How it works?

Every month grades groups partner up for teacher supervised Virtue Visits. Each month we focus on a Virtue In Practice. These are good habits that help to form children through the lense of Christ and His Church.

Many of these virtues are the core fountaions for how we want to form the whole child at Saint Mary Catholic School. Understanding these virtues and practicing them on a daily baisis with peers through prayer, hands on activites, mentoring, and reinforcement in all subject areas are key to making these virtues a part of your childs daily life.

We believe that teaching Kindness through the teachings of Jesus and His great love for us is instrumental  in forming the whole child.

WHAT IS MERCY?

Mercy is...
Dictionary definition:
1. Compassion or forgiveness shown towards someone who it is within one's power to punish or harm.

We know it is so much more...
Mercy is "Love that responds to human need in an unexpected or unmerited way."

Jesus Christ teaches mercy time and time again in the New testament. The Gospel of Matthew tells a parable of the "unmerciful servant" in that forgiveness, (Matthew 18 21-15) especially when it is not deserved, is at the core of true mercy.  The story teaches us that we must forgive others because we have been forgiven ourselves.


Acts of KINDNESS are the ACTION behind mercy.
When we are kind to people regardless of whether they "deserve" it or not, we are being merciful. 

Forgiving a friend in your heart and out loud to them (even if they don't ask), you are being merciful.

ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE:

1) If someone does something mean to you, don’t treat them badly in return.

2) If someone does something mean to you, do something nice to them instead.

3) Offer forgiveness to someone who has wronged you before it is asked for.

4) Trade your large ice cream cone for a sibling’s smaller one.

5) Offer to do a chore for a brother or sister who got it as a consequence.

 

Pope Francis writes "Jesus Christ is the face of God's mercy."

Links
Miracles of Mercy: K-3rd 
Mercy Music Playlist
The ways to show mercy- Middle School
Helping kids understand Mercy: parents

 Sharing a mutual LOVE that seeks the good of the other

What is  true friendship?
Jesus teaches us about friendship in the Gospel!

Gospel Friendship
 https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/the-gospel-and-friendship/?amp

These kids NAIL it!
https://youtu.be/lcdvvFwVMG0

PreK and K- Making Friends
Book: Making Friends is an Art!
https://youtu.be/_0oW-dXDD_Q

Activity:
Work on an group ART project, watercolor mural etc...

K-4th
Friendship Soup Video- K-4th

Video:https://youtu.be/H7w7yXkJTu0

Discussion:
What's in your friendship soup?
Can you think of any other ingredients in your friendship soup? (forgivness, listening, sacrifice, faith encouragement, ) 

Activity: Friendship Yarn game (can be modified to be class specific)
https://ministry2kidz.com/2014/10/10/friendship-yarn-game/


5th-8th- Conflict Resolution and Friendship
Video:Conflict resolution
 https://youtu.be/xDoQIpe5TxA

Discussion:
What type of conflicts do you often experience in your friendships?
What's your conflict style?
Are you communicating effectively? 

Activity: 
Have small groups read and discuss one of the short article links below or any relevant friendship article.

MUSIC:

Friends Song by Singing Walrus
https://youtu.be/bVCKj0T9-gc

Count on me by Bruno Mars
https://youtu.be/4JNtAtGGNRU
 

RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS

Random Acts of Kindness day! SMCS will celebrate this on 
TBD bring $1 wear black and yellow and JEANS!

KINDNESS IDEAS: ( see documents and links below for kindness calenders)

Give a flower
Eat lunch with someone new
Clean a neighbors walk (help a neighbor)
Offer a hug
Pick up litter
Open a door
Plant a tree
Help carry a load
Cheer up a friend
Thank a teacher or mentor
Say HELLO and add a SMILE
Send a Card 
Give up your seat
Do a favor
Pay for a meal
LISTEN
Hold a Hand
Give a compliment
Volunteer
Give a book
Donate to a cause
Recycle
Call your grandparents
Bake cookies for someone
Dontate Blood

ASK OTHERS TO CONTINUE ACTS OF KINDNESS

Being Faithful to promises and commitments!

Keeping Your Promises

See the below video clips for more information on the importance of keeping your PROMISES!



 

HTTP://youtu.be/5IfkvyMlRwI

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLe0LS0NZTNPi17OqZtekq4n70mVEtvl_N


 

Hi All,
PURITY

Since we are thinking of Purity as " keeping your soul free of sin" ...we can ask ourselves what are some are "our bad habits" that make our "intentions" not pure. 

Ask What are some temptations we face for personally? (excessive screen time, movies/music with bad language or violence,)  

Ask How can we remain close to God? (Pray, Confession, ask for help, obey, Avoid temptation}
Ask How can our PURITY be examples for those around us? (the bully cycle, younger siblings or classmates)
Ask What small day to day acts of kindness can help guide us toward a PURE HEART AND MIND? (remind them that a pure deed is done with the expectation of nothing in return) Similar in that we perform acts of kindness to everyone sometimes even if they don't deserve it! (MERCY)

The below link has a little activity that has example of different things we do that may become sinful and separate us from GOD. 


Ex (playing video games when mom asked me to empty the dishwasher) - obedience 
Or 
(Stealing from a friends house)(making up stories to make yourself look good)

https://ministry-to-children.com/freedom-from-sin-lesson/  


Virtue Booklet also has some cool activities also! Please let me know if you would like me to print the activities for your grade level etc..


https://www.nashvilledominican.org/apostolate/evangelization-and-catechesis/virtues-in-practice/


For more information on PURITY OF INTENTIONS here is an interesting article
https://catholicexchange.com/learn-purify-intentions-please-god-alone

 Fortitude and how it can be Mercy in Motion on Campus. 


Our January Virtue is 
Fortitude: Being Brave and strong in the face of trials

ASK: What are some things that make you scared? 
(Discuss one way to be brave is standing up for others! And trying to do what is right)
Role Play these scenarios 

 Prk-2nd- I will have copies of the "The Virtues in Practice" activity for Role playing BEING BRAVE  and standing up for others and doing what is right in your box.

Check out this cute STAND UP SPEAK UP video
https://youtu.be/LYMbven9UsA


6th-8th-

We can practice Fortitude in everyday interactions. This helps us to grow strong enough to face larger issues and situations. 

Checkout this Song "The Power of ONE"
https://youtu.be/-Rjs5uasKZ4


SHARE THIS FACT: 85% of kids are not a bully or a victim but a BYSTANDER. Having Fortitude to stand up for others is the right thing to do.

MOTIVATION MUSIC PARTY
Let your child/students LISTEN, VISUALIZE, FEEL the Lyrics (watch video-when appropriate).  Here is an additional playlist that has a good mix. 

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLe0LS0NZTNPh8xpvgQ_3uWBjXLg_iYxHm



Thank you for all your love, support, and Fortitude ;) 
 

These are great resources for our SAINT CONNECTION to RESPECT

Saint John Paul II
Saint Damien as a young priest
Saint Jeanne Jugan


Prk-K pg 32-35 Respect
http://www.nashvilledominican.org/wp-content/uploads/CHARITY-PK-K-Workbook.pdf

1st-2nd pg 32-35 Respect
http://www.nashvilledominican.org/wp-content/uploads/CHARITY-Gr.-1-2-Workbook.pdf

3rd-5th pg. 32-35 Respect
http://www.nashvilledominican.org/wp-content/uploads/CHARITY-Gr.-3-5-Workbook.pdf

6th-8th pg 32-35 Respect
http://www.nashvilledominican.org/wp-content/uploads/CHARITY-Gr.-6-8-Workbook.pdf