CISVA & Continuity of Learning
CONSIDERATIONS
CISVA Statement
We will continue to monitor the requirements from the Ministry of Education.
To date the Ministry has maintained a posture of support, rather than be directive or prescriptive, encouraging local schools to design a program that works for their community and the families within that community. For example, a requirement that students will be connected to their teachers no later than mid-April.
We are encouraging our schools to take the time to be thoughtful and carefully manage the expectations of ourselves, our staff, our families and our students during these challenging times as we are all facing a fundamentally different way of delivering education to our students.
Purpose
This pandemic event is unprecedented and our response should be prudent. No one has figured this out. The pandemic has given us permission to pause and plan much more thoughtfully, creatively and compassionately. It calls for empathy-driven decision-making.
Ministry of Education Guiding Principle #4
“To support a coordinated approach in response to COVID-19. … To ensure B.C.’s K-12 education system supports the coordinated approach, the work will be guided by a set of principles to:
1| Maintain a healthy and safe environment for all students, families and employees.
2| Provide the services needed to support children of our essential workers.
3| Support vulnerable students who may need special assistance.
4| Provide continuity of educational opportunities for all students.”
See the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Continuity of Learning for details
Considerations
1| “In response to COVID-19”
2| “Continuity”
3| “Of educational opportunities”
4| “For all students”
For the most updated document and for details please see the full document
Continuity of Learning for Christian Education
In these troubled times of the COVID-19 pandemic many of us may be confused, discouraged, and even frightened. We confront a crisis which provokes uncertainty and panic. Such situations can provide an opportunity to allow GOD to take control, that fear should not have any power over us. In the middle of all this uncertainty, our GOD is the only thing that is certain. this is a time when we can fully trust in HIM as events unfold around us. Our fear can and should turn into HOPE because HE has the power to protect, the power to provide and the power to sustain.
Practical Application
Keep it simple and practical.
Continue to develop the K-12 Curricular Competencies (see below).
Develop Curricular Competencies by exploring the BIG IDEA questions; continue to bring people back to what matters.
Take advantage of the liturgical life of the Church: the liturgical calendar.
Consider core family Lenten/Holy Week, Easter, and Pentecost Projects, e.g. story, program, movie, etc.
6 Ways to grow as a disciple of Jesus
As a child of God, students can:
1. Profess the Faith
a. Read God’s Word.
As a family, read the Word of God. Take time to read the readings of the day or read through one of the Gospels or an Epistle. Listen to the reading and take time and silence to ask and reflect on: “what is God saying to me today?” You could possibly journal.
b. Learn a teaching of Christ.
Read a section of the YOUCAT (CCC or Compendium) and reflect/share… Or watch/take a catechetical program once a week.
Read (watch a movie/show/program) on the lives of the saints.
2. Celebrate the Christian Mystery
a. Create a home prayer corner.
Setting aside a sacred space in your home encourages your family to pray. Candles, a crucifix, a Bible, holy water, and your favourite sacred icons and images can all be placed on a table or shelf (you may also wish to cover with a cloth of the liturgical season’s colour) to uplift the soul to God.
b. Participate in the Mass
While Mass may be closed to the public, Catholics can still participate in the Holy Mass via livestream and worship as if they are there. The archdiocese has provided links to livestream Masses in the archdiocese, including 11:00 a.m. Sunday Mass celebrated by Archbishop Michael Miller at Holy Rosary Cathedral.
3. Live a moral life.
a. Critique a TV show or movie.
Compare and contrast characters with Jesus: ask “what would Jesus do (WWJD)?” Discuss (note) who and which actions lead to freedom and the good, and who and which actions lead away from them (and why or why not).
b. Critique current events/news.
Discuss (note) how God would call us to live in the situations. Find examples of virtue in life today. Compare or refer to the lives of the saints.
c. As appropriate, help a neighbour.
Ask if they need anything if your family is going out for supplies. Write a letter to someone in need of social connection.
