September – the month of respect, hospitality …

As we await the opening of the school year and also prepare to welcome our parishioners back to church after the summer months, we are reminded that schools in the Toronto District School Board will be focusing on the character attribute respect for the month of September. They will encourage their students from Kindergarten to grade 12 to treat each other with courtesy and consideration.

In the Toronto Catholic District School Board they will focus on the Christian virtue of hospitality and being welcoming of one another. This too is kindergarten to grade 12.
You are encouraged to discuss what is happening regarding character education in the schools with the children and youth in your parish. You may investigate how a particular character attribute might relate to living a Christian life – a reminder that it is not only about good works but the faith that drives the good works.
‘I by my works will show you my faith … For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead.’
James 2:18, 26

The Anglican Resource Centre (ARC) has a number of resources to help Christian educators and leaders uplift character as seen in the secular world to the level as it would be understood in the Christian community.

Your feedback to this blog is welcome. You are also welcome to visit the ARC as we begin to set up at St John York Mills Anglican Church in Toronto, second floor, education wing.
Please email us if you would like to visit the ARC so that we can arrange for someone to be there to greet you.

In Christ,
The ARC/CCC Team

Please check out the following links to find out more about character education in the schools and how the church can respond and let us know what you think:
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/literacynumeracy/character.html
http://www.tdsb.on.ca/_site/ViewItem.asp?siteid=9997&menuid=6685&pageid=5824 http://tcdsb.org/virtue%20of%20the%20month/virtue.htm http://www.ugdsb.on.ca/departments/program/character_education.pdf
http://www.yrdsb.edu.on.ca/page.cfm?id=ICM200701
http://www.ycdsb.ca/departments/InstructionalServices/ReligiousEd/equity.htm
http://www.ourlanguageourstory.org/virtues_themes.html