Actualizing the Traditions of the Marianists and Sisters of Notre Dame
English Teacher, Senior Capstone Coordinator, Recipient of the 2013 Sr. Dorothy Stang Award
During junior year, students explore themes of poverty and equality in religion class and spend a minimum of 25 hours immersing themselves in real life social issues through serving agencies in the Dayton area. Passions for causes are kindled, and students finish the year wanting to do more. This past school year, we piloted the senior capstone project that answers the question, “What’s next?”
During junior year, students explore themes of poverty and equality in religion class and spend a minimum of 25 hours immersing themselves in real life social issues through serving agencies in the Dayton area. Passions for causes are kindled, and students finish the year wanting to do more. This past school year, we piloted the senior capstone project that answers the question, “What’s next?”
You can never underestimate the impact one person — great or small — can have; Sr. Dorothy Stang ‘49 is one example. One of the main goals of the senior capstone is to actualize the Characteristics of a Marianist Education and the Hallmarks of a Notre Dame education in our students. This is why CJ’s capstone is so unique. Students gain inspiration from not only the Catholic Social Teaching of the Church but from our founding orders as well. Students begin to move beyond the traditional service experiences into actual projects designed to impact even more lives.
Students begin their senior capstone experience by engaging in research on an issue of their choosing and then designing a project to make an impact on the issue. Mentors, usually a faculty member or alumnus, offer feedback, act as a resource, and help keep students on track. Great learning happens when students are engaged with a subject that involves their passions!
Through their work, students gain a deeper insight into the issues, transforming them into social justice advocates and compassionate leaders. It cultivates a global perspective within them and they answer in an act of faith. The CJ community can be proud that our school offers this unique experience of integrating the humanities in students’ lives in such a concrete way. CJ continues to pursue, model and define what it means to be a global citizen advocating and addressing social justice issues in our world today.
