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Seton Catholic School sixth-graders Alexandra Bird (front, from left) and Andrew Shanahan raise their hands during a discussion of the Water for South Sudan project, for which their class raised $1,342 in 2016.
Ethan VanKaurn, (from left) Luca Morinelli, and Ryan Paliani wait to go to lunch during the 2015 eld day at Rochester’s Holy Cross School.
Faith frequently is integrated into academic subjects as well. Preschool teachers’ lessons about the weather and rainbows, for example, may lead to discussions about the story of Noah’s ark and God’s reminder of his promise to Noah.
Students also learn that religion is not merely a subject to be learned; they are expected to live their faith both inside and outside of the classroom. Older students serve younger students by partnering with them on such activities as reading sessions to prayer and craft activities, and school students of all ages frequently participate in service projects to bene t the communities outside the school walls.
Pre-kindergarten student Isabella Faticone (center) joins her classmates in prayer during a 2015 Catholic School Week prayer service at St. Kateri School in Irondequoit
Catholic schools in the Diocese of Rochester remain committed to academic excellence as well. In November 2016 a team of representatives from the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools recommended that the diocese’s 19 Catholic elementary and middle schools be accredited by the national organization. An independent nonpro t, the Middle States Association evaluates schools to ensure they are providing high-quality education, continuously improving and helping students succeed.
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