A journal of our discovering of who we are
...and as much as I hate "under construction" designations on web sites...this page is and will be. 

Raison d'être
We believe we are at Christian Brothers College High School because:

• Returned to the school where attended high school
• Invited
• Returned to Catholic school
• God’s will
• Long association with Brothers
• Diversity
• Sense of mission/apostolate
• Outreach/a sense of belonging
• Human talents and skills are used
• Needed a jobèhired with reason

We believe we are Lasallian because:

• Service, Faith and Spirituality
• Association with Christian Brothers
• Comfort Level
• Called to broad based service
• Presence of God
• Ministry
• Diversity reflects Lasallian values
• Caring spirit—“touching hearts”
• Adapting to needs
• Catholic Education

We believe signs of our association are:

• Lasallian Education
• Adaptation
• Model of Teaching
• Faithful è Togetherness models Faithfulness
• Prayer
• Support of Alumnièoutward sign
• Signum Fideièstar is a symbol of what we are about
• God’s presence
• Live Jesus in our Hearts

We believe our association make a difference because:

• Sense of Unity
• Reminds us of what we are about
• Service to the poor

On Faith

We Believe:

• That faith is demonstrated by action
• Faith is reflected by work
• Works reveal faith
• God is present
• We journey together as a faith community
• That everything is going to be alright in the long term
• Faith is not enough
• We live as a family and must show Christian teaching by example
• Faith is experiential
• We are a faith community combining the elements of support, dignity, dependence and nurturing

Therefore:

• We should offer opportunities for prayer, reflection and spiritual time
   
• Individual dignity should be fostered
  
•  Emphasis peace and justice
  
• Service is key, use opportunities such as Karen House. Teachers should be involved
  
•  Student’s shouldn’t just settle, but strive for the best
  
• We should share values
  
• The experience should be one of community
  
• Accountability—invest in shared mission
  
•  We should have a four-year service program
  
•  We should give constant witness
  
•  We should focus on building relationships
  
•   We should be present to our students in all their activities: prayer, service, retreats, dances, happiness and sorrow.

The Christian School—Making a Difference

Preface: In De La Salle’s time the feast of Saint Francis de Sales was celebrated on January 29^th. Even though the feast day have moved, De La Salle’s meditation is very pertinent:  “If you have for them the firmness of a father to restrain and withdraw them from misbehavior, you must also have for them the tenderness of a mother to draw them to you, and to do for them all the good that depends on you.”

Many of De La Salle’s meditations speak of the relationship between the Lasallian educator (in his time the Brothers) and the children in their charge. Even the title Brother alludes to this familial relationship. Often he uses the word disciple in referring to students, to draw the similarity between Jesus and his followers.

Question: What can we do to create more of a family environment at CBC?

We Believe:
 

• Significant events create an enduring memory, which is what is special about family.

•  Faculty must be a family in order to be a model for students.

• Awareness and sensitivity to stories and prayers is valued and should be modeled by teachers.

• Sharing time outside of the classroom is necessary.

 Therefore:

• New faculty should engage in extensive Lasallian training such as the Buttimer Institute or the Lasallian Leadership Institute within five years of beginning their ministry.

• More social events for faculty.

•  There should be qualitative contact with the families of students in order to better know our students. In De La Salle’s time this was done by home visits. Today, we have the ability by using technology to communicate more frequently with families.

• Retreats:

  • Class retreats should be held on one day so all of the members of the class can share the same experience. The intent is a way to bring students together.

  • The whole faculty participate in the retreats.

• Homerooms model a family including students of all grade levels. (There was at least some discussion on creating more of an “advisor” or “big-brother” model. Homeroom or whatever method would be intentional, based on attraction.)

• Ways to bring students together (we must have been hungry because a lot of these involve food!)

  •  All school activities (such as the baseball game done for the 150^th)

  • Video games (like the other day)
  • Intramurals/Field Day
  • Celebration of Founders Day
  • Picnic on Klemm Field
  • School Day Donuts
  • Morning Meet and Greet with Donuts
  • Teachers hang out with students in the mornings—with Donuts—quality time (could be in classroom).
  • Academic Trivia Day
  • Homeroom Gym night
  • Lasallian Education Week, using the Lasallian Curriculum