Parents have the unique responsibility for the education of their children; they are the first educators or catechists. They teach by their witness of the faith, through their values and attitudes, by their Christian example of love for Christ and his church. When children are baptized, parents accept the responsibility to raise their children in the practice of the faith... (National Directory for Catechesis 234-235)
ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC SCHOOL CURRICULUM STANDARDS​
PRESCHOOL: Our love for God’s gifts and our sense of wonder grow as we become more aware of God’s creation. God made each of us someone special. Each of us wonders about ourselves and other living things. ALL people and living things can be signs of God’s goodness to us.
KINDERGARTEN: God calls us to celebrate His love for us through His gifts of creation. Jesus reveals God’s love for us and teaches us to love God, ourselves and others. We, God’s family, continue to build God’s Kingdom through our worship and by helping other people.
FIRST GRADE: The LOVE of God the Father as shown through creation and the KNOWLEDGE of God the Father as taught by Jesus, God’s Son and our brother; our own initiation through Baptism and special assistance from the Holy Spirit.
SECOND GRADE: We receive Jesus in a special way through the sacrament of Eucharist. Jesus forgives our sins in the sacrament of Penance.
FIRST RECONCILIATION & FIRST COMMUNION (Diocese of Duluth Policy - Sacramental): Catechesis for the Sacrament of Reconciliation is to precede First Communion and must be kept distinct by clear and unhurried separation. This is to be done so that the specific identity of each sacrament is apparent and so that, before receiving First Communion, the child will be familiar with the revised Rite of Reconciliation and will be at ease with the reception of the sacrament.
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SECOND GRADE (Sacrament of Reconciliation): In the Sacrament of Penance we celebrate God’s love and forgiveness. Knowing that the Holy Spirit will help us live as Jesus.
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SECOND GRADE (Immediate Preparation for First Communion): We come to the table of the Eucharist where we eat the body and drink the blood of Jesus. We learn how to live through the Word of God. We learn how to let the Sacrament which nourishes us, nourishes others, and through us, give life to the world.
THIRD GRADE: Our Church continues Christ’s work in the world today.
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FOURTH GRADE: Everyone has a call to holiness in imitation of Jesus. The Holy Spirit enlightens us and gives us the power to live as Jesus did.
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FIFTH GRADE: Jesus instituted the seven sacraments to give us grace. In the experience of the seven sacraments we share the life and person of Jesus in a special and unique way.
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SIXTH GRADE: God, our Creator, loves us deeply and interacts in our lives. The saving actions of God throughout history are most completely revealed in Jesus. God’s loving relationship with the chosen people is recorded in the Old and New Testaments written by persons of faith under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The Church is responsible for safeguarding and interpreting the truth we find in the Scriptures. All Christians continue the work of building the kingdom of God.
