Grad at Grad old

The graduate of De Smet Jesuit has matured as a person - intellectually, spiritually, emotionally, physically, and socially - to a level that reflects some intentional responsibility for one's own growth. He is beginning to reach out in his development, seeking opportunities to stretch one's mind, imagination, feelings, and religious consciousness. Although still very much in the process of developing, the graduate already:

1. is beginning to take responsibility for growth as a person; desires integrity and excellence in multiple facets of one’s life.
2. is learning how to accept self, both talents and limitations, with a sense of humility and gratitude.
3. recognizes the need for leisure and recreation and budgets time for those activities.
4. exercises regularly for physical fitness and health.
5. understands principles of good nutrition and practices healthy eating habits.
6. understands the dangers of and avoids the use of controlled substances.
7. is more conscious of his or her feelings and is freer and more authentic in expressing them and managing one’s impulsive drives.
8. is open to a variety of aesthetic experiences, and continues to develop a wide range of imaginative sensibilities.
9. is becoming more flexible and open to other points of view; recognizes how much one learns from a careful listening to peers and significant others; and recognizes one’s biases, limitations, and thinking patterns.
10. is developing a habit of reflection on experience which informs future actions.
11. is beginning to seek new experiences, even those that involve some risk or the possibility of failure.
12. is learning to view criticism and setbacks as interesting, challenging, and growth producing.
13. begins to practice leadership skills, including vision, relating well and collaborating with others, and acting with integrity.
14. sees leadership as an opportunity for service to others and the community.
15. is developing a healthy and appropriate sense of humor.
16. is exploring career and life-style choices within a framework of faith and values.
17. is becoming more aware of choices and consequences relating to adult issues.
18. understands the implications and hazards of technology-based activities, including issues of privacy, social isolation, access to pornography, and addictive use of technology itself.
19. views emerging technology as potentially supportive to personal and professional growth.

The graduate of De Smet Jesuit exhibits mastery of those academic requirements for advanced forms of education. While these requirements are broken down into departmental subject matter areas, the student will have developed many intellectual skills and understandings that cut across and go beyond academic requirements for college entrance. The student is also developing habits of intellectual inquiry, as well as a disposition toward life-long learning. The student is beginning to see the need for intellectual integrity in his or her personal quest for religious truth and in his or her response to issues of social justice. By graduation the student already:

1. has mastered those academic skills required for college
2. is developing mastery of logic and critical thinking.
3. is developing precision and creativity in oral and written expression within and across disciplines.
4. is developing a curiosity to explore ideas and issues.
5. is developing the ability to apply knowledge and skills to new situations.
6. is developing problem solving skills.
7. is able to learn in a variety of settings and through a variety of pedagogical approaches.
8. is developing the ability to learn as an active member of a team.
9. uses technology resources to support collaborative work for learning, problem solving, and communication.
10. uses effectively a variety of media resources to acquire, create and process information.
11. assesses media and content critically, attending, for example, to issues such as credibility of sources, values expressed or promoted, and civility and respect for persons.
12. is developing an organized approach to learning tasks.
13. can present a convincing argument in written and oral form that evidences sound analytical reasoning and convincing rhetoric.
14. is taking pride and ownership in his school accomplishments and is beginning to enjoy intellectual and aesthetic pursuits.
15. has begun to develop a knowledge of central ideas and methodologies of a variety of academic disciplines.
16. has begun to relate current issues and perspectives to some of their historical antecedents.
17. is growing in knowledge and understanding of his cultural heritage and of cultural complexities in one’s local community and in a global society.
18. is beginning to understand the public policy implications of science and technology.
19. is beginning to understand the interdependence of global economic policies.
20. Understands basic principles of personal finance and handles one's own finances responsibly.
21. is beginning to understand both rights and responsibilities as a citizen of one's country.
22. is beginning to understand one's own government and other forms and practices of government around the world.
23. understands the need for individual and community responsibility for stewardship of the earth's resources.
24. understands a variety of images of the human person through literature, biography, history, and the arts that lead to a greater appreciation of the variety of human experience.
25. is beginning to develop that critical consciousness which enables one better to analyze the contemporary issues facing men and women and to seek and evaluate various points of view on these issues from the standpoint of a man and woman for and with others.

