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Convent of the Sacred Heart
building community at sacred heart
A Partnership with Parents
Parents Handbook
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Convent of the Sacred Heart
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Convent of the Sacred Heart
ducation is a dynamic, interactive, round-the-
clock partnership between parents and educators.
At Convent of the Sacred Heart, we actively
engage your daughters every day, with the goals of guiding
them towards a life rich with faith, intellectual values,
social awareness, community, and personal growth. We’ve
developed this guide to help parents become Sacred Heart
partners by supporting our goals at home. Between us, we
can help every school day be one of learning, joy and grace.
Goals of a Sacred Heart Education
goal one
Educate to a personal and active faith in God
goal two
Educate to a deep respect for intellectual values
goal three
Educate to a social awareness which impels to action
goal four
Educate to the building of community as a Christian value
goal fiveEducate to a personal growth in an atmosphere of
wise freedom
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At Convent of the Sacred Heart, we acknowledge the vital collabo-
ration between parents and educators, and hope that all involved
will practice these fundamental principles of communication:n Approach each other with mutual respectn Recognize the importance of ongoing dialoguen Avoid harmful speechn Acknowledge the legitimacy of differing opinionsn Work towards building mutual trustn Share a commitment to working together towards solutionsn Promote the School positively to the larger community
Parent-educator covenant
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Convent of the Sacred Heart
e honor our Catholic heritage and welcome all faiths at Sacred Heart. At home, you can help us teach your daughter love for her own religious faith, as well as respect for different
religions as she develops her own spirituality:
n Teach your child about your family’s faith. Pray together on a regular basis and attend
weekly worship in your own congregation. With young children, you can encourage
dialogue about faith by asking them when they see evidence of God in their lives.
Older girls may respond well to a discussion about friends and how religious beliefs
are connected to ethics and moral choices in their daily lives—and in your own.
n Support your daughter’s understanding and acceptance of other faiths around the
world by discussing other religions and introducing her to how those faiths are
practiced and celebrated.
goal one
Educate to a Personal and Active Faith in God
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acred Heart’s academic curriculum is rigorous and structured, yet flexible enough to allow for individual learning styles. Parents play a vital role in supporting our educational values:
n Continue the structure we provide at Sacred Heart. Support and guide your daughter as
she completes homework, projects, and outside reading—while remembering that this
is her work, not yours. If your daughter is unable to complete work on time, encourage
her to be straightforward with the teacher and avoid false excuses. Faculty are eager
to teach girls how to budget time and be successful.
n Organize family activities that enrich what your daughter
is learning in school, such as visiting museums or
nature centers.
n Incorporate reading, adults to children and children to
adults, as part of your daily routine. Keep books and
magazines around the house to demonstrate that you
personally value reading.
n Help your daughter become technologically savvy.
Encourage her to use the computer at home for school
projects—or just for fun. At the same time, remember
that many websites contain inappropriate material.
Monitor your daughter’s computer time at home, and
encourage her to use email and Instant Messaging in a
kind and thoughtful manner, and only when appropriate.
n Resist the urge to tutor children, unless they have a clear
need which is supported and advised by the School.
n Place college guidance in the hands of the Sacred Heart staff, and do not succumb to
negative cultural pressures to equate college placement with your daughter’s worth.
n Remember that your daughter’s teachers are trained professionals whose perspectives
may differ from yours. Hold discussions with them at times that allow for full and
confidential explorations of any concerns about your daughter’s academic performance.
Refrain from contacting faculty and administrators outside of professional time except
in emergencies.
goal two
Educate to a Deep Respect for Intellectual Values
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ocial justice issues appear frequently in our curriculum because service to others is the root of our faith. We believe that people whose lives have been blessed with comfort and abundance have a responsibility to share
their prosperity, time, and talents with those who are less fortunate. Awareness of societal problems can often inspire a person to become part of the solution.You can help promote your daughter’s social awareness and actions:
n Emphasize the value of a life lived simply and honestly,
with an emphasis on relationships and good works over
material goods.
n Take part in Sacred Heart’s community service and
outreach programs, such as supporting our sister school
in Uganda, Habitat for Humanity, Midnight Run for the
homeless, the Tuesday Headstart Program, and Sacred
Heart’s science and summer academies. By helping out
at school, you provide a working model of the rich
rewards of volunteering.
