Faith & Spiritual Development

“The Disciple of Christ – Education in Virtue® is a Christian curriculum structured on the teachings of St. Thomas Aquinas regarding the virtues and gifts of the Holy Spirit.
It aims to provide a consistent structure and systematic instruction for youth to learn about the virtues so that that they may form the habits and dispositions necessary to live as disciples of Jesus Christ. This curriculum emphasizes Christian discipleship as indispensable toward human flourishing and the quest for joy. It has been developed in response to the call for a New Evangelization, firmly conveying the reality that happiness is found in a life of holiness.”

– p. 6, Educator’s Guide

In the school setting, the call to discipleship is extended not only to the students but also to their parents, the faculty, the staff, and the administration. It is the fruit of a personal encounter with Christ which affects one’s intellectual, spiritual, physical, and social life. “The disciple of Christ must not only keep the faith and live on it, but also profess it, confidently bear witness to it, and spread it” (CCC,1816).

Prudence, Justice, Courage, Moderation, Faith, Hope and Love: These are the standards we seek to live by. They provide a target to shoot for when behavior fall short, so that as we grow, we grow towards strength, autonomy and freedom to do that which we were made for. We seek to help your child practice and eventually master these excellences to the best degree they can while with us, knowing that this is a life-long journey.

Sacred Heart School is pleased to provide for the formation of its students through the incorporation of the Disciple of Christ – Education in Virtue curriculum. At Sacred Heart School, your child will join many others in putting their faith into action as we live the virtues together, guided by the curriculum brought to our school community by the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist. We are committed to the academic and moral excellence of our students because Christ is the center of our lives.

At Sacred Heart we teach the Catholic doctrine, history, and tradition. In fact, the foundation of everything we do is built on universal principles that benefit students and all of society. 

Sacred Heart educators know that personal success and spiritual growth can only come with a deep understanding of self. With just the right mix of textbook learning and self-esteem, our students are able to leave school better equipped to make good life choices. Our dedicated instructors teach students the fundamentals of discipline and self-awareness – the basic morals and values necessary to become adults who understand how their individual actions can make the world a better place.

The Sacred Heart theology department’s purpose is to form holistic Christian thinkers and evangelical leaders. We engage the students in specific Catholic studies including Sacred Scripture, Theology, and Church History. Students are assessed for academic rigor within the Catholic tradition. Various teaching strategies are employed including traditional assessment methods, group projects, and class discussions. The ultimate goal is to form a community of disciples for the New Evangelization.

Does my child have to be Catholic to attend?

• We welcome families of all faiths and backgrounds at Sacred Heart School! 20% of our current preschool through grade 12 student population is not Catholic.

In the spirit of living by our Benedictine values, we are called to action.
• Through Service, students encounter Christ as they meet the needs of others in the example of Jesus, the servant leader. “The member should serve one another.” (Rule of Benedict 33).
• As a Community of learners, students work together for the common good as they grow deeper in their relationship with God and one another. “Let all things be common to all.” (Rule of Benedict 33).
• By putting into practice, students recognize God in every person and honor their giftedness and limitations. “Honor everyone and never do to another what you do not want done to yourself.” (Rule of Benedict 4).
• Building Integrity, students work side by side across grade levels for a cause that betters their community and supports the school. “Your way of acting should be different from the world’s way; the love of Christ must come before all else.” (Rule of Benedict 4).
• By demonstrating Dignity of Work, students share in the fruitful experience of work that enriches the life of others through their action. “…they live by the labor of their hands.” (Rule of Benedict 48).

The school renamed the system of identified Benedictine Values to be lived by students and graduates at Sacred Heart as the “Eagle Way,” tying the values to the school’s mascot.

More on the Eagle Way at Sacred Heart

In the area of Catholic Life and Character Development the school has worked to enrich prayer opportunities at Sacred Heart. The school has hired a campus minister who helps oversee school prayer, school retreats and Faith Family activities.  In addition to regular school Masses the school provides time during the day for student prayer. These include a formalized schedule of Lectio Divina, rosary, adoration, prayer journaling, and regular meetings of the school Faith Families. The senior and junior leaders guide their Faith Families, comprised of a group of students who meet weekly for prayer, discussion and other faith based activities.

Elementary and high school students attend weekly Mass and all grades offer daily prayer. Praise & Worship is held at various times each month, which allows students to gather to sing songs of praise. 

A small chapel is located on the high school’s second floor. Here, students can find a quite moment to reflect and they can add their own requests to the prayer box.