At the Ottawa Catholic School Board (OCSB), we believe faith is a critical part of a well-rounded education. That’s why faith is at the heart of everything we do. Inspired and led by Catholic values, our approach to educating your child is inclusive, honouring the dignity of every child and respecting all faiths.
Building character through Catholic values
Our values inspire the culture of our schools, as they are thoughtfully integrated into our school life and learning. Starting in Kindergarten, we introduce eight core values to students, and throughout their school years, we watch these values influence and strengthen their character:
- Faith
- Hope
- Love
- Community
- Dignity of Persons
- Excellence (Magnanimity)
- Justice
- Stewardship for Creation
Faith and character that grows with your child
We believe faith is a sensory experience. We engage our students’ spiritual imagination and give them opportunities to develop and grow. Our Deep Learning approach to education supports your child’s faith and character development as they progress through their journey toward graduation.
As we help your child develop the global competencies of citizenship, character, communication, critical thinking, collaboration and creativity, we know they will graduate from their Catholic school reflecting the Ontario Catholic Graduate Expectations (Institute for Catholic Education). This set of expectations articulates the vision and purpose of Catholic education and describes the kind of citizen we aim to unleash within your child.
An Ottawa Catholic graduate is expected to be:
- A discerning believer formed in the Catholic Faith community who celebrates the signs and sacred mystery of God’s presence through word, sacrament, prayer, forgiveness, reflection and moral living.
- An effective communicator, who speaks, writes and listens honestly and sensitively, responding critically in light of gospel values.
- A reflective, creative and holistic thinker who solves problems and makes responsible decisions with an informed moral conscience for the common good.
- A self-directed, responsible, lifelong learner who develops and demonstrates their God-given potential.
- A collaborative contributor who finds meaning, dignity and vocation in work, which respects the rights of all and contributes to the common good.
- A caring family member who attends to family, school, parish and the wider community.
- A responsible citizen who gives witness to Catholic social teaching by promoting peace, justice and the sacredness of human life.
Putting faith into action
At the Ottawa Catholic School Board, expressions of faith are manifested in a number of clubs, social justice activities, fundraising events and entrepreneurial ventures. From Kindergarten to graduation, students are given opportunities in and outside of the classroom to show the love of God to others through practical and tangible activities. We support countless student-led initiatives that foster equity, inclusion, compassion and justice. These initiatives are usually inspired by our school board’s Spiritual Theme.
Supporting and preparing students for Sacraments
The sacraments of First Reconciliation (Confession), First Eucharist (Holy Communion) and Confirmation are important milestones in the faith life of a Catholic student. For more information about preparing your child for the sacraments, please contact your local Catholic parish.
Learning about World Religions
While providing a distinctly Catholic education, children at OCSB schools will learn all about World Religions and Philosophy. We help them to develop their understanding of different views, ideas and concepts, in an environment where children learn to show respect to those who may think differently from them. There is also a “family life” component in the curriculum where they will learn about healthy relationships, anti-bullying and moral decision-making.