PROFILE OF A SACRED HEART GRADUATE
'We bring up the children for the future, not for the present, not that we may enjoy the fruit of our work, but for others.Therefore, we must have to do with things raw and unfinished and unpolished.We must remember that it is better to begin a great work than to finish a small one. A piece of finished insignificance is no success at all. Our education is not meant to turn the children out small and finished but seriously begun on a wide basis. Therefore, they must leave us with some self-knowledge, some energy, some purpose. If they leave us without these three things, they will drift with the stream of life.'
Janet Erskine Stuart, RSCJ (1911)
The mission of the Academy of the Sacred Heart, an independent Catholic girls' school in New Orleans, is to graduate young women committed to the philosophy and goals of Sacred Heart education.
The five goals of the Network of Sacred Heart Schools in the United States are to educate to:
-A personal and active faith in God; -A deep respect for intellectual values; -A social awareness which impels to action; -The building of community as a Christian value; -Personal growth in an atmosphere of wise freedom.
In order to help the Academy of the Sacred Heart achieve its mission, the following qualities have been identified under each of the five goals. These indicators identify the desired outcome of a Sacred Heart education.
GOAL I: A PERSONAL AND ACTIVE FAITH IN GOD
A Sacred Heart graduate is challenged to be a young woman:
. who is open to the presence of God in her daily life; . who has participated in experiences of liturgy, prayer, and reflection, and has explored her relationship with God, self, others; . who demonstrates an on going and developing prayer life as a life skill; . who has studied the Judeo-Christian Scriptures and the life of Jesus, and has made efforts to live by His words and imitate His actions in a moral and ethical way; . who demonstrates a sense of hope and looks for meaning in life; . who has been introduced to the process of conscience formation within the context of the evolving tradition of the Catholic Church; . who by her actions demonstrates a respect and reverence for life in all of its manifestations; . who has been challenged to choose faith development as a life-long process; . who has been taught the structures, traditions and beliefs of the Catholic Church; . who, while rooted in her own religious tradition, demonstrates a respect for the religious faith and cultures of others; . who demonstrates a self directed and on-going practice of spiritual reading and direction as a life-skill; . who demonstrates a reliance on religious beliefs and practices as a part of her sense of identity.
GOAL II: A DEEP RESPECT FOR INTELLECTUAL VALUES
. who can acknowledge her gifts and is thankful for them; . who is a critical thinker, who effectively uses appropriate resources and reasoning strategies to accurately solve complex issues; . who understands herself as a life-long learner; who sets goals, monitors, and evaluates her progress; and who completes tasks; . who exhibits an understanding of the body of knowledge presented in the curriculum and who has adequately (proficiently) mastered the school curriculum; . who demonstrates an understanding of aesthetic values and uses her imagination creatively; . who can transfer learning to a variety of situations and who is flexible in her thoughts and actions; . who is able to live compatibly in a global and technological world; . who is willing to use her gifts of mind for self and others.
GOAL III: A SOCIAL AWARENESS WHICH IMPELS TO ACTION
A Sacred Heart graduate is challenged to be a young woman: . who has developed a critical conscience, which impels her to reflect on society and its values; . who has learned the skills for effective action for social change and for improving the quality of life in a morally responsible manner and who actively participates in the democratic process; . who is knowledgeable about the social teachings of the Roman Catholic Church and has developed the skills to act on these teachings; . who has learned the value of peace and non-violence, and demonstrates this commitment in her relationships; . who understands the differences and values of various social and ethnic groups, who recognizes the contribution of diverse cultures, and who works effectively with those who have different values and beliefs; . who has developed a global consciousness through studying the interaction of economic, social, political, and environmental systems; . who actively participates in programs concerned with the environment; and is committed to these programs throughout her life; ; . who has learned and utilizes the skills necessary to build Christian community; . who works effectively with others toward the achievement of group goals; . who creates healthy personal relationships, and illustrates an understanding of Catholic family life; . who demonstrates the ability to listen to and respect the views of others; . who demonstrates consideration for individual differences; who recognizes diversity in ideas, attitudes, and cultures; and who lives out of a sincere sense of discipleship; . who defends and takes a position when warranted; . who is a woman of principles and can act on them; . who has discussed the moral implications of issues, and beings her gifts of mind and heart to this study; . who is committed to service as a way of life.
GOAL IV: THE BUILDING OF COMMUNITY AS A CHRISTIAN VALUE
. who acts out of her understanding of and commitment to Christian values and moral principles . who has studied and appreciates the difficulties in issues challenging our interdependent world and can take an informed position; . who uses effective leadership skills; . who utilizes group process as one of the many means of decision making; . who can articulate the meaning of belonging to the Network of Sacred Heart Schools and participates in Network activities when possible.
GOAL V: PERSONAL GROWTH IN AN ATMOSPHERE OF WISE FREEDOM
. who knows how to create a vision for the future, who engages in life-long learning, analyzes options and takes responsibility for setting and achieving personal goals; . who demonstrates an understanding and appreciation for the uniqueness of self and others; . who uses opportunities to share her gifts and knowledge with others and accepts her limitations; . who chooses the moral course of action and acts ethically in light of Gospel values; . who demonstrates self-discipline and accepts responsibility for her actions; . who can begin tasks promptly and can persevere when encountering obstacles; . who uses leadership skills appropriate to her gifts and makes the most of opportunities for leadership; . who communicates clearly and appropriately with various audiences; . who has shown a commitment to life-long health and well being; . who is capable of healthy self-assessment and who balances her life's roles; . who can approach the process of change critically; . who shows an understanding of the meaning of commitment.