Cardinal John Foley School

As we begin the month of March, we turn our focus to the virtue of citizenship. Each
month, we intentionally highlight a virtue that helps shape not only strong students, but
strong people. This month, we are helping our students understand what it truly means
to be good citizens.

Citizenship is more than simply living in a community or country. It involves
recognizing that the freedoms we enjoy — such as freedom of religion and freedom of
speech — also carry meaningful responsibilities. In a democracy like ours, these
freedoms are protected and cherished, but they are also only sustained when citizens
are informed, engaged, and respectful of one another.

We want our students to understand that good citizenship includes being thoughtful
about the world around them, listening to differing perspectives with respect,
participating in their communities, and standing up for what is right. A healthy
democracy depends on informed and participatory citizens who value the principles of
life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness — not just for themselves, but for others as
well.

Throughout this month, teachers will incorporate discussions and activities that help
students reflect on how they can practice citizenship in age-appropriate ways — in their
classrooms, in our school community, and beyond. We encourage you to continue these
conversations at home by talking about the responsibilities that come with our freedoms
and the importance of contributing positively to our communities.

As we help our children think about what it means to be a good citizen, may we model
for them respect for others and an openness to understanding different perspectives,
for it is these traits that help create harmonious communities.