SBS Debuts Human Formation Program

St. Benilde School is happy to announce the start of a new program in human formation that will be a part of our religion classes and provide an opportunity for parental involvement. The program is called Virtues in Practice.

Virtues in Practice (VIP) is a program created by the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia Congregation of Nashville, Tennessee for children from Prekindergarten 4 through Grade 7 to grow in virtues and see the virtues as concrete expressions of their Catholic faith. It is set up in such a way that the whole school studies the same virtue each month to provide a whole-school (and at home, whole-family) focus. The program covers 27 virtues over a three-year cycle. These three years emphasize and are named for the three theological virtues.

• The YEAR OF FAITH focuses on Catholic devotions and the idea that “faith works” (Gal 5:6), by a school-wide emphasis on service projects.
• The YEAR OF HOPE emphasizes study skills, because in order to fulfill God’s plan for our lives we need to develop the talents He has given to us.
• The YEAR OF CHARITY emphasizes community, particularly in regard to students’ interactions with one another, because “he who does not love the brother home he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen” (1 Jn 4:20).

Each month children in grades Prek 4 - Grade 7 learn about the same virtue, but primary, intermediate, and middle school students learn about different saints. In this way, students who are in the program throughout their elementary school career will have a basic introduction to a virtue at the primary level with one saint, cover the same virtue in more detail at the intermediate level with a different saint, and delve into a deeper meaning of the virtue at the middle school level with a third saint. It is a great idea for parents to reinforce these saints as heroes by asking their children to tell them about the saints they are studying each month. Although the virtue is covered with more depth in the upper grades, the same definitions for each virtue are used at all grade levels, so that students become familiar with the particular meaning of each virtue.

Virtue is not something just to know, but to do. VIP emphasizes role-playing in the classroom so that students can practice how to act when using a particular virtue, as well as monthly projects designed to help students grow in the virtue of the month by practicing it in real situations. These projects rarely involve making a product, but usually entail a discussion and a behavior goal to help the child develop the particular virtue. In grades Prek4 - Grade 5, students complete a project each month with the help of their parents. Students in grades 6 & 7 may complete their projects with parents or with friends. In all grades, a simple form is signed by parents and the student, then returned to school to tell which project was chosen and to reflect on the student’s progress in the virtue for the month. An effort grade is given to hold students accountable for this assignment.

Since parents are the primary educators of their children, VIP respects their role by placing individualized conversations about a child’s character in the care of the parent. Home projects are not meant to dictate the role of a parent. Parents may choose to create their own project for any month, or may use the suggested list of projects provided as a resource. VIP is most effective when parents model the virtue of the month, make references to it, or even choose to do one of the projects themselves. Why is the home component tracked with forms? The strength of any lesson is doubled when it is reinforced both at school and at home, and there is strength in numbers - it is easier for a student to work on achieving a behavior goal when, in one way or another, “everybody’s doing it,” because it’s required. For all students, but especially middle school students, the need to sign a form provides parents with an “excuse” to ask their child to work on certain behaviors or discuss difficult topics. Requiring this form shows that your child’s school values growth in virtue just as it values the many other projects and activities for which the school uses grades and forms.

We are excited about the opportunities VIP provides our children to delve deeper into the virtues to understand their meaning and how living these virtues helps them live a life more fully human and as disciples of Christ.