Theology Department

Essential Knowledge and Skills

Students will understand all that God has done for us through his son, Jesus Christ. Through this course of study, students will learn that for all eternity, God has planned for us to share eternal happiness with Him, which is accomplished through the redemption Christ won for us. Students will learn that they share in this redemption only in and through Jesus Christ. They will also be introduced to what it means to be a disciple of Christ and what life as a disciple entails. Further, students will understand that in and through the Church they encounter the living Jesus Christ. They will be introduced to the fact that the Church was founded by Christ through the Apostles and is sustained by Him through the Holy Spirit. Students will come to know that the Church is the living Body of Christ today. This Body has both divine and human elements. Students will learn about events in the life of the Church and about the sacred nature of the Church. Students will also continue to develop their commitment to service and to fully participate in the faith life of the school.

Indicators of Student Learning

Upon completion of this course, students will:

Develop communication skills:

• Share ideas and information in small group and whole class discussions, visual presentations, written reflections, and multimedia presentations.

• Use writing as a tool (i.e. journals, summarizations, reports, and essays).

• Use communication strategies to facilitate retention of information such as repeating information, constructing mnemonic devices, and taking notes.

• Build vocabulary by explaining terminology used by the Catholic Church

Define Jesus Christ’s Mission and how it continues in the Church

• Develop an understanding of God’s plan for us from Creation through the events of the Pascal Mystery • Be educated in the foundations of Christianity through the apostles and the continued development of the Church influenced by the power of the Holy Spirit

• Develop respect for the Trinity and the teachings of Christ

• Understand the marks of the Church and the Church in the world

• Develop an understanding for the “sacred nature of the Church” and about individual responsibility to continue the goodness of the Church.

Articulate basic beliefs of the Catholic faith

• Connect this academic content with a lived faith experience

• Develop a sense of community in class and school

• Develop respect and love for self, God, and others

Recognize a personal connection to the larger community and the responsibility we hold for Christian Service.

• Participate in the service learning program

• Participate in service reflections and service journaling

• Reflect on their personal relationship with God for inclusion in the Spiritual Portfolio

Enhance personal use of technology

• Collaborate with peers to use technology projects and creative works.

• Create multi- media presentations, participate in web quests, collaborative presentations, and/ or Power Points.

Assessments

Upon completion of this course, students will:

• Demonstrate competency to define the Paschal Mystery and Jesus Christ’s mission through the Church.

• Learning and being tested on the elements of the USCCB’s (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops) Doctrinal Framework for the Development of Catechetical Materials for Young People of High School Age.

• Demonstrate competency in the basic beliefs of the Catholic faith and connect this academic content with a lived faith experience by participating in school-wide liturgies and the class retreats along with completing work to be included in the student’s Spiritual Portfolio.

• Demonstrate competency in recognizing a personal connection to the larger community and the responsibility we hold for Christian Service by completing the required number of service hours and completing the reflections and projects that tie service with personal experience and affects on others.

• Demonstrate competency in communication by clearly expressing and presenting ideas and information in visual presentations, written responses, and multimedia presentations.

• Demonstrate competency in technology by creating and presenting digital projects and/or multi-media presentations.