at St. John Henry Newman Academy (SJHNA)
Program Summary
The Virtues, Manners, and Life Skills Program at SJHNA is a holistic formation experience designed to help students grow into confident, compassionate, capable young people. Students participate in enriching classes such as art, theater, music, physical education, and hands-on arts and crafts, all intentionally unified by an overarching focus on the learning and application of virtues, manners, and life skills.
Rather than teaching these skills in isolation, SJHNA integrates them into joyful, meaningful activities that nurture the whole child—mind, body, and heart.
Integrated Enrichment & Skill-Building Activities
These offerings are core components of the program, not add-ons. Each provides a practical context for students to practice character, responsibility, and social grace.
- Art – cultivating creativity, patience, attention to detail, and appreciation of beauty
- Theater & Dramatic Arts – building confidence, communication skills, cooperation, and respectful self-expression
- Music – fostering discipline, listening skills, perseverance, and joyful participation
- Physical Education – developing teamwork, sportsmanship, resilience, body awareness, and healthy habits
- Arts & Crafts (Sewing, Knitting, Crocheting, and Handwork) – strengthening fine motor skills, focus, perseverance, problem-solving, and pride in meaningful work while encouraging patience, humility, and responsibility
Through traditional handwork and creative crafts, students experience the value of learning practical skills, completing a task from start to finish, caring for materials, and serving others through the work of their hands.
Virtues in Action
The heart of the program is formation through practice. Whether students are rehearsing a play, learning a stitch, collaborating in a game, or creating a piece of art, they are consistently guided to:
- show respect and courtesy toward peers and adults
- practice self-control, perseverance, and responsibility
- communicate clearly and kindly
- work through challenges with patience and confidence
- take pride in effort, not just outcomes
These real-life applications allow virtues, manners, and life skills to become habits, not just concepts.
Program Goal
By weaving virtue formation into academics, enrichment, movement, and creative work, the Virtues, Manners, and Life Skills Program supports the development of every child in a way that is joyful, practical, and deeply formative—preparing students not only for success in school, but for life.
Schedule
