Anchored in virtues, education has broader impact

This paid piece is sponsored by Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools.

A virtue is something good, something we strive for. A vice is the opposite, a bad behavior, something we struggle with. When we teach our children, we strive to lead by example, and we always want them to be good people, to have good habits and to be nice to others.  

The word virtue may not be a common word in our society, but the acts of being virtuous are. Some of those acts include prudence or the willingness to make good use of the experience, docility or the willingness to be taught, gratitude or thankfulness, generosity or giving without counting the cost, patience or accepting calmly what is displeasing, and perseverance or to see something through to the end. When we name these actions, we give them value, we recognize the good behaviors and virtues we want to have and pass on to our children.

That is exactly what students from preschool to high school are doing at Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools. At the start of this school year, the schools introduced the Disciple of Christ, Education in Virtue Program, produced by the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist. 

A different virtue is introduced each month, and the schools take unique approaches to teaching them. 

Regan Manning, principal at Holy Spirit Elementary, gets creative.

“Each teacher has a bucket of beans in their classrooms, and when they see a particular student demonstrating the virtue that month, they give the student a ‘virtue bean’ to put in their class’ virtue cup. On Fridays, a representative from each classroom brings up all the beans that their classroom has collected during the week and adds them to our virtue tub. This tub is displayed throughout the week in our school foyer so that students are reminded to practice that virtue throughout the day.”   

Jessica Williams, a fourth grade teacher at Christ the King Elementary, brings virtues into her classroom.

“I use the virtues curriculum and have started incorporating activities such as a group cup-stacking game to teach perseverance and patience to help students learn how these virtues are important in everyday situations,” she said.

At St. Lambert Elementary, third grade teacher McKenzie Docken uses a bulletin board that has virtue cards that show what the virtue should look like and sound like.

“And I write the prayer with each virtue on anchor chart paper, and we say the prayer each day,” she said.

The sixth graders watch virtue videos and try to bring the virtues into character discussions when they’re studying literature. Even the kindergarteners are recognized when they are practicing a virtue. 

The presence of the Pro Ecclesia Sancta Sisters at Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools plays a huge role in strengthening these virtues. 

Sister Denisse explained the lessons for the elementary school teachers. 

“Our objective was to help them see that living a virtuous life in the classroom comes from our own personal lives, hence the importance of having a prayer life and personal relationship with God,” she said. 

One of their sessions examined how living a virtuous life can help the teachers find balance and joy in their daily vocation. The Pro Ecclesia Sancta Sisters shared with the staff about the virtues that are key for being a teacher: generosity, patience and kindness, and gave a list and demonstration of practical activities for the teachers to help the children learn these virtues and others.

To learn more about Bishop O’Gorman Schools, contact the admissions department.