Pastoral care

Pastoral care is the caring response of people within the school community for each other. It is an attitude, before it is a programme or process. An attitude that says with and without words, “We are glad you are here. You are important to us. Your contribution means something to us. We believe in you and we are here for you.” Pastoral care touches all aspects of the school life and all members of the school community. It comes out of the Gospel message of Jesus, “I have come that you may have life and have it to the full” and the foundational belief, “We are all made in the image and likeness of God.”

Pastoral care is the lived expression of the Catholic school’s ethos; it is how the unique spirit and character of the school is manifest. Foundational to pastoral care is:

• how people relate to each other
• how learning and teaching happens
• how policies are formulated
• how discipline is administered
• how decisions are made
• responsibility shared and life enhanced for all.

Pastoral care integrates the academic, social and religious dimensions of the school curriculum to promote the development of the whole person.

Implementation:

• Schools should have a Pastoral Care Committee
• Evaluating the quality of the care within the school by using the evaluation tools Signs of God’s Presence and Fully Alive. Plans to enhance the care and support of the school and community based on these findings need to be included in the School development Plan
• A policy on care and support should be part of the school’s portfolio or included in the safety and security policy or the HIV/AIDS policy.

Health screening:

During the first six months of 2010 the pastoral care unitconducted a groundbreaking health screening programme in 27 schools with an average of 75 children screened on each day.  Prior to conducting the health screening process at each school site, the Pastoral Care unit staff and regional managers visited the schools involved and explained the process.  Consent forms were obtained from parents.  Parents, SGB members and Health care workers were invited to assist on the day.

CIE has formed collaborative partnerships with the Department of Nursing Education at Wits University and the South African Optometric Association.  The work was conducted by volunteer professional nursing sisters, assisted by CIE staff.

The Pastoral Care unite and regional managers are following up with schools to ensure that the children referred to clinics have received treatment.  The screening highlighted issues of skin disease, parasites, learning problems and stunted growth.

Help is available:

Contact the Pastoral Care Unit for assistance in the development and implementation of your pastoral care programme.