VIP: Virtues in Practice

VIP: Virtues in Practice

The Virtues in Practice program developed by St. Peter’s School is a two-year character development program. The program is structured to fit the monthly school calendar, as well as liturgical season, and eighteen virtues are emphasized during the course of the two-year cycle.

Each month’s virtue includes four weekly tips or suggestions for students to follow in order to practice the virtue in a concrete and practical way. The monthly virtue and weekly tip are announced each morning as part of daily announcements as a reminder to students and staff. In addition, VIP reminders are placed in each classroom and teachers emphasize the virtue in class activities, stories, discussions, and assignments. “Students of the Month” are selected by their teachers based on demonstration of that particular month’s virtue.

The virtues which form the heart of the program are courtesy, responsibility, honesty, patience, respect, self-discipline, compassion, courage, tolerance, cooperation, empathy, citizenship, generosity, idealism, charity, mercy, humility and perseverance.

Although the program was developed from a Christian/Catholic viewpoint, the virtues and accompanying tips are general enough to be used in most educational settings.

A student in attendance at St. Peter’s for grades pre-k through sixth experience the program four times, at two-year intervals. These continued opportunities for character development support students in practicing the virtues in different ways at various stages of maturity.