Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic High School

Course Description

Course Name: Sophomore Religion

Course Instructor: Mr. Vincent M. Amoruso

Contact Information: or 412-321-4823 x226

Instructor Professional Biography

  • M.A. in higher education from Geneva College
  • B.A. from the Pontifical College Josephinum in History and Literature with minors in philosophy and religious studies.
  • Taught high school religion for over 20 years in schools in WV, OH, and PA.
  • Before coming to CWNC, Mr. Amoruso taught for 10 years at Mount Alvernia High School in Millvale, PA.
  • Taught each of the grade levels in the Diocese of Pittsburgh Religion Curriculum.
  • Golden Apple nominee.

Course Description:

Semester One: The Paschal Mystery: The Mission of Jesus Christ

The purpose of this course is to help students understand all that God has done for us through his Son, Jesus Christ. Through this course of study, students will learn that for all eternity, God has planned for us to share eternal happiness with him which is accomplished through the Redemption Christ won for us. Students will learn that they share in this Redemption only in and through Jesus Christ. They will also be introduced to what it means to be a disciple of Christ and what life as a disciple entails. (Diocese of Pittsburgh Curriculum Guidelines)

Semester Two: The Church: Jesus Christ’s Mission Continues.

The purpose of this course is to help the students understand that in and through the Church they encounter the Living Jesus Christ. They will be introduced to the fact that the Church was founded by Christ through the Apostles and is sustained by him through the Holy Spirit. The students will come to know that the Church is the living Body of Christ today. This Body has both Divine and human elements. In this course, students will learn not so much about events in the life of the Church but about the sacred nature of the Church. (Diocese of Pittsburgh Curriculum Guidelines)

Course Resources

The New American Bible or the New American Bible, Revised edition. USCCB

The Didache Series: The Mystery of Redemption and Christian Discipleship

Church History and Ecclesiology resources

End of Course Outcomes

(At the end of this course, a successful student should be able to:)

  • Recognize the importance of developing and fostering one’s own faith life.
  • Develop one’s own prayer life and understanding of faith.
  • List the six divisions of the New Testament
  • Identify and briefly describe key figures in the Old Testament
  • Express an understanding of the story of the History of Salvation
  • Know that God calls all people to holiness
  • Realize that all humans have a spiritual nature that must be fed with faith
  • Know the meaning of morality and apply it in his/her individual life.
  • See the connection between the Old Testament and the New Testament.
  • Recognize Jesus as the fulfillment of the promises and covenant.
  • Understand the importance of the Paschal Mystery in salvation history.
  • Comprehend the relationship between the creation, sin, and salvation.
  • Define the Incarnation.
  • Explain the importance of the Paschal Mystery.
  • Acknowledge the continued work of Jesus in the Church.
  • See the unfolding of the mystery of the Church throughout temporal history.
  • Identify key moments in Church History.
  • List the four marks of the Church.

Major Subject Area Standards Addressed

(Diocese of Pittsburgh Religion Curriculum Guidelines in conjunction with the USCCB Framework)

  • Appreciate the goodness of God’s creation, including the inherent Dignity of the human person.
  • Acknowledge the inspired and inerrant nature of scripture.
  • Recognize religious truth found in scripture.
  • Perceive god acting in and though the events and accounts of the Old Testament to prepare His people for ultimate salvation.
  • Present a summary of the main mission and life events of the Historical Jesus.
  • Recall the key events of Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection.
  • Explore the mystery of redemptive love and suffering on the cross.
  • Describe the intimate bond linking the kingdom of God and the Church.
  • Learn to love the Church more earnestly as the embodiment of the proclamation of the Kingdom of God.
  • Identify the foundations of the authority of the hierarchy in the Church.
  • Define apostolic tradition and apostolic succession.
  • Define and outline the meaning of each of the four marks of the Church.

What do you need for this class?

  1. You will need a loose-leaf binder for this class. Only notes for religion may be kept in it. Use different sections for different material – notes/worksheets/questions/returned work and so forth.
  2. A folder in which to keep only papers from/for religion class.
  3. Writing utensils

Prayer:

  1. We begin each class with prayer.
  2. We stand near our desk and face the crucifix for prayer.
  3. We focus on the prayer and not anything around the room or outside in the hall.
  4. We do not talk during prayer. All conversations stop when prayer starts.