4. Pray in the Life of Faith
a. Turn to God through the day.
Begin each day as a family in prayer. Thank God for the gifts He gives us, ask for what you need, ask for what others need, and praise Him for the day. Pray grace before each meal. End the day as a family with prayer together: look back through the day, thank God and ask His blessing on all for the night.
b. Pray a daily family Rosary.
Set aside 15 to 20 minutes each day to gather around your home prayer corner as a family and to pray the Most Holy Rosary for a swift end to the pandemic, for all those aflicted, for all healthcare workers, for the souls of the faithful departed, and any intentions you and your family may have.
5. Live in Christian Community
a. Share God’s Word and work in you life.
As a family start a virtual small group, continue your existing small group via video chat, or study Scripture on your own. By studying God’s Word and pondering it in our hearts, we will grow in our faith and fall in love with Scripture.
b. Connect to your parish or the archdiocese.
Find out what your parish (or the archdiocese) is offering during this time; are there online communities, prayers, ministries you could conect with?
How might you reach out to the elderly and/or isolated in your parish?
c. Celebrate as a class or school.
Pray online as a class or school: live or recorded, and then shared out. Perhaps your pastor or chaplain would celebrate and record Mass for the school.
6. Be a Missionary Disciple
a. Is there anyone in your family that needs help?
Read to a younger sibling and/or help them with any learning.
b. Be a friend.
Play a game as a family. Call relatives and friends to say hello and ask how they are. SHare how God has been a comfort (when and as appropriate). Offer to pray for them.
Resource Hub
Please see the remaining tabs on this page.
Also see the open, shared Excel document of resources (note the tabs on the bottom of various worksheets). Please add any other great resources you know of or use, and add any lessons you have used.
Resources for the family (RCAV) Church Never Stops
Prayer
Bishop Barron on Prayer
Fr. Mike Schmitz – Tips for prayer
How to build a Prayer Corner (video)
How to build a Prayer Corner (pdf)
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd resources for home
Making prayer cards for a prayer corner (pdf)
Enthronement of the Bible at the prayer corner (pdf)
The Gift of Silence (pdf)
Routine at home (Domestic Horarium) (pdf)
Readings of the Day
Word Among Us (FREE)
Living with Christ (FREE – US site)
Divine Office (Liturgy of the Hours)
Magnificat (FREE)
Universalis (FREE) (different trans.)
Divine Office (subscription)
eBreviary (subscription)
iBreviary (subscription)
Mass Livestream
RCAV list of Masses online (click “Watch Mass Online” tab)
Bishop Robert Barron (daily Mass)
Fr. Josh Johnson (daily Mass)
Rosary
Fr. Mark Mary, CFR on really praying the Rosary (video)
Divine Mercy
How to recite the chaplet
Examen
Examen prayer card (pdf)
Loyola Press (online resources)
Pathways to God (various, online)
Online prayer tools (Jesuits UK)
Prodigal Father (app)
Reimagining the Examen (app)
Reimagining – Flip Books (see list)
Lectio divina
Fr. Josh – What is lectio divina (video)
Bishop Barron (video)
Prayers
Morning Offering
St. Michael
Daily Inspiration (Dynamic Catholic)
Scripture
New Revised Standard Version – Catholic Edition (NRSV-CE)
Revised Standard Version – Catholic Edition (RSV-CE) Browsable Bible
New American Bible (NAB)
Catechism
Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC)
Compendium of the Catechism
Compendium of Social Doctrine
Continuity of Learning CISVA Learning Support – Communication #1 – March 30, 2020
Continuity of Learning CISVA Learning Support – Communication #2 – April 7, 2020
*Please note that once link is clicked, the file will auto download onto your computer. You may retrieve the document in your downloads folder on your computer.
CONTACT
4885 Saint John Paul II Way, Vancouver BC V5Z 0G3
T: 604-683-9331 F: 604-687-6692 E: info@cisva.bc.ca
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