Effective stewardship of the mission of Sacred Heart education necessitates a deep understanding of Sacred Heart School Identity.

• We focus on the development of each child in the context of community.
• We draw our inspiration from Jesus Christ as the source of all wisdom and from the conviction that in Him all things can be brought to their full potential.
• Inspired by an understanding of Jesus Christ, His Gospel and the Holy Spirit, we participate in God's grace.
• God's grace initiates our actions and assists us in becoming people of service grounded in love, mirroring the attitudes of Christ's Heart such as respect, compassion, forgiveness and generosity.
• God works through persons, events and physical things. Through invoking our spirit, mind and imagination, we discover the intelligibility and coherence of all reality.
• As participants in God's grace, we experience the love of Jesus Christ and the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
• God comes to us as communion, through the communities in which we live.
• The emphasis on community in Catholicism is the source of Sacred Heart's commitment to relationships and the building of community as an essential value.

Learn more about the structure of the Conference of Sacred Heart Schools >

This beautiful mission is articulated through the Goals and Criteria of Sacred Heart Schools. The five goals are to educate to:

1. A personal and active faith in God;

2. A deep respect for intellectual values;

3. A social awareness which impels to action;

4. The building of community as a Christian value; and

5. Personal growth in an atmosphere of wise freedom.

The 5 Goals of Sacred Heart

As a dimension of accountability for mission, each school is charged by the Provincial and her Team to develop a plan for ensuring that ongoing formation to mission is continued and carried out within the school. Formation to this mission is one of the most important charges for all students and adult members of the Sacred Heart community. Many of the Sacred Heart schools throughout the Province of the United States-Canada have appointed Directors or Coordinators of Formation to Mission to help ensure that the mission of the Society of the Sacred Heart is continued and carried out throughout all programs, services, and departments.

These “Formation to Mission Plans” within each school are intended to be an expression of how the school plans to live the mission of the Society and support the members of the community in its ongoing growth.

There is no one “right way” to engage the school community in “Formation to Mission.” Each school determines its course for enlivening and enacting the spirit of the Society in the local context, and reflecting the needs of the local community. No plan is finished, as the Spirit is constantly revealing to us new ways to manifest its truth and revelation.

The ultimate aim of Formation to Mission at the Rosary is to foster the charism of the Religious of the Sacred Heart, the values of Sacred Heart education, and the unique way of being a Sacred Heart educator. Formation to Mission activities within a Sacred Heart school supports this aim and purpose by integrating the charism, values, unique educational practices and priorities of the Society into the fabric of school life. Intentional and ongoing formation of all members of the Rosary community empowers us to take up this mission and to assume responsibility for its transmission to the next generation.

The Formation to Mission Committee at the Rosary offers the following plan for our school. We believe it will inform us about Sacred Heart heritage, spirituality and pedagogy; and it will inspire us and nurture us so that we can live the Sacred Heart mission and share it with succeeding generations. We pray that God’s love works in our hearts through all that we do and all that we are as a community of the Sacred Heart, bringing each of us to a greater understanding of God’s love, and that through this plan we are provided with a pathway we can use to share God’s love with all those around us.

The Campus Ministry Team (CMT) is responsible for the creation and ongoing implementation of the Formation to Mission Plan. The CMT will:

• be responsible for animating and ensuring the life of mission through the effective facilitation of the FTM Committee and the ASH-FTM plan.
• provide support to administrators, teachers, and staff in matters related to FTM and work in collaboration with them to support FTM throughout the school.
• provide prayer and reflection on mission and goals at regular Board of Trustees meetings, and special functions hosted by the Board, when invited by the Board Chair.
• provide support to the Head of School when called upon for resources, development of the all- school retreat, special all-school activities that are mission-related, and special Society of the Sacred Heart processes where school constituency groups are involved, etc.
• recommend other members of the committee for appointment by the Head of School after consultation.

Campus Ministry in all Divisions has the responsibility for animating the liturgical, devotional, and sacramental life within the respective Division.

Our plan is built on a the following basic assumptions:

• Enacting a sacred mission is constantly unfolding—it is a dynamic process that is always revealed through prayer, grace and action. It is assumed that members of the community are seeking a posture of listening to the Spirit, and to the many ways in which God’s grace is being revealed in silence, in worship, in each other and within the community. We are all co-responsible for being agents of God’s grace in a Christian community.
• The entire Rosary community values the Goals and Criteria of Sacred Heart Schools and desires that they be furthered among us all. Some aspects of formation to mission will be enhanced by being jointly undertaken by all. Some activities within the scope of FTM will be undertaken by certain constituency groups within the Rosary community. All members share in advancing the mission and the plan, but in different ways and through a variety of activities.
• The Campus Ministry Team will implement activities on a yearly basis in conjunction with the entire committee. The committee will work collaboratively with the Division Heads to coordinate the implementation of activities within this plan.
• The Campus Ministry Teamwill affirm, encourage, support and nurture the charism within the school community.
• The Campus Ministry Team will collaborate with the wider community of Sacred Heart School through the Network of Sacred Heart Schools to advance the mission at the Rosary.
• The Campus Ministry Team will coordinate its plan with the unfolding mission of the Society of the Sacred Heart as it continues to express its mission at the international and national level.

