SOCIAL JUSTICE

"What does the Lord require of you but to do justice...love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8

Located in every classroom at St. Hubert School is a poster with the caption "We Live Our Catholic Faith by Practicing Social Justice". Each variation of the poster lists an explanation of the 10 Catholic Social justice principles. It is our attempt to integrate these Catholic social teachings into all aspects of education.

We, as a Catholic school, believe that the mission of our church includes word, worship, and service. We live out the mission of the word by reading and sharing the Good News in the scriptures. We live out the mission of worship as we prepare and participate in weekly liturgies and communal prayer. We live out the mission of service as we serve one another. It is our effort and goal to stress justice issues rather than just charity. Each grade level stresses at least one particular social justice teaching during the year. Curriculum and service projects are implemented revolving around that principle.

First Grade: First grade focuses on the Catholic Social Teaching that all people have Rights and Responsibilities. The 1st graders learn about basic human needs locally and globally. They focus on the rights of all people to be fed, be clothed, have shelter, secure jobs, and have basic health care. They translate that belief into taking responsibility for supporting these rights. Through children's literature, social studies, and field trips, as well as class discussions and activities, they explore organizations that support families in need including: Heifer International, Catholic Relief Services, Red Cross and PROP.

Second Grade: Second grade focuses on two Catholic Social Teachings, Dignity of the Human Person and the Common Good and Community. There are several activities in 2nd grade to promote these themes. Throughout the year, all the students get a chance to be "The Student of the Week". During this time, students and their parents share information and stories about why they a special person and a child of God. Another activity 2nd grade does is spend a few weeks learning about saints. Each child chooses a saint to research and learns how he/she lived his/her life caring for all God's creation. Writing petitions and sharing them with the St. Hubert Community during Mass is an additional way students help support social justice. Second grade also spends a significant amount of time learning about communities and how laws and economics work to promote strong relationships in communities. The students in 2nd grade also write pen pal letters and actually meet other 2nd grade students in another Catholic Community.

Third Grade: Third graders focus on community in their social studies curriculum; therefore they focus on the social justice principle of Common Good and Community. Third grade integrates service projects to help families and patients at Children's Hospital. By incorporating the Corporal Works of Mercy, Beatitudes and Social Justice, the 3rd grade students become more aware of those less fortunate. Third graders learn that they need to be the hands and feet of Jesus to help those in need during an extremely difficult time in their lives.

Fourth Grade: Fourth grade also focuses on the Dignity of the Human Person and Global Solidarity. The 4th graders frequently visit Summer Wood senior housing and have consequently formed a relationship with the senior population living there. Our 4th grade students also write to our parishioners who are homebound. This has proven to be quite the learning experience for these young children because it is a letter writing effort that very seldom receives a response. The 4th graders are also involved in a program through Peace Corps called World Wise Schools, connecting our students to a Peace Corps worker. By implementing this service learning project, our students learn to look beyond themselves and to see that they are part of a global community to which they can contribute.

Fifth Grade and Sixth Grade (lower middle school): Fifth and sixth graders focus on Stewardship of God's Creation and Global Solidarity and Development. Students focus on stewardship and the call to protect the planet. Throughout the year, they learn how to serve others by caring for the Earth. They learn how to reduce waste, recycle and conserve energy. The students take on a leadership role by encouraging recycling throughout the school and parish and through posters and presentations that encourage other students to recycle. The students also collect weekly recyclable items throughout the building. They also learn that they are called to protect and serve God's people. The 5th graders take action by going to Feed My Starving Children and gaining a hands-on perspective of the world's disease and hunger problem. Our 5th grade students are our school safety patrol. They help direct vehicles in the morning as parents drop their children off for school, and they escort Kindergarten children as they get off and on the buses during the noon hour, thus serving the school community by promoting safety. Students learn that the dignity and rights of people everywhere should be respected. The 6th graders have adopted a child from Brazil, and the World Fair project in 6th grade provides an opportunity for the students to explore and appreciate different cultures while gaining an understanding of standards of living that vary widely from what is customary here at home.

Seventh and Eighth Grade (upper middle school): Each year, 7th and 8th grade students participate in a Social Justice Project. Small groups of students explore a social justice issue that is an area of concern for them. Based on the "Church's Social Justice Teachings," students brainstorm, research, and create a plan of action. Examples have been volunteering at an animal shelter, basing their research on the justice teaching, Caring For Creation. Other students have performed piano and created a sing-along for the elderly at a nursing home, basing their research on the justice teaching, Basic Human Rights and Responsibilities. Several groups have helped at Feed My Starving children and Families Moving Forward, reflecting on the teaching, The Option for the Poor and Vulnerable. All of these activities are student driven and justice focused and done during their time away from school. We share our experiences by reflecting on and designing a presentation for their classmates at the end of the school year. Our goal is to raise socially aware servant leaders representing our work at St. Hubert School.