PHILOSOPHY OF THE ACADEMY
THE WAY IT WAS
The Ursuline Sisters and lay people who staffed the Academy responded to their mission of "educating for life" by fostering the harmonious development of the spiritual, intellectual, aesthetic and physical endowments of each student. The goal was the development of the whole person in a Christian context. To this end, the Academy provided experience of and a preparation for a life centred on Jesus Christ and built on the principles of the Gospels. Together, the staff and students at St. Angela's tried to respond to the call to worship God and to help build the Reign of Justice and Peace in the world.
"Love all your students (daughters) equally and do not show preferences for one more than another, because they are all God's children and you have no idea of what He wishes to make of them." St. Angela Merici
STATEMENT OF GOALS I. AIMS OF THE ACADEMY IN EDUCATING FOR LIFE
The Academy strived to be a place where Christianity was lived in a practical manner, in accordance with the ideals expressed in the Christian philosophy of education and the educational aims of St. Angela. Therefore:
- The Staff of St. Angela's Academy, true to the spirit of St. Angela, aimed to help students see their true relationship to God, society and themselves. To this end the Staff sought to influence the student by who they are as well as by what they do.
- Like St. Angela, the Ursulines and lay people tried to prepare the girls to become good leaders in family and society. The Staff endeavored to achieve this aim by equipping the students with the academic knowledge necessary to understand and live life in present day society. They placed a special emphasis on courses in Christian Ethics, Christian marriage, family life, and homemaking. They aimed to guide the girls in knowledge and practice of Christian faith and morals.
- In the context of a residential school, the staffs tried to attend to each student's spiritual, emotional, intellectual, and aesthetic needs to the fullest extent. In all four areas the girls were also a great support to each other. The staff challenged the students to develop their abilities as fully as possible.
- The Staff and girls together formed a Christian Community of faith, hope, and love, where prayer and service were essential elements.
- Though there was a strong emphasis on academic achievement, the Academy students experienced other advantages as well such as:
- taking part in special interests such as drama; music and choral; visual arts; Yearbook, sports; organizations, for example, Students Against Drinking and Driving (SADD); and Pro-Life; Tree Huggers,
- working closely with guest resource persons who conducted various seminars in current religious and social concerns. These were held on weekends when all students were present.
- developing skills in communication, organization, and public relations;
- experiencing Christian Community Living with a large group of people;
- developing awareness of issues related to social justice and peace.
- The Academy provided the girls with the opportunity to be in closer contact with Ursuline Sisters, and thereby obtain a better understanding of Religious Life.
II. The Saskatchewan Goals of Education
St. Angela's Academy subscribed to the Goals of Education for Saskatchewan schools, within the philosophical context and the Catholic educational ideals for which St. Angela's Academy existed.