Catholic Education Week
Celebrated in October, Catholic Education Week is an opportunity to for Catholic schools to publicly celebrate our mission, successes, students, and future together in service of the Gospels.
As a Catholic school division, EICS is called to follow the Five Marks of a Catholic School. More detailed information about this calling can be read here.
The Five Marks of a Catholic School
Mark 1: Created in the Image of God
In a Catholic school we...
- Believe that each person is created in the image of God
- Know that each person has an eternal destiny
- Embrace the dignity of all
- Recognize and celebrate the gifts and talents of others
- Allocate resources to support and enhance the well being and the physical, emotional, academic and spiritual development of staff and students
Mark 2: Catholic Worldview
In a Catholic school we...
- Share a Catholic worldview through activities and events
- Create physical spaces in our schools that reflect our Catholic perspective
- Foster a Catholic worldview of reflection, service and sacramentality
- Make decisions rooted in Gospel teaching
- Embed sacramental routines (prayer, mass, liturgies, scripture and worship) and reminders in the culture of the school and district
Mark 3: Faith Permeation
In a Catholic school we...
- Incorporate a religious dimension in all learning
- Advocate for a sacred perspective within a secular context
- Encourage a critical evaluation of contemporary culture,
- Provide opportunities for staff to develop their abilities to infuse faith into curriculum and pedagogy
- Teach Catholic values by fostering a love for wisdom and truth
Mark 4: Witness
In a Catholic school we...
- Witness to others a life lived in relationship with Jesus
- Participate actively in the life of the Church
- Pray personally and lead others in prayer
- Demonstrate a knowledge of faith and commit to faith development
- Create a vision for evangelization and ministry
Mark 5: Community
In a Catholic school we...
- Live in community, spiritual unity and relationship
- Recognize that God will be found in each other
- Foster reconciliation
- Develop priorities and protocols to address the needs of the marginalized
- Honor parents/guardians as primary partners in education
Download the Five Marks from Grateful Advocates for Catholic Education (GrACE).
World Catholic Education Day
Every year, 40 days after Easter on Ascension Thursday, Catholics across the globe give thanks for the gift that is Catholic education through the celebration of World Catholic Education Day.
Catholic education has served nations for centuries teaching students in their faith. Throughout Canada, provinces, territories, and dioceses dedicate special days or weeks to celebrate Catholic education. In keeping with these celebrations, World Catholic Education Day is a time for Catholics around the world to take a moment to pause, reflect and pray on the gift that is Catholic education.