n Ask your daughter to join you and your family in volun-
teering at a local soup kitchen, shelter, literacy program
or other organization to help her see that even a single
individual’s actions can make a difference.
n Since tuition alone does not cover all of Sacred Heart’s operating costs, we have always
relied upon the loyalty and generosity of parents, past parents, grandparents, alumnae
and friends to advance the School. You have an opportunity each year to help by
donating to the Annual Fund and, from time to time, to the Capital Campaign. Do not
be surprised when a school volunteer—someone like yourself—calls to ask for your
support. And, when you decide to support Sacred Heart, share that information with
your daughter and tell her why.
n Give generously to organizations outside of Sacred Heart, too, and talk to your daughter
about why you’ve chosen particular organizations over others. Let her have the
opportunity to give as well. For instance, if she receives an allowance, ask if she would
like to keep a third for spending, save a third, and donate a third to charity.
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goal three
Educate to a Social Awareness Which Impels to Action
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n Emphasize the importance of honest, face-to-face
discussions. The policies and practices of the board,
administration and teachers at Sacred Heart have been
developed to encourage your daughters to become
positive, well-informed, thoughtful, capable women.
They have also been developed to help build community
and partnership with you. If you disagree with any of
our policies and practices, please enter into a direct
dialogue with the administration.
n Keep appropriate boundaries, and only involve children
in discussions with teachers and administrators when
necessary. Should you share your thoughts or your
daughter’s concerns with us, we promise to take those
concerns constructively, and to work hard to resolve
conflicts in the most positive ways possible.
n Join our Parents’ Association, which provides support and services outside the class-
room. Our community-building programs include the Pumpkin Party, Lower School
Games Night, Book Fair, Fashion Show, Trustee Dinner and biennial Auction.
n Teach your daughter the importance of good sportsmanship, and provide a positive
example for her on and off the athletic field. Athletic teams at Sacred Heart provide our
students with a place for spirited and fun competition. Participation in any sport is a
valuable experience, and the benefits of fair play, exercise, teamwork, and camaraderie
far outweigh any win or loss.
n Support our many Sacred Heart traditions, such as field day, Green and White team
competitions, the Mother/Daughter Liturgy, Father/Daughter Dinner Dance, athletics
and theater performances.
n Be inclusive of other Sacred Heart families outside of school hours by socializing with
other families and encouraging your daughters to make time for girls who are new to
the community or appear to be shy.
uilding community is an essential value of a Sacred Heart education; involvement in the community cultivates the kindness and respect for others in the spirit of our faith. We strive to create an environment
of inclusiveness, where students of different backgrounds and cultures interact harmoniously. At Sacred Heart, you can help us teach your daughter about the importance of people working together to achieve common goals:
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goal four
Educate to the Building of Community as a Christian Value
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ersonal growth is an important aim of what we do at Sacred Heart. We nurture students to be truthful and honest—and to value integrity. At the same time, we encourage them to discover their unique talents
and pursue their highest dreams not only in academics, but in athletics and in the arts, too. Help us promote your child’s strengths and make her even stronger—and wiser about how to put her many strengths to good use:
n Strengthen family communication by sitting down
for regular meals. Express interest in your daughter’s
activities, and share stories about your day, too—it’s
important for her to know that personal growth
continues throughout our lives.
n Emphasize the importance of balance in one’s life
between strengthening the body, building the intellect
and nurturing the spirit. Give your daughter some down
time, and create some for you and your family. Balance, leisure and free time are
essential ingredients to creativity and intellectual exploration and growth.
n Cultivate your daughter’s interest and skills in athletics and the arts through programs
at Sacred Heart or in the community.
n Resist making excuses for your daughter’s behavior if it doesn’t meet your expectations,
and model the importance of truthfulness and respect for others in every aspect of life.
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goal five
Educate to Personal Growth in an Atmosphere of Wise Freedom
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here is no one-size-fits-all parenting guide in this hectic, complex world of ours. Every girl is different, as are her parents. However, as a parent partner with the faculty and staff at Convent of the
Sacred Heart, you can help us encourage your daughter to approach her studies with curiosity and confidence. By working together, we can guide your daughter toward a life that is rich with faith, intellectual values, social awareness, community, and personal growth.
TIn Conclusion
1177 King Street
Greenwich, Connecticut 06831
t: 203.531.6500
w: www.cshgreenwich.org
1177 King Street Greenwich, Connecticut 06831