Yesterday, students in the second grade at Holy Cross School explored the nature of forgiveness and understanding at the monthly Character Education assembly.
"We chose ‘understanding’ and ‘forgiveness’ for the Character Education Program this month because they are the key elements in our experience of Lent," commented principal Robin Jensen. "Jesus died on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins, and in so doing gave us a blueprint for how we need to relate to one another."
The students acted out two plays depicting parables from the Bible to an attentive audience of fellow students, teachers and parents. They explained that a parable is a story Jesus told when he wanted to teach about God’s love and forgiveness. Parables also teach us how to love and care for one another.
With that the drama began, and 18 boys and girls, decked out in robes and bath towels, acted out the Parable of the Lost Sheep and the Parable of the Prodigal Son. The assembly ended with a final thought from the students:
"Thank you for coming to our assembly on forgiveness and understanding. We hope that the two parables have helped you learn about and remember that forgiveness is very important in our lives. We need to forgive others when they have hurt us and we need to ask forgiveness when we have hurt them. Jesus shows us how God forgives. Now we must do the same."
Character Education takes place as an integral part of the curriculum at Holy Cross School. Each month a new character trait is developed, and the students are involved in defining, discussing and exhibiting that trait in their daily lives. At the end of each month one class is responsible for putting together a presentation for the student body that ties together the lessons taught throughout the month.
