Religious Education Curriculum

Our Diocesan virtues program

Virtues of the Month and Character Traits Program

 

What is a Virtue?

 

A virtue is a good habit. The word virtue comes from the Latin virtus, which means “strength.” Human/moral virtues are acquired by education, deliberate acts, and persevering effort. The three theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity are given to us by God at baptism. These give life to the moral virtues by allowing God to dwell within us and by drawing us to be virtuous out of love for Him. They lead us directly to God.

 

What is a Character Trait?

Character traits are the individual qualities or attributes that make up a person's overall character.

They describe the consistent patterns of behavior, feelings, and thoughts that make someone unique. 

 

“We walk by faith, not by sight.” 

2 Corinthians 5:7

Catholic education aims to:

  • Foster critical thinking skills through evidence.

  • Develop a love for learning to create lifelong learners.

  • Guide students on a path of knowledge, seeking truth, ultimately leading towards sainthood.

Virtues of the Month and Character Traits Program

By teaching the Virtue of the Month and character traits, students will learn to live out their faith daily. A virtue is a good quality or habit that encourages kindness, honesty, and doing the right thing. This includes being brave, telling the truth, and helping others. Virtues help individuals become better people and improve their relationships with others. 

 

Character traits are the unique qualities and attributes that define who we are as individuals. They shape our thoughts, feelings, and actions, influencing how we interact with the world around us. By cultivating positive character traits such as honesty, responsibility, and citizenship, we can become better individuals and contribute meaningfully to our communities.

 

This program meets the NYS educational requirements for character trait programs by fostering positive social-emotional learning skills in students, such as empathy, responsibility, and self-control, which are essential for academic success and overall well-being.

 

Recommendations for implementation:

  • We will utilize this FREE resource for teaching the virtues of the month:

  • Schools can continue to use other resources in addition to the Virtues in Practice to implement the former Diocesan Character Education program. 

  • Introduction at Mass or School Gathering: 

    • The principal or teachers introduce the virtue of the month and or character education.

  • Reinforcement in the Classroom: 

    • Teachers reinforce virtue by recognizing and encouraging students who demonstrate it. For example, a student giving another student a pencil is an example of the virtue of generosity and the character trait of appreciation.

  • Recognition of Students: 

    • At the end of the month, teachers choose a few students who displayed virtue or character traits of the month. Schools can decide how to recognize these students. Suggestions include:

      • Recognize them at the last mass of the month and invite their parents.

      • Create a bulletin board featuring the virtues of the month.

      • Post photos on social media of students who displayed virtue.

      • Host a principal's breakfast or celebration monthly, quarterly, or each trimester.

      • Fill out the Google form for the Department of Catholic Education each month. You may submit several names to receive stickers. 

  • End-of-Year Ceremony: 

    • At the end of the year, students can select one peer for each virtue. Please ensure only one student is chosen per virtue, resulting in a total of 9-11 students from PK-8. These students will be recognized at the Diocesan Awards Ceremony in May. Submissions are due in May. The ceremony includes a Mass with Bishop Fisher, and all families, principals, and teachers are invited to attend.







 

Year 1: 2024-2025

MONTH

VIRTUE

DEFINITION

DIOCESAN                   CHARACTER TRAIT

DEFINITION

SEPTEMBER

FAITH

Believing in God and all He has revealed.

WELCOMING 

We welcome others like Jesus did, inviting everyone to join and feel part of our community.

OCTOBER

HONESTY

Being trustworthy and true.

SPORTSMANSHIP 

Playing fair, being respectful to others, and handling both winning and losing with grace.

NOVEMBER

STEWARDSHIP

Returning to God the first fruits of your

time, talent, and treasure.

SERVICE 

Helping others and giving your time to make your community better.

 

DECEMBER

GENEROSITY

Giving without counting the cost.

APPRECIATION 

Being thankful and showing gratitude for what others do for us. 

JANUARY

GRATITUDE

Seeing everything as a gift and being

thankful.

DETERMINATION 

Working hard and not giving up, even when things are tough. 

FEBRUARY

REVERENCE

Showing your deepest respect for

things of God.

INCLUSION 

Making sure everyone feels valued and part of the group. 

MARCH

MERCY

Caring for those who suffer.

SACRIFICE 

Giving up something you want to help others. 

APRIL

JUSTICE

Being fair and giving each his due.

PROBLEM SOLVING 

Finding ways to fix problems and overcome challenges.

MAY

ZEAL

Being driven by an intense love for God.

OPTIMISM 

Staying positive and looking for the good in every situation. 



 

Year 2: 2025-2026

MONTH

VIRTUE

DEFINITION

DIOCESAN               CHARACTER TRAIT

DEFINITION

SEPTEMBER

HOPE

Trusting in God’s loving plan.

RESILIENCE

Bouncing back from challenges and maintaining a positive outlook.

OCTOBER

STUDIOUSNESS

Seeking knowledge to grow closer to Truth.

DEVOTION

An act of prayer or private worship.

NOVEMBER

HUMILITY

Accepting your limitations and God-given talents.

GRATITUDE

Acknowledging and appreciating the good things in life.

DECEMBER

PATIENCE

Waiting or enduring without complaint.

PERSEVERANCE

Continuing to strive towards goals even in the face of setbacks.

JANUARY

FIDELITY

Being faithful to promises and commitments.

LOYALTY

Faithful and devoted in your support to someone or something.

FEBRUARY

CHEERFULNESS

Looking on the bright side.

OPTIMISM

A general expectation that good things will happen.

MARCH

TEMPERANCE

Enjoying things in a proper, balanced way.

SELF-CONTROL

The ability to control oneself, in particular one’s emotions and wants. 

APRIL

OBEDIENCE

Saying “yes” to the loving will of God and those He has sent over us.

RESPECT

A feeling or attitude of admiration for someone or something because of their qualities or achievements.

MAY

DILIGENCE

Doing your best and working hard until you’re finished.

CONSCIENTIOUSNESS

Organization, purposeful action and a drive to achieve.

 

 

virtues in practice - the nashville dominicans

 

The Forming Disciples Curriculum

The curriculum can be accessed through the Parish & Schools Resource Portal. Please contact your Principal, Pastor or Parish Administrator for the password.  

Resource Portal: Parishes and Schools

The Diocese remains committed to implementing the curriculum using these four methods: