Catholic Church — Creed, Sacraments, Morality, and Prayer.
  
INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES
Each week the students work with one lesson from the textbook.  Additional activity pages, crafts, or other special projects often accompany the book work.   During the year we will have opportunities to gather together for special programs.  Students can look forward to music, prayer and celebrations. In November students will have the opportunity to discover the saints. In December will have an Advent program. During Lent students will participate in the Stations of the Cross as well as a Lenten program.  There will be an end of the year celebration with a May crowning.
 
PRAYERS
Catechists will assign prayers to be learned according to the diocesan curriculum guidelines.   The help of parents will insure success with this activity.  Once prayers are memorized, children will be able to participate more fully in our community worship.  Each child’s text contains the prayers a Catholic child should know.
 
SERVICE
All Christians are called to care for their neighbor’s needs.  Catholic social teachings are integrated throughout the curriculum.  Through their classes children may participate in several of our parish outreach efforts. 
 
A few of the opportunities include writing letters to men and women in the military, decorating holiday cards for residents at Bishop Hills and shut-ins, and decorating lunch bags for the Meals On Wheels clients.  Other possibilities for community service involve collection of food and clothing for North Kent Service Center, or collecting diapers for the Catholic Pregnancy Crisis Center.
 
SPECIAL EDUCATION
Some of our parish children have special educational needs.  If parents have made our office aware of these, proper placement  can  be  determined  which  will most  benefit  the  child.    In  some cases,  regular  Religious  Education  teachers  simply  need  to  be  appraised  of reading difficulties, medical problems, or behavioral techniques that are more effective than others.  Students with more challenging special needs meet weekly for 30-minute classes.  The curriculum is specially selected to fit their needs.  These students join the regular Faith Formation groupings whenever appropriate.  They may be prepared for reception of the sacraments as readiness is discerned.
 
WEB RESOURCES - Diocesan Curriculum Guidelines:  
http://www.dioceseofgrandrapids.org/formation/curriculum.html

(Back)