1. Faith in Action Where students are empowered to lead and to live their faith through service

2. Class Goals Deepen Catholic Christian faith, compassion. Increase awareness of world’s needs. Support parish outreach projects. Plan /execute service project chosen by class. Lead school’s involvement in project.

3. How Does It Work? 1.Each middle school student will be in the class for a trimester. (The other two trimesters students will take art and music.) Class counts for 20% of religion grade during that particular trimester (based on weekly reflections/culminating project, participation, effort/attitude). 2. During their trimester in Faith in Action, students will design and execute a group service project and be involved in leading others in the school and wider community. They will pray, learn, and reflect on scripture and Tradition that calls all Catholics to serve others. 3. A three-year cycle will focus on the Works of Mercy (Year 1), the Beatitudes (Year 2), and Catholic Social Teaching (Year 3). Raising awareness of, and responding to, the needs of the community/world will be a priority. Direct service is goal. 4. Speakers (Sandi Watson, St. John Parish SVDP; Steve Toner, St. John Food Pantry; and Kent Peters, diocesan Department of Social Ministry) and, hopefully, a field trip to a service organization.

4. Five Stages of Service Learning 1. Investigation: first month or so 2. Preparation and Planning 3. Action 4. Reflection: ongoing 5. Demonstration

5. Design Thinking Problem-finders, Solution designers Dream it, design it, do it. Six-step process: Identify problem. Empathy (who will be helped). Define focus (what is needed). Ideation (brainstorming). Create prototypes. Test solutions.

6. Win-Win Benefits students and others

7. Leadership JOY Faith formation Generosity Self-confidence College/career-ready: creating, designing, developing, decision- making Communication Problem-solving I nitiative BENEFITS TO STUDENTS Collaboration Critical thinking Social responsibility

8. Benefits to Others Served by enthusiastic, creative youth Evangelization through action Needs met or mitigated JOY

9. What You Can Do 1. Please encourage your student to embrace service as integral means of living their faith. It will truly be their joy and also help them discover the unique gifts with which God has blessed them. 2. Please consider supporting their cause through direct volunteer work or other types of contributions. Mary Goulet (mother of Portia Rendler– 760-445-2022) is the Eagle Group liaison for this class, so students will begin by contacting her if they need adult assistance. If you are interested in being on the front line, please contact Mary, so she can immediately contact you when the students call for help. 3. Pray with your child for the needs of the community and world.