Elementary

Kindergarten to Grade Six use the Canadian Catechetical Series "Born of the Spirit" produced by The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops as the principal resource for the religion curriculum.

Junior High

The Canadian Catechetical Series "We are Strong Together" produced by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops is the principal resource for Grades Seven to Nine.

Senior High

At the senior high level three locally developed courses approved by Alberta Learning according to Policy #050703 are offered for three credits. The Program of Studies for these courses is entitled Alberta Youth Search for Meaning.  “In answer to the search for meaning, Christ said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”  (John 14.6) In the high school program, this is the foundation for the search for meaning.  It is integral to the grade level themes of Belonging (the way), Believing (the truth), and Relating (the life). The principal resources for the courses:

Religion 15 – Christ and Culture
Religion 25 -  The Catholic Church – Journey, Wisdom and Mission;  Jesus of History Christ of Faith
Religion 35 – In Search of the Good

Prayer and Liturgical Year

Daily prayer is part of the school and classroom routine. Throughout the year students celebrate significant feasts and seasons by participating in the Eucharist, Liturgies of the Word, and other prayer services and faith celebrations.

Retreats

Every student from Grade One to Twelve participates in a retreat with his/her class once during the school year. Length and theme of the retreat varies depending on the grade level.

Good Works

The Good Works Policy (Board Policy PDO#15) describes the expectations at the school level.

With this mandate in mind students in Christ the Redeemer School Division will have an opportunity to engage in age appropriate service throughout their entire school career.

Students from Kindergarten to Grade 3 shall participate at the classroom level in the various school wide projects that are initiated throughout the school year. These would include, but not necessarily be limited to, such activities as collection for the food bank and the Holy Childhood Association.

Students from Grades 4 to 9 shall participate under the guidance of the classroom teacher in a class level service project. It is necessary to prepare students to participate in such projects by helping them to realize that service is rooted in faith and by providing a background of the Church's tradition.

High school students are expected to complete an individual service project/community service hours, usually completed in Grade 11, as a requirement for graduation.  It is the responsibility of the principal to ensure that these projects are properly monitored and completed in a timely fashion. 

Youth Leadership 15

This 3 credit, locally developed course challenges students to make connections between their faith, values and actions in leadership. It is also an opportunity to gain skills for effective leadership.

Family Life/Chastity Education

"Sex education, which is a basic right and duty of parent, must always be carried out under their attentive guidance, whether at home or in educational centers chosen and controlled by them. In this regard, the Church reaffirms the law of subsidiarity, which the school is bound to observe when it cooperates in sex education, by entering into the same spirit that animates the parents." (Familiaris Consortio, 37)

"Positive information about sexuality should always be part of a formation plan so as to create the Christian context in which all information about life, sexual activity, anatomy and hygiene is given. Therefore, the spiritual and moral dimensions must always be predominant so as to have two special purposes: presenting God's commandments as a way of life, and the formation of a right conscience." (The Truth and meaning of Human Sexuality, 94).

Family Life/Chastity Education begins at Grade Five and is always taught in the context of the dignity of the human person, the virtue of chastity and the Church’s teaching on marriage and family life.  From Grade Seven onwards this topic is taught as part of religion (Grades 7, 8 and 9 and RS 15 and RS 35) incorporated into the units on the sacredness of the human body and/or marriage and family life.  It is also addressed in C.A.L.M. 20.

The principal resource for grades five to nine is the 2003 document approved by the Alberta Bishops “Health and Life Skills Alberta Catholic Schools Human Sexuality Outcomes”  This document is the Catholic adaptation and perspective on the human sexuality outcomes outlined in the Alberta Health and Life Skills Curriculum K – 9.

The principal resource for C.A.L.M. 20 is a “Catholic Resource for Teaching Career and Life Management” produced by the Council of Catholic School Superintendents of Alberta and approved by the Alberta Bishops.

In RS 15 this topic is in Christ and Culture – Unit 5 – Theme 13 “Intimacy, Sexuality and Love”.   RS 35 has the topic in the text In Search of the Good  Unit VI “Building a Civilization of Love” (Chapter 16 “Marriage Matters”). All other lesson resources are vetted by the Director of Religious Education and    the Religious Education Secretariat for the Diocese of Calgary.

Participation in these lessons is the choice of the parent.  Prior to the commencement of these lessons an outline of content and objectives and a permission form should be sent home from the school.  If desired the parent may request more detailed information and to review the resources to be used prior to making a decision.

Grade Five parents are invited to participate in a family life night with their child prior to the topic being discussed in school.  This evening consists of a whole group session on God’s plan for us and then separate session for girls and boys on the changes of puberty and the physiology of human sexuality.

An appropriate alternative will be arranged for students who do not participate in the lessons.