Virtues in Practice and Service Hours

Virtues in Practice Program

“By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (Jn 13:35).

We are members of the Catholic Christian community, which aspires to live together in the manner Jesus taught His disciples. All the members of our school community, students, faculty, and parents, “participate in a fraternal communion, nourished by a living relationship with Christ and with the Church.”[1]

St. Joseph School strives to promote a school environment based on these Gospel values. The spirituality of communion is particularly important in today’s Catholic school. Pope John Paul II wrote, “We need to promote a spirituality of communion, making it the guiding principle of education wherever individuals and Christians are formed, wherever ministers of the altar, consecrated persons, and pastoral workers are trained, wherever families and communities are being built up.”[2]

The spirituality of communion is a guiding principle for St. Joseph School. Students participate in activities and lessons that promote a spirituality of communion. Parents work together with teachers through the Virtues in Practice Program. This curriculum focuses on a virtue each month, using lives of the saints to highlight the virtues.

Taught in conjunction with the religion curriculum, this program provides students and parents the opportunities to learn about the virtues and to grow in virtue together.

Students at St. Joseph School will:

• have a personal relationship with Christ and recognize that the goal of life is union with God in love.
  • The students will value the sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist.
    • The students will understand the importance of apologizing for mistakes.
    • The students will recognize their need for grace in their relationship with God, through prayer and the sacraments.
  • The students will be kind to one another.
    • Empathy, compassion, affirmation will be explored in age-appropriate lessons.
    • The students will value friendship and understand the important virtues that support holy friendships.
• have a strong identity in the Catholic Church.
  • The students will understand the Gospel message.
    • The students will recognize scripture as the Word of God and become familiar with the Bible and its message.
  • The students will respect authority.
• witness to their Catholic faith through a community of compassion and service.
  • The students will value and understand the virtue of humility.
    • The students will understand the importance of self-giving.
    • They will participate in community service and volunteerism.
• show respect for and uphold the dignity of human life.
  • The students will reconcile differences.
    • The students will learn conflict resolutions skills.
    • The students will avoid jealousy and unhealthy competition.
• practice academic honesty in all circumstances.
  • The students will understand the importance of integrity.
    • The students will value responsibility, self-control and honesty.

[1] Educating Together in Catholic Schools, 14.
[2] Novo Millennio Ineunte, Pope John Paul II

Year of HOPE 2024-2025

Virtues in Practice (VIP)

VIP Parent Guide

Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia VIP Program Website

Service Hours

Service Hour Requirements
Quarterly Service Hour Records Sheet
Service Hours Reflection Sheet