Virtue-Based Restorative Discipline

The Virtue-Based Restorative Discipline (VBRD) is a holy habit program that we have adopted not only as our anti-bullying program, but as a way to approach each day here at Prince of Peace Catholic School.

Every morning, we include the following message in our announcements: "Today I ask you to live a life of virtues so that these Holy Habits will lead you to make good choices throughout the day."

We ask ourselves each day:
• What virtue am I operating from?
• Could others see the virtue in me?
• Have I genuinely complimented someone today?
• Did the compliment mention a virtue?
• How can I do better tomorrow?

Guiding Principles of VBRD:
• We will commit to living virtue.
• We will support others in living virtue.
• We will commit to constructive thoughts, words, and deeds.
• When we face conflict we will further cultivate virtue as part of the solution.

Primary Outcomes:
• Increase faith practices through virtue education, prayer, and virtue-based activities at home and at school.
• Decrease anti-social behaviors by placing an emphasis on quality relationships and holding our students accountable and responsible for repairing harm.

Virtues are holy habits for human excellence that direct our path toward Heaven. The goal of a virtuous life is to become like God.

Each month, we highlight one virtue for self-reflection. Here are the virtues our students will discuss and practice throughout the year:

• Charity - Generosity and helpfulness especially toward the needy or suffering; aid given to those in need
• Compassion - Sympathetic awareness of others' distress, along with a desire to help alleviate it
• Courage - A quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain without fear
• Faith - Complete confidence in a person, plan or set of beliefs
• Forbearance - Restraint under provocation; good-natured tolerance of delay or incompetence
• Forgiveness - To cease to feel angry or bitter towards a person, or about an offense
• Fortitude - Strength of mind that enables one to endure adversity with courage
• Gentleness - Moderate and mild behavior; NOT rough or severe behavior
• Hope - The general feeling that a desire will be fulfilled
• Humility - A disposition to be humble; a lack of false pride
• Justice - Fair, impartial, giving a deserved response
• Kindness - Friendly, helpful and well-meaning
• Love - A deep, tender feeling of affection toward a person
• Patience - The ability to endure delay, trouble, pain or hardship
• Prudence - Wise or careful in conduct. Shrewd or thrifty in planning ahead
• Temperance - Moderation and self-restraint, as in behavior or expression
• Thankfulness - Warm, friendly feeling of gratitude
• Unity - Freedom from division; oneness