6^th -8^th Grade
Middle School Religion
Mrs. Phyllis L Baker

The middle school religion students study the Catholic Faith. They participate in a weekly SMCS Mass one day a week and attend religious studies in the Religion classrooms for the remaining four days of the week.
 
Mass is celebrated school wide on Wednesday mornings. The Middle School students are active participants of the Wednesday Masses. They take part in various ministries of the Mass; whether as Altar Servers, Lectors, Ushers, Bringing up the Gifts, Singing in the Choir, or working with the Tech team.
 
In the classroom with Mrs. Baker, they learn about the Catholic Faith through Scripture and “hands on” Bible work. They continue to build upon all of the pillars of the faith. They study Morality, Liturgy and Sacraments, and Prayer. They complete at least two projects a year and learn how to live their life according to the way God wants them to.
 

5^th Grade Religion
Mrs. Phyllis L Baker

The 5^th grade religion students study the Catholic Faith. They participate in a weekly SMCS Mass one day a week and attend religious studies in the Religion classrooms for the remaining four days of the week.
 
Mass is celebrated school wide on Wednesday mornings. The entire student body is involved in the participation of the Masses each week.
 
In the classroom with Mrs. Baker, they learn about the Catholic Faith, through Scripture and “hands on” Bible work. They continue to build upon all of the pillars of the faith. They study Morality, Liturgy and Sacraments, and Prayer. They complete at least two projects a year and learn how to live their life according to the way God wants them to.
 

1^st through 4^th Grade Religion
Mrs. Martha Burns
 

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd has been in place for St. Martha Catholic School pre-kindergarten children for the Pre-K 3 and Pre-K 4 and so Kindergarten students will continue their journey to discover our rich Catholic heritage in Level I of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is inspired by Montessori “hands-on” principles of education which enable children to be self-guided in their enjoyment of the presence of God.

Level I (3 to 6 years): The children discover the Good Shepherd who loves us and calls us by name, Jesus who lived in Israel and is the Light of the World, the mystery of the Kingdom of God as told by Jesus in parables, and the symbols, gestures, and language of the Eucharist and Baptism.

This year in grades 1, 2 and 3 we will be using the Legacy Edition of RCL’s Faith First Religion Series which offers a spiral approach, centered on the four pillars of the Catechism of the Catholic Church: faith, morals, prayer, and the sacraments. This approach builds students’ understanding of faith concepts and reinforces and extends the content each year as children mature.
 
Level II (6 to 9 years): The children come to know that God is working from Creation, through redemption, toward Parousia when God's love will be all in all. God calls each of us to participate in this plan. Jesus shows us the way to live together in peace and joy as we abide in him through the Eucharist and Baptism.
 
I hold National Certification as a Catechist for Level II of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, serving children 6-9. I will be integrating this program with our school’s faith formation program for Grades 1, 2, and 3.

 

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd – Level One
 Mrs. Diane Applegate
 

The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Level 1, is a Montessori-based religious formation program for 3-6 year olds, originally developed in Rome by Dr. Sofia Cavalletti and Gianna Gobbi over 50 years ago.   It seeks to create a sacred, “hands-on” space for children called an atrium, in which both the children and the catechists (teacher) can hear, ponder, and celebrate the most essential mysteries of the Catholic faith as revealed in the scriptures and the liturgy. 

The environment is specially prepared to help create a very peaceful and quiet place where the children will experience wonder and awe which is guided by the very real presence of the Holy Spirit.  We dim the lights and use our quiet voices to enable the children to draw near to the Lord by songs, scripture readings and various presentations.  Creating this environment allows the child’s religious potential to come alive on their own:  the capacity to love and be loved. 

Here are some examples of what is learned through-out the year for the children:
 

• Hear about the Good Shepherd and are deeply affected by the boundless love of the shepherd for his sheep described in the scriptures.  Learn that he knows his sheep, calls them by name, searches for a lost sheep and celebrates the found sheep. 
   
• Use materials and hear presentations on the life of Christ and his teachings which help to make the great mystery of who God is more understandable for the child. 
   
• Learn geography, the words of the prophets, and infancy narratives where Jesus is established as a real person.
   
• Use model cities of Jerusalem, empty tombs and cenacles for the Last Supper.
   
• Hear selected parables that further the wonder and curiosity about the great mystery of the Kingdom of God.
   
• Become familiar with the articles of the Eucharist and Baptism with the use of a miniature altar and font.
   
• Understand liturgical colors and calendars that lead them into the church year and its celebration of the Paschal Mystery:  Christ has died, Christ is risen, and Christ will come again.
   
• Use of a prayer table which reflects the liturgical time of year by means of appropriate colors, prayers, songs, artwork and readings.