Essential

• Continuing education of the spirituality, heritage, traditions, and current priorities of the International Society of the Sacred Heart, and the Province of United States-Canada.
• Engaged reflection and dialogue about Sacred Heart education in order to deepen and strengthen the mission as we respond to the evolving needs of the world.
• On-going reflection on the Goals and Criteria for Sacred Heart education within all Divisions, and among all school constituency groups.
• Sharing of the history and uniqueness of the Rosary.
• Promulgating communications for special feasts with prayers, Sacred Heart readings, holy cards, and the like.
• Offering speakers to members of the Rosary community concerning topics pertaining to the mission of Sacred Heart education.
• Circulating information pertaining to the mission of Sacred Heart Education so that this is displayed throughout the school on bulletin boards, banners, etc.
• Post on the website interesting features, quotes, and other information to share and promote the mission.
• Support the administrative team and other school personnel with on-going information about emerging trends and activities within the Society of the Sacred Heart (SSH) and its mission such as Society “Chapters” and emerging priorities.
• Inform and educate the school community about the mission and ministries of the Society of the Sacred Heart outside of formal education within schools.
• Support the development of experiences to engage all levels in service within the wider community.
• Encourage grace before meals and prayer before the day begins, meetings or classes begin, when appropriate.

Optional

The Campus Ministry Team will work with Division Heads, musicians, and other leaders within the school to coordinate some or all of the following:

• Day of reflection or retreat.
• Communal prayer, Mass, Stations of the Cross, Praying the Rosary, and the celebration of special feasts.
• Groups to be determined annually such as bible studies, prayer groups, book clubs, worship services, and adult immersion experiences (e.g. mission trips to Nicaragua, Mexico, Uganda, etc.).
• School community Mass or prayer service once each month.

Hiring of Employees

Members of the adult community at Sacred Heart are selected based on a wide spectrum of criteria. All candidates are carefully considered in the light of significant qualities. Among other factors, these are as follows:

• The candidate’s understanding of, support of, and capacity to be responsible for the mission of Sacred Heart education.
• The candidate’s ability to maintain consistency in educational philosophy with the Sacred Heart philosophy as expressed in the Goals and Criteria.
• The candidate’s professional competency and willingness to be formed in the mission.
• The candidate’s willingness to support the Catholic and Christ-centered mission of the school.
• All candidates are interviewed with these factors in mind. All candidates are provided with the Goals and Criteria of Sacred Heart Schools as a part of the process of deliberation for all new employees.

Orientation

• New administrators, faculty and staff receive a careful orientation prior to the beginning of each school year. This orientation includes foundational principles of the Society of the Sacred Heart, its charism and mission in the Church, the history of the Rosary, and special culture of our school. A portion of initial orientation is presented by members of the Campus Ministry Team.

Hopes & Expectations

• The Head of School and others involved in the hiring process assume responsibility to ensure these understandings of mission as they consider new faculty and staff.
• Administrators, faculty and staff model the values of the Goals and Criteria of Sacred Heart.
• Administrators, faculty and staff participate in on-going personal education in the heritage and mission of Sacred Heart education.
• Administrators, faculty and staff commit themselves to reflecting on and deepening their understanding and commitment to the Goals and Criteria through their teaching and/or other professional responsibilities.
• Administrators, faculty and staff are called to develop ways to engage students and other members of our school constituency groups in active dialogue around mission.
• Administrators, faculty and staff participate in programs offered by the Network of Sacred Heart Schools to enhance formation to mission.

Ongoing Activities
Essential

• Yearly commissioning of administrators, faculty and staff as educators of the Sacred Heart.
• Annual day of Retreat.
• Opening and Closing faculty in-service workshops will include aspects of Sacred Heart, spirituality, and pedagogy each year.
• Administrators, faculty and staff meetings to include prayer, Goals and Criteria, and heritage readings. This portion of the meetings will be led by various faculty and staff throughout the year.
• Administrators, faculty and staff will receive e-mails in celebration of Feasts with prayers, readings, holy cards, etc.
• There will be opportunity for communal prayer
• Sacred Heart quotations or Heritage information will be included in routine communications to the school community.
• There will be a regular evaluation of Formation to Mission activities.

Optional

• Day begins and ends with prayer and/or espacio. Prayer before meetings, classes and meals are encouraged.
• Voluntary groups for retreats (busy-person), reflection, bible study, prayer, or spiritual book club.
• Occasional travel events to Grand Coteau, St. Charles, Joigny, Rome, etc.
• Travel to other schools.
• Website and/or social media features on SSH spirituality.

