by Moira Cullings
moira.cullings@theleaven.org
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — It takes courage to start at a new school.
New students at Our Lady of Unity (OLU) School in Kansas City, Kansas, were honored for demonstrating that virtue at an assembly on Sept. 6.
It was part of the Education in Virtue program created by the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, and offered through Openlight Media.
OLU began implementing the program last year.
Every month, students learn about a certain virtue in the classroom, at morning announcements, dismissal and after all-school Masses.
At the end of the month, each teacher picks two students who went above and beyond in demonstrating the virtue. They’re honored with a certificate during an all-school assembly.
“Most character traits that we use in social, emotional learning are also part of those virtues,” said school counselor Shanie Perez, “but it’s tied into Catholic faith.”
Last year, OLU chose to focus on courtesy, gratitude, kindness, perseverance, prayerfulness, respect, responsibility, self-control and trustworthiness.
Unique to this past August, every new student received an award for demonstrating the virtue of courage.
Since learning about virtues in this way, there’s been a decrease in behavior- related reports at OLU, said principal Cally Dahlstrom.
“We’re seeing more kids using vocabulary words from our virtue program,” she added, “so that they’re owning their behavior and owning leadership qualities.
“It’s been a great program for us.”
Dahlstrom is excited to share the success of the virtues program with attendees of the school’s annual Hog and Grog fundraiser on Oct. 5 at OLU.
The event will start with Mass at 4:30 p.m., and participants will have a chance to tour the school, enjoy dinner, watch a dance performance and listen to a presentation.
The school hopes to raise $120,000.
Dahlstrom said the parish struggles to provide enough opportunities for student scholarships on its own.
“As a school,” she said, “instead of leaning so much on our parish, we’re working hard to find other ways to support the scholarship program.”
OLU benefits from Catholic Education Foundation (CEF) scholarship funds, but there’s still a gap it has to fill to ensure every child can attend the school.
“We focus really hard with Hog and Grog on taking that $120,000 and putting it toward assisting kiddos to come to OLU and fulfill their parents’ dreams of sending them [for] Catholic education,” said Dahlstrom.
Perez said she’s grateful to be part of a community like OLU and to provide a supportive environment where students can thrive.
“I love this school,” she said. “The community that we build here and continuing to build relationships with our students and our parents is a priority in my list of things.
“I know every single kid in this building by name. I talk to them every single day, walk around the building. . . . We’re like a family.”
She and Dahlstrom are excited that the school’s unique culture can be shared with the wider community through experiences like Hog and Grog.
Last year was the first time the event was held on the school’s campus.
“I think that our donors got more of a taste of our community by being there,” said Dahlstrom.
And the school’s PTO (called Padres Unidos) provided the food and assisted with setting up and tearing down, which gave parents the chance to see the people who support their children’s Catholic education, she added.
“I know every year I show a lot of gratitude,” said Dahlstrom. “But to be able to share that with our parents and let them really see what other people are doing to help support their students go to school was just over the top.
“It was really a gift to be able to see that.”
Those interested in attending this year’s Hog and Grog event can register online at: olucs.org/hog-and-grog.
