MEMBERS: Mary Tremper, St. Christopher School, Philadelphia - Chairperson Mary Battson, St. Ephrem, Bensalem Barbara Finney, Holy Innocents, Philadelphia Mary Katz, St. Frances Cabrini, Fairless Hills Andrew Lowry, St. Kevin, Springfield Celie Magee, Sts. Philip and james, Exton Mary McFillin, St. Christopher, Philadelphia Sister Joan O'Reilly, St. Agnes, West Chester
Our loving, self-revealing God has initiated a profound dialogue with humankind and expects our response in words and deeds. As Christians, we commit ourselves to proclaim the love of the Father for all people and the Gospel message of salvation enunciated by Jesus. The gift of language enables us to carry out this commitment. Language not only illumines the life of a Christian, but also serves as a vehicle for expressing and sharing ideas. Language allows the Lord to manifest Himself to us in spoken, written, and hidden words, and gives us the means of communicating to others the life of the Spirit within us. Teaching, proclaiming, and serving, the works of the dedicated Christian in the modern world, require the ability to read, to write, and to express ideas in clear and coherent language. The Language Arts Curriculum in a Catholic school must prepare students to respond to the call of Jesus and the Church, to live a life of public witness. Supported by the knowledge that they are loved by God, students should develop confidence and self-esteem, the usual by-products of a curriculum emphasizing an integration of reading, writing, listening, and thinking skills.