Student Faith Formation

A CORNERSTONE OF CATHOLIC FAITH

• Culture of empathy, kindness, and thoughtfulness
• Weekly School Mass
• Faith Families (each family includes students from every grade and is a consistant family during their time at St. Ann)
• Parish Baptism Buddies
• Outreach service programs K - 8
• Religion classes K - 8
• Monthly POPs Services (Parents Offering Prayers)
• Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
• Sacramental preparation

CURRICULUM

Religion is taught daily in each of the grades, following the curriculum of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.  Catholicity is also infused into each curricular subject, making our faith the base and focus of our education.

Each day begins with all-school morning prayer, led by students.  Classrooms follow this with prayers of thanksgiving and petition in their classrooms.  Throughout the day, teachers and students begin each class period with prayer, and end at dismissal by praying together once again.

All students celebrate the liturgy together each Wednesday morning.  Classes take turn planning these masses -- preparing the scripture readings, leading the music, and writing intercessions. During the liturgy, the students serve as cantors, lectors, and altar servers, and are part of the offertory procession.

Students in grades K, 1, and 2 participate in Catechesis of the Good Shepherd as part of their religious instruction.  Catechesis is a Montessori-based program designed to help our youngest students understand and identify with the mass, sacraments, and prayer.

Project Genesis is ­­­­­a virtue based program for all fifth and sixth graders of the parish.  Recognizing parents as the primary educators of their children, it is organized around the Cardinal Virtues of prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance as it covers reproductive anatomy and physiology, basic health, and positive relationships.

We recognize Respect Life Month in October by participating in an all-school rosary, focusing in-class projects on celebrating the gift of life, centering morning prayer on specific groups (homeless, elderly, unborn children, friends and family).  Our eighth graders attend the archdiocesan pro-life presentation during this month.

We celebrate All Saints Day with an all school mass and a fifth grade “living saint museum.” Each school student visits the “museum” and interviews the students portraying the saints.

We gather for rosaries throughout the school year.  To honor the Blessed Mother in May, a Living Rosary is prayed during a May Crowning ceremony, led by first graders.

Prayer boxes are in each classroom.  Students are invited to write down their prayers and intentions and place them in the box.  Once a month, these intentions are taken to the altar during the offertory at mass. and parents gather that afternoon (Parents Offering Prayers) to offer prayers for the school.

Fifth grade students attend the Archdiocesan Vocations Day in February each year.

FAITH COMMUNITY

Each student is part of a Faith Family, a school program that fosters community and friendship throughout grade levels.  Each Faith Family consists of nine students (one from each grade) who attend weekly mass together, perform community service, and enjoy each other as friends.  Faith Families remain together with their teacher mentor for a student’s entire time at St. Ann.

Once each month, parents gather in church after our all-school mass to offer prayers for students, staff, and the intentions placed in classroom prayer boxes.

Students participate in a daily ten-minute morning meeting in their classrooms.  These casual, comfortable conversations and activities are designed to develop trust, collegiality, respect, and confidence, breeding kindness and cooperation within our student body.  Students also write and sign a classroom pledge to act as Christ taught us.

Parents lead our school’s Faith and Discipleship committee.  This group works to blend school and family in matters of faith, and to encourage and celebrate the many faith initiatives of St. Ann Catholic School.

Faculty and staff participate once a month in School of Faith, an archdiocesan program designed to strengthen the faith lives of those who work daily with our children.

SACRAMENTS

Sacramental Preparation begins in 2nd grade with Reconciliation and Eucharist. Confirmation Preparation is a two-year program for seventh and eighth graders; students receive the sacrament in 8th grade.  Performing works of service is an integral part of the Confirmation program.

Reconciliation Services are held during Advent for all students who have received the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Learning about and understanding the seven sacraments are part of our overall religion curriculum.

Our Baptism Buddy program pairs a first grade student with a newly baptized baby in our parish.  Each year, our students make cards at school and mail them to their buddies on the anniversary of their baptism to let them know they have been remembered with prayer.  

SERVICE

AoK (Acts of Kindness) is our school-wide outreach service program, coordinated by parents, principal, and teachers.  Each grade leads specific service projects throughout the year; these projects are designed to broaden students’ awareness of needs outside our immediate community.  Several projects have become traditions because of the ongoing need and/or the relationships that have been formed.

St. Ann has a sister school, Resurrection Catholic School, in Kansas City, Kansas.  We work to help our sister school with their needs, and to build relationships between our students and theirs.

Each year, our school provides Christmas gifts for over 100 foster children through our annual Red Bag Program.  Classrooms, school families, and individuals “adopt” a foster child and fill a large red bag with needs, toys, and treats for him or her.  St. Ann has been an important part of this program for more than two decades