Philosophy
Maintaining Compliance with the Charter
For Children All children and youth in grades K4 through 12, both in day school and religious education, are required to receive safe environment education. This is NOT sex education. Because of the value and dignity of human life, it is important that we teach children and youth about personal safety, awareness and boundaries. As God’s children, we deserve love and respect.
What is Circle of Grace?
The Catholic Church teaches that God has created each of us as unique and special. Genesis 1:27 tells us that we are created "male and female in God's image" and that God saw this as "very good." In that goodness, we are meant to respect ourselves and everyone else as persons created and loved by God.
Adults assist young people to recognize God's love by helping them to understand that each of us lives and moves in a Circle of Grace. You can imagine your own Circle of Grace by putting your arms above your head then circle down in front of your body including side to side. This circle, front to back, holds who you are in your body and through your sense. It holds your very essence in mind, heart, soul, and sexuality.
How is the Circle of Grace Program different from other protection programs?
According to research, one in four girls and one in seven boys will be sexually abused by age eighteen. Many protection programs focus on "stranger danger," however, up to ninety percent of the time the perpetrator is a relative, family friend or other person known to the child/young person. Circle of Grace goes beyond just protection by helping young people understand the sacredness of who they are and how to seek help through their relationships with trusted adults.
For Children All children and youth in grades K4 through 12, both in day school and religious education, are required to receive safe environment education. This is NOT sex education. Because of the value and dignity of human life, it is important that we teach children and youth about personal safety, awareness and boundaries. As God’s children, we deserve love and respect.
What is Circle of Grace?
The Catholic Church teaches that God has created each of us as unique and special. Genesis 1:27 tells us that we are created "male and female in God's image" and that God saw this as "very good." In that goodness, we are meant to respect ourselves and everyone else as persons created and loved by God.
Adults assist young people to recognize God's love by helping them to understand that each of us lives and moves in a Circle of Grace. You can imagine your own Circle of Grace by putting your arms above your head then circle down in front of your body including side to side. This circle, front to back, holds who you are in your body and through your sense. It holds your very essence in mind, heart, soul, and sexuality.
How is the Circle of Grace Program different from other protection programs?
According to research, one in four girls and one in seven boys will be sexually abused by age eighteen. Many protection programs focus on "stranger danger," however, up to ninety percent of the time the perpetrator is a relative, family friend or other person known to the child/young person. Circle of Grace goes beyond just protection by helping young people understand the sacredness of who they are and how to seek help through their relationships with trusted adults.
Circle of Grace CUrriculum
Since 2022-current all children in the Religious Education program and the SMC/SOTH Day Schools will participate in a Circle of Grace lesson at least once during their program year. Please click on the link below for your child's grade to see what your child will be learning. If your child is absent on the day/night which the lesson was taught, please work through the appropriate curriculum with them and fill out link at the bottom of the webpage to prove it was completed for the records we must sent into the Arch annually.
