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Faith
Saint James Catholic School provides formation for the whole child in the intellectual and moral virtues so that each student may contribute to the community as a disciple of Jesus Christ and enjoy eternal happiness with Him in heaven. We recognize and affirm the dignity of each human person, created in the image and likeness of God, with the capacity to know the truth, choose the good, and desire the beautiful. As a regional Catholic school of the Archdiocese of Louisville, we are faithful to all the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church.
Sacramental Life
Students and teachers attend Mass each week, celebrating the liturgical seasons and saints of the Church throughout the school year. A highlight for each homeroom in 2nd-8th grade is preparing to lead the Mass as readers, choir singers, and gift bearers. Students in 3rd through 8th grades participate in confession twice a year – during the seasons of Advent and Lent, cleansing their souls to prepare for the holiest seasons of the church year. Students in 2nd grade prepare for their first reception of confession and holy communion during their religion classes.
Spiritual Life
Eucharistic Adoration
Stations of the Cross
The Passion Play
May Crowning
Wax Museum
Virtues in Practice (VIP) Program/Knight of the Month
The goal of Catholic education is heaven, but knowledge alone will not get us there! Virtues in Practice help students to live out the faith in their everyday lives.
Program elements include:
- Virtue of the Month
- Saint of the Month
- 3-Year Cycle, Spiral Curriculum
- Classroom Role-Plays and Activities
- Monthly Home Projects (behavior goals)
- Student Workbooks & Parent Guide
Each month, a student is chosen by their teacher as the “Knight of the Month.” This student has best exemplified the virtue of the month. They receive a certificate and a yard sign to display at home.
Created by the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia Congregation of Nashville, Tennessee
Religion Curriculum
The fundamental task of catechesis is the formation of disciples of Jesus Christ. Rooted in the Pillars of the Catechism, the Archdiocese of Louisville Religious Education Curriculum Framework is framed by six anchor standards, one for each of the Six Tasks of Catechesis laid out by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). Each anchor standard is also associated with a scriptural passage that offers a consistent connection back to Sacred Scripture.
The six anchor standards are:
- Knowledge of Faith
- Liturgical Education
- Prayer
- Moral Formation
- Communal Life
- Missionary Spirit
The complete curricular framework may be found here
Theology of the Body
A key component of the religion curriculum at SJS is the study of the human person. Through this curriculum, children gain an understanding of who God is, who they are as image-bearers of God, male or female, and how they fit into the world. At SJS, we use the Revealed/Rooted materials from Ruah Woods, which presents these concepts in an age-appropriate way. Parents are an integral part of this formation and are informed at the beginning of these units. In the upper grades, parent meetings are also provided to give support in addressing these topics with their children.
Major topics taught include:
- What it means to be male and female, created in God’s image
- We are created as a gift
- God gives us an essential purpose to live for others
- We are called to authentically love God and one another
- When we align with God and our purpose, we are destined for happiness
- Understanding how God reveals himself through Jesus, marriage, the sacraments, and more
- The dignity of each human person, and their calls to work and love
- God’s plan for marital relationships
Learn more here.
Middle School House System
The purpose of the SJS House System is to nurture growth in maturity, leadership, community and faith. Each student in sixth grade is randomly inducted into one of six houses at the beginning of the school year and remains a part of that house during their middle school years.
The six houses are named after saints:
- House of Pio (St. Padre Pio)
- House of Lisieux (St. Therese of Lisieux)
- House of Acutis (St. Carlos Acutis)
- House of Mother Teresa (St. Teresa of Calcutta)
- House of John Paul (St. John Paul II)
- House of Frassati (Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati)
Houses meet once a month for a house lunch. Once a quarter, houses compete in friendly competitions and team-building activities to earn house points. Each house also completes a service project for the community that is connected to the “charism,” or special virtues of their patron saint.
8th graders of each house serve as leaders. At the end of each school year, rising 8th graders are “knighted” by the graduating students of their house in a special knighting ceremony. The students recite a pledge in which they promise to strive to act with integrity and virtue as leaders of the school.