The graduate of De Smet Jesuit will have a basic knowledge of the major doctrines and practices of the Catholic Church. Having been introduced to Ignatian spirituality, the graduate will also have examined his own religious feelings and beliefs with a view to choosing a fundamental orientation toward God and establishing a relationship with a religious tradition and/or community. What is said here, respectful of the conscience and religious background of the individual, also applies to the non-Catholic graduate of a Jesuit high school. The level of theological understanding of the Jesuit high school graduate will naturally be limited by the student’s level of religious and human development. By graduation the student already:

1. has read the Gospels and encountered the person of Jesus Christ as He is presented in the New Testament.
2. has a basic understanding of the Church’s teaching about Jesus Christ and His redeeming mission, as well as the embodiment of that mission in and through the Church.
3. has an understanding of the variety of the world’s religious traditions.
4. is beginning to take more responsibility for exploring and affirming one’s own faith.
5. is increasingly willing to let religious faith influence one’s basic values, lifestyle, and vocational interests.
6. understands that being fully alive/human necessitates an active relationship with God.
7. is aware/appreciates that human life is fundamentally spiritual.
8. has experienced the presence of God (finding God in all things):
   • in private prayer
   • on a retreat
   • in liturgical prayer
   • in some other moments of grace
9. is learning how to express self in various methods of prayer, especially those from the Spiritual Exercises.
10. is forming a Christian conscience, evaluates moral choices, and reasons through moral issues with increasing clarity.
11. appreciates the centrality of the Eucharist to a vibrant Christian community.
12. is learning through his or her own sinfulness of the need for healing by and reconciliation with friends, family, Church, and the Lord.
13. recognizes that any sin affects the entire human community.
14. understands the relationship between faith in Jesus and being a “man for and with others.”
15. knows Church teachings on moral issues and social justice.

The graduate of De Smet Jesuit is continuing to form his own identity. He is moving beyond self-interest or self-centeredness in close relationships. The graduate is beginning to be able to risk some deeper levels of relationship in which one can disclose self and accept the mystery of another person and cherish that person. Nonetheless, the graduate’s attempt at loving, while clearly beyond childhood, may not yet reflect the confidence and freedom of an adult. By graduation the student already:

1. is learning to trust friends, family, and adults in the school and wider community.
2. has personally experienced God’s love.
3. is growing in self-acceptance and in recognizing that he is loved by God and others.
4. assumes responsibility for maintaining good personal health.
5. is attentive to sources of stress and applies healthy strategies to maintain balance in one’s life.
6. is alert to the signs of emotional and mental distress in others and follows appropriate referral measures.
7. has begun to identify and work against personal prejudices and stereotypes; is open to and able to communicate with others, especially persons of another race, gender, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or sexual orientation.
8. has personally experienced support from members of the school community.
9. has made specific contributions to build school community.
10. is becoming increasingly comfortable and mature in relating with persons of a different gender.
11. is beginning to integrate sexuality into his personality.
12. has begun to appreciate deeper personal friendships, while also learning that not all relationships are profound and long lasting.
13. is beginning to appreciate the satisfaction of giving of oneself through service for and with others.
14. is increasingly empathetic.
15. takes into account and values the feelings of others when making decisions.
16. is sensitive to the beauty and fragility of the created universe and exercises stewardship.
17. cares deeply about preserving human life.

The graduate of De Smet Jesuit has acquired considerable knowledge of the many needs of local, national, and global communities and is preparing for the day when he will take a place in these communities as a competent, concerned and responsible member. The graduate has been inspired to develop the awareness and skills necessary to live in a global society as a person for and with others. Although this commitment to doing justice will come to fruition in mature adulthood, some predispositions will have begun to manifest themselves earlier. By graduation the student already:

The graduate of De Smet Jesuit is aware of his responsibility to be a leader in the Ignatian tradition of service and collaboration. He has had opportunities to exercise leadership in academic, co-curricular activities, and pastoral activities. As a result of opportunities to develop leadership skills during his high school years at De Smet Jesuit, the graduate:

1. understands that responsibility and a respect for diversity are essential elements of leadership.
2. sees leadership as an opportunity for service to others and the community.
3. realizes that leadership requires being a good role model.
4. realizes that leadership involves collaboration and cooperation.
5. understands that reflection and evaluation are important elements in good decision-making.