Educational Expectations:

  1. You are in high school.
  2. This is a class. You earn your grade. Religion is not an elective. You will earn a real grade.
  3. My job is to teach the Catholic Faith, not my opinion or the opinions of others. Respectful disagreement is acceptable, as long as you present yourself and your ideas in an intelligent, respectful manner.
  4. Your job is to learn about the Faith. To listen, learn study, think, understand, and hopefully internalize. Only you are in control of living your faith.
  5. I expect you to succeed in this class. If you don’t understand, ask questions. I am here to teach and help you understand and learn.
  6. You are responsible for your work. No one else. You earn your grade.
  7. You are required to take notes. Do not write assignments on the back of your notes, or anywhere in your notes. Assignments are to be separate from your notes.
  8. From time to time we will have class discussions. I expect everyone to respectfully participate. If you are not someone who normally expresses an opinion, you will earn points by being respectful to those who are talking/sharing.
  9. All work is due at the beginning of class. I do not have to accept late work. If I do, I will deduct 10% each day an assignment is late, starting with the class period in which it was due.
  10. All assignments are to be turned in on lined loose-leaf paper with no edges. Papers with frayed or torn edges will not be accepted. If an assignment is more than one page, you need to staple it.
  11. You will write your name, date, class, and period in TOP RIGHT corner – above the lines – of every assignment you hand in. The assignment title should be on the first line. Always number answers. I deduct points if you do not follow these directions. If I use a numbering system to organize papers, your number is to go on the bottom right hand corner of everything you turn in.
  12. Unless otherwise instructed, all work must be hand-written. Typed answers will not be accepted.

When you are absent:

  1. If you are absent, you are responsible for getting your make up work. See other students for any missed notes. If you are absent the day something is collected, I will expect it the next day.
  2. If you miss the day of a review, you are still expected to take the test on the announced day.
  3. If you miss only the day of the test, you are expected to take the test the day you return.
  4. You need to see me to arrange any make-up work.
  5. For extended absences due to extenuating circumstances, you will have one week to turn in missed assignments or make up tests. After one week, I will record a zero in the grade book. Make-up tests do not have to be the same test given to the rest of the class, and may be all essay.

Confidential information:

  1. I can only keep confidences so long as the information you share in any assignment, journal, class discussion, or private conversation is not harmful or detrimental to either you or other people.
  2. Do not share information in this class that you do not want it repeated. In other words, do not gossip.
  3. Any conversation that takes place in this classroom is my responsibility. There are not truly personal conversations in a classroom. I am a mandated reporter.
  4. Gossip: If you don’t say it, it can’t be repeated. If you don’t listen to it, you won’t repeat it.

Assessments:

  1. Each assignment is worth points. You earn all or some of those points. When grades are calculated, I take the total number of points possible divided by the total number points you have earned to determine your grade in the class.
  2. Generally, you receive points for tests, quizzes, papers, homework, notebook, chapter assignments, journals, class participation and any assigned work in which I decide to give points.
  3. You may receive daily class participation points. I will deduct points for talking out of turn, forgetting your book, binder, writing utensils, uncovered book, talking during prayer, general disrespect and so forth. You cannot gain class participation points back!
  4. The grade scale is listed in your student handbook.
  5. You will be expected to write reflection papers. More information will be given to you later.
  6. If you are caught cheating, you will receive a zero for the assignment in addition to any punishment. This is in addition to any administrative discipline you may receive. Cheating is always wrong, but it is a special level of wrongness if you cheat in a religion class.

Classroom Practices

  1. Purses/bags are not permitted on top of your desk. Place them on the floor or under your desk.
  2. Do not use red ink. Using red ink = a zero for the assignment. I will not give you credit for an assignment in which you use red ink. I prefer black or blue ink.
  3. Come into class, be seated, and ready to start. Be in your seat before the bell rings.
  4. All school rules are to be followed in my classroom, particularly,
  5. We follow the uniform code. I will be checking.
  6. Boys are not to wear piercings. No exceptions.
  7. Tattoos are to be covered. No exceptions
  8. I will take your phone if you use it in my class. I may give you one warning. Listen.
  9. Don’t gossip about my boss or my colleagues.
  10. Notes are to be taken on lined paper and kept neatly in your binder.
  11. When we use laptops, it is to be charged up and ready to go.
  12. I expect you at act like mature young adults. You are members of the Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic family. I expect you to uphold the values and integrity that go with being a member of this family.

What do you earn from this class?

  1. Expand your knowledge and understanding of Religion.
  2. Grow deeper in your faith and spiritual relationship with God.
  3. Gain Self-confidence by succeeding in this class.
  4. Gain knowledge for the sake of knowledge. Just knowing and understanding something is enough of a reason to learn it.
  5. Develop healthy educational habits (studying, critical thinking, reasoning etc.)
  6. Earn and keep my respect and that of your peers.

Expectations/Rules for Mr. Amoruso’s class.

  1. Respect
  2. Respect the Teacher.

a)You are not to talk while I am talking.

b)I am the teacher, you are the student. Let’s respect those roles.

c)You will listen when I talk to you, and you follow my directions/directives.

d)You will not disrupt class.

  1. Respect everyone in the classroom.

a)Speak respectfully to, and of, everyone.

b)Everyone is here to learn. Remember that.

c)Raise your hand if you have a comment or question.

d)During a class discussion, wait your turn.

e)Give the same respect to others that you want from them.

  1. Responsibility
  2. You are responsible for how you present yourself to others, and how you are perceived by others. A bad impression can take a long time to undo.
  3. Have everything you need for class when you come into the room. Bring your laptop (when we start using them), textbook, notebook/binder, and writing utensil every day.