Home & School Connections

Home & School Connections

On this page you will find suggestions for ways that you can reinforce the lessons that your children are learning in guidance classes. There are also some links to helpful websites. Some of our virtue lessons also have "homework" ideas that you can try out. It's always a great idea to remind your child that virtues are good habits and the more we practice anything the better we become at it. So when we practice making good choices at home and school, these actions become easier. Please check back often, we will add suggestions and resources as the year progresses. We hope these ideas will support the great work you all do as parents!

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions about these suggestions or to share some of the ways in which you are living these virtues at home!   ~~Beth Henry, SJS pastoral counselor 

Faith at Home

In this year as we learn about the Virtue of Faith here are some at-home suggestions: 

• Family prayer: whether it's arriving at Mass a little earlier to spend time in quiet prayer or to light a candle for a special intention, family prayer is a great way to strengthen our faith and our family.
  • Saying a prayer together when stuck in traffic or a decade of the rosary on the way to school can remind our children that God is always with us. It's a great way to add prayer to each day.
  • Time in the car can also be used to sing simple songs of faith, such as "This Little Light of Mine;" "Good Morning, Jesus" or a hymn the children have been learning for Mass. Ask them to teach you what they know!
  • Veggietales videos also provide a fun way to entertain kids of all ages and spark conversations about our behavior and good choices.

• Kindness to others: Ask your child if they have signed the SJS "kindness pledge" in their classroom and how they are doing in keeping it. It's important to help them look for opportunities to be kind at school and at home; and to let them know it when you see them being kind.

Read at home

Reading stories about the lives of saints or Bible stories written especially for children can help you to talk about life choices, daily struggles and our Catholic values.You can also ask your child about the saints they are learning about in school and discuss ways to be more like that saint.
Here are some resources:

https://www.smp.org/series/81/The-Catholic-Childrens-Bible/
https://blessedisshe.net/the-blog/books-saints-kids/
https://www.catholic.org/saints/https://dsmusicproductions.com/good-morning-jesus-album
 

EWTN kids website also has some fun games and information about the Mass that your children might enjoy:
https://www.ewtn.com/ewtnkids/faithfactory/weAreCatholic.html
 

Reverence at Home:

• Deep respect for God when I am at Mass and when I pray at home or school. Family prayer is a great way to reinforce this virtue of reverence. We remind our children as we enter the church that this is a special and holy place, and we behave in a way that shows we understand this.

• Respect for God’s gifts to us: how do we discover our unique gifts and use them for God's glory? How do I see the goodness in those around me?

Faith-Filled Family Fun

Here are a few websites with faith-based crafts and free ideas for families. They provide a great way to reinforce what your students are learning in school and also to build fun family traditions.

https://www.catholicicing.com/
https://www.reallifeathome.com/

 

Parenting Websites

These websites feature blogs and other resources with parenting strategies you might find helpful.

https://www.123magic.com/parenting-tips/category/newsletters.html
https://www.celebratecalm.com/
https://www.additudemag.com/category/parenting-adhd-kids/