Faith Formation Plan
In keeping with our theme of accountability, we will focus this year on stewardship.
2007-2008

“Well done, good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.” Matthew 25:21

School:  Our LAdy of victory school

School Theme for the Year:   OLV: Stewards of our Catholic Faith in Thoughts, Words
                                                                                                           and Actions!

1. Building Christian Community: Recognizing our obligation to build the kingdom of God, what opportunities will this school year provide for faculty and students to use their talents to build the Christian Community?  Please be specific about dates, people involved and materials used.

    *Promotion, support and involvement in all OLV ministry groups (music, youth, visitation, faith formation, Knights of Columbus, Generations of Faith, OLV PSA, etc.)
     *Extending an invitation to all people for our activities, events and celebrations.
     *Creation and implementation of activities for senior/special person and children relationship (ideas include: dancing or exercising with our seniors, a luncheon with a presentation)
     *Continuing our efforts of building school community during the school day: buddying an older child with a younger child, drop everything and read days, challenge Friday activities, PARP presentations, etc.
    **Specifics, dates and times to be determined (monthly calendars and particulars will be forwarded to the Catholic School Office in keeping them informed).
    ***Materials used: school monthly calendar and newsletters, parish bulleting blurbs and inserts, printed invitations, press releases and invitations to all media.

1. Proclaiming the Gospel Message: What will help our students learn about the life of service that Jesus calls them to through the scriptures?  What opportunities or courses will we seek as teachers to fully understand our vocation as teachers and to bring our students to be disciples of Jesus?

    *Continuation and expansion of our Monday and Friday morning assemblies based upon scripture and prayer.  Birthdays and character education goals are celebrated then as well.
    *Enrichment of our children’s daily prayer opportunities in their classrooms (morning, noon and prior to dismissal).
    *Coordination of visits from our seminarian(s) concerning vocations and living out our faith.
    *Acknowledgement of Father Patterson’s frequent visits to our classrooms and attendance at all school functions.
    *Implementation of daily lessons in religion and our faith’s integration into our curriculum whenever possible.
    *Scheduling and supporting the efforts of the Prevention Office by scheduling An Apple A Day, Bullying and Human Sexuality offerings.
    *Actively supporting the sacramental preparations for our second graders and effectively planning faith experiences for all of our students.
   *Enhancement of our faculty prayer times (faith formation in-services and fall/spring retreat will be explored during our teacher orientation day in August).
  *Participation in the Troy Teacher’s Sharing Day on 3/19/08.
  *Exploration of ideas, which would continue to build school spirit and affirm us as disciples of Jesus.

1. Celebrating Faith through PRAYER and WORSHIP: What forms of worship and prayer will we organize this year to share our talents with the people of God and to extend the roles of ministry to all members of our school community?

   *Attendance and participation at liturgy: (8:30 am) 9/7, 10/12, 11/1, 12/7, ¼, 2/6, 3/7, 3/19, 4/4, 5/1, 5/5 (crown Mary too) and 6/6.
   *Attendance and participation in prayers services: 11/20 at 1:15 for Thanksgiving, 12/21 at 1:00 the Nativity, and 3/19 at 1:15 for Stations of the Cross.
  *Attendance and participation in monthly OLV school liturgies: (9:30) 9/16, 10/28, 11/18, 12/9, 1/27, 2/10, 3/16, 4/6, and 5/11.
  *Actively promoting our call to become involved in the OLV Generations of Faith Process: 1/23 or 24, 10/28 or 29, and 1/27 or 28.
  *Actively supporting our second graders throughout their sacramental preparation and retreats.

1. Making Faith active through Christian SERVICE: In what service or advocacy opportunities will teachers and their students participate as they use their talents to serve the people of God?

  *September: OLV Family Fun Day 9/29 12-4 pm          *October: fall clean up day (TBA)
                                                                                                        begin OLV Goes Green
  *November: Collection of food for Thanksgiving       *December: OLV Giving Tree/Adopt a Family
                      baskets and food pantry
  *January: Thinking of You packages for OLV     *March: collection of baby items for
                   homebound/shut ins                                                                   Unity House
  *April: Earth Day celebrations                                      *May: Collection of toiletries for Joseph House
  *June: OLV Read In Day celebrations

1. Making Faith active through the FAMILY: How will the school engage the talents of parents and family members in strengthening the faith community?

(Many of our fundraisers are also fun raisers and community builders with parish and school families working together.  Everything we do is centered upon our mission and faith.)
  *Welcome to our new families (New parents are introduced and buddied up with an already established one ) 9/6-8-11:00
  *OLV Parent Night 9/19-6:30-8:00 (parents sign up for participation in activities including liturgies)
  *School and parish parents are invited to a presentation on cyber bullying 10/10-7-9:00 (message will be tied into Catholic morals and values)
  *OLV Grandparents and Special Person’s Day 10/12-8:30-11:00- Chicken BBQ 5-7:00 (begin with mass, celebrate their presence in our lives and invite them to return for dinner)
*FoodPlay performance 10/19 12:30-1:30 in support of our school wellness plan (the community will become an integral part of this plan and implementation in a variety of ways)
 *OLV Career Day 11/6-9-10:30 (community and parent members w  ill be invited to participate)
  *Parent and student ambassadors at our open houses (1/27 and 1/30)
 *Second grade’s sacramental preparation events/activities (the parish and school communities are involved in meetings, retreats, celebration and breakfast)
 *Christmas concert (grades 3-6) 12/11 6:30, Spring concert (grades K-2) 5/13 6:30 and Disney’s  Cinderella 5/7 at 6:30 (EVERYONE is involved in all steps)
*Earth Day 4/22 and Read In Day 6/1
*Graduations: Pre K 6/18, K 6/20 and 6th 2/23 with liturgy

Please include dates of meetings, retreats and regional events in sufficient detail so that this document will serve as a planning tool for the year 2007-2008.  Return ONE copy to the Diocesan Office by September 15th and retain a copy for use by the faculty.

Members of the staff of the Catholic School Office will visit each of our schools to discuss the Faith Formation Plan and to attend, if possible, events outlined in your plan.  These visits will begin in October, 2007.