Catholic Ethos Development Self Evaluation in a Catholic

Catholic Ethos Development Self Evaluation in a Catholic Primary School “Let everything you do be done in love” (1 Cor 16: 14)

Self-evaluation is a reflective, systematic and analytical process, through which schools get to know themselves well and identify the best way forward for their pupils

What is a Catholic School?

How do we evaluate a Catholic School? What do we evaluate in a Catholic School?

Questionnaire for Diocesan Diocese of Derry-Self Evaluation Journey Purposes-Baseline/Support/Create Resources-acknowledge and affirm the tremendous work of our schools Year of Faith-Questionnaire- Focused on the Catholic School as Community-self reflection/evaluation Piloted idea of formal Self- Evaluation!!!!

Questionnaires School Environment Reflective of Catholic Values/Beliefs/Ethos Classroom Environments Reflective of Catholic Values/Beliefs/Ethos Timetabling of Religious Education Resources Parental Involvement Assemblies Social Justice Outreach Sacramental Preparation Chaplaincy Prayer and Liturgical Life of School Celebration of Liturgical Year Spiritual Development of Staff Links with parish Areas for development/ support

A Catholic School Community “A growing community must integrate three elements: a life of silent prayer, a life of service and above all of listening to the poor, and a community life through which all its members can grow in their own gift. ” (Jean Vanier)

The Catholic Life of the School Collective Worship Religious Education and Faith Formation Pilot of Formal Self Evaluation Format ‘Change and renewal are part of human life and the process by which everyone grows towards God. The Catholic school will reflect this process in its self-evaluation. This will enable it to cherish its achievements, to identify areas of weaknesses and improve the quality of its life and work by setting appropriate directions and targets for the future. . Ongoing self evaluation is essential if the educational community is to live up to its mission. ’ (CES 1999: 5 Evaluating the Distinctive Nature of a Catholic School)

Formal Self Evaluation The Catholic Life of the School Collective Worship Religious Education and Faith Formation Strengths and Evidence Areas for Improvement Development Strategies (targets, time scales & clear lines of accountability)

Response A few schools willing to trial General response-process perhaps too clinical at current time in education with the many pressures schools are facing Schools need affirmation Gentler process would be appreciated

The SEE, JUDGE, ACT, pastoral cycle is part of mainstream Catholic (Vatican II) teaching with a long tradition and should form the basic approach to our pedagogy in school: discernment of mission, response to incidents, campaigns, assemblies, lessons, staff and govern meetings. REFLECTION AFFIRMATION ACTION (Raymond Friel)

Self Evaluation Of a Catholic School See, Celebrate and Give Thanks to God for who we are and how we are as a Catholic School Community Judge/Discern an area of our school community which we feel needs attention and development Action Plan for the area of improvement Implement and Monitor/Reflect on Underpin everything with prayer

“The Path I Walk Christ Walks It” “Let Everything you do be done in Love” (1 Corinthians 16: 14) A Reflective Journal for Schools in the Diocese of Derry

Reflective Journal School Details Mission Statement Diocesan Prayer Time before Self Reflection Process School Prayer School Community Members Page/Pages “St Paul talks about the Church, the community of the faithful, as a body where there are many different parts. Every community is a body, and in it all the members belong one to another. This feeling of belonging comes not from flesh and blood but from a call from God. Each of us has been personally called to live together, to belong to the same community, the same body. The call is the foundation of our decision to commit ourselves with others and for others, responsible for each other. ” (Jean Vanier. Community and Growth)

SEE/JUDGE/ACT Stage One See, Celebrate and Give Thanks to God for who we are and how we are as a Catholic School Community What are we doing and what are we doing well? Is the person of Jesus at the heart of it? Prayer, Relationships, Forgiveness, Welcome to others, Teaching and Learning, Assemblies, Social Outreach, Parental Involvement, Pastoral Care, Liturgical Events, After school provision, Physical Environment, Professional Development, Spiritual Development, Leadership, Ethos “Celebration is a communal experience of joy, a song of thanksgiving. We celebrate the fact of being together; we give thanks for the gifts we have been given. Celebration nourishes us, restores hope, and brings strength to live with the sufferings and difficulties of everyday life” (Jean Vanier-Community and Growth)

SEE/JUDGE/ACT Stage Two Judge/Discern an area of our school community which we feel needs attention and development From the reflection and celebration of who you are as a Catholic School Community and identifying what you are doing well things will begin to emerge that need the attention of the whole school community You may have to decide as a school how to narrow down and focus on the one area which seems to need particular attention at this time for the school community The journey towards community is one of continuing discovery. (Jean Vanier -Community and Growth)

SEE/JUDGE/ACT Stage Three Ø Action Plan for the area of improvement Ø Agreement on way forward Ø Implement and Monitor/Reflect The more we become people of action and responsibility in our community, the more we must become people of Contemplation (Jean Vanier-Community and Growth)

Catholic Education and Catholic Schools need to be an example of how to wash feet-in other words Catholic schools need to reveal what the heart of Eucharist is about- communion. (Fr Paul Farren)