Selection

Thoughtful selection of the Board Chair and Trustees is essential in ensuring the school’s mission. Stewardship of the Goals and Criteria calls for the following characteristics for all members of the Board:

• For the Chair, the capacity to lead the board in its responsibility to hold this mission in trust.
• For all Trustees, an understanding of and support for the mission of the school and Sacred Heart education and a commitment to ongoing formation in his or her role as leader in concert with the history, traditions and cultural of Sacred Heart Education.

The Board Chair works in partnership with the Head of School in order to ensure the formation of the Board of Trustees.

Orientation of Trustees

The Chair, the Head of School, and the Committee on Trustees will ensure that the BOT orientation program has a viable component for the mission of Sacred Heart Schools including:

• In-depth discussion of the mission the Board holds in trust as articulated in the Goals and Criteria for Sacred Heart Schools in the United States-Canadian Province (inclusive of Foundational Principles, the Goals and their Criteria).
• Explanation of the accountability of the school for this mission through the Sacred Heart Commission on Goals (SHCOG) process.
• Exposure to the heritage of Sacred Heart education.
• Explanation of the Conference of Sacred Heart Schools and the Network of Sacred Heart Schools
• Expectation to participate within the first few years (2-3) of service in the Network New Trustee training

Operating Assumptions

• All trustees are responsible to hold in trust the mission of the Society of the Sacred Heart as this is expressed in the Goals and Criteria of Sacred Heart education and in the ongoing expression of the priorities of the Society of the Sacred Heart.
• Trustees participate in ongoing education to the heritage and mission of Sacred Heart education.
• Trustees commit themselves to deepening their understanding of and commitment to the Goals and Criteria by examining the implication of board decisions and polices as well as allocation of resources.
• Each Board’s Committee on Trustees will assume responsibility to assure this commitment through the selection, orientation and ongoing education of trustees.
• The Head of School will serve as a coordinator for this constituency implementing the following activities on a yearly basis or as needed.

Ongoing Activities

Essential

• Prayer at all meetings.
• Annual retreat that includes both prayer, updating on the Society of the Sacred Heart and its mission with priorities, any ongoing information with regard to the SHCOG process, and other Board related activities.
• Regular reading in Sacred Heart Texts (Journey of the Heart, biographies of St. Madeleine Sophie Barat and St. Philippine Duchesne, etc.).
• Trustees will receive e-mails in celebration of Feasts with prayers, readings, holy cards, etc.
• There will be an annual presentation to the Trustees by a Campus Ministry Team member.

Optional

• Attend when possible “all school liturgies” or special “all school” celebrations and events such as May Crowning.
• Visit classrooms annually on appointed day and scheduled time.
• Website and/or social media features on SSH spirituality

Operating Assumptions

• The Sacred Heart mission is introduced and the Goals and Criteria are explained from the very start of a family’s relationship with the school.
• A mutually beneficial relationship is achieved when a new family demonstrates an understanding of the mission of Sacred Heart schools.
• There is an expectation of orientation for new families to the mission of Sacred Heart schools.

Orientation of New Parents

• Each new family participates in formation to mission from the very beginning of its inquiry into Sacred Heart as a possibility for their daughter. The Admission Team apprises each family of the mission and informs the family of the Goals of the school. This is an important part of the process so that each family is clear about the mission and end purpose of the school.
• Receive a copy of the Goals and Criteria of Sacred Heart Education.
• Parents are invited to an Orientation for New Parents at the beginning of each year where the mission is carefully discussed by the Head of School, and other members of the Campus Ministry Team and Division Heads.
• Each family receives an Orientation to New Parents booklet which describes the unique history, tradition, and culture of the school.
• Letters from the Head of School and respective Division Heads underscore the mission and purpose of the school, its goals and values.

Ongoing Activities

Essential

• Parent meeting concerning what it means to be a “Child of the Sacred Heart.”
• Parent Newsletter will contain Heritage information, quotes, and spiritual reflections.
• Prayer is led at Fathers & Mothers club by Head of School or another member of the Campus Ministry Team or staff. Heritage / Spirituality readings are generally integrated at meetings and coffees for school constituency groups.

Optional

• Participation in bible studies, book clubs, and or prayer groups.
• Development of a Sacred Heart prayer book that will be given to each family.
• Attend Christmas Basket Mass.
• Website and/or social media features on SSH spirituality.

The following materials concerning the Mission of Sacred Heart Education are available to members of the school community.

• A list of Sacred Heart Network School websites
• Society of the Sacred Heart
• Society of the Sacred Heart International
• School archives large collection of historical materials
• “Legacy of a Century” book by Sally Kittredge Reeves; available for purchase in the ASH Très Bien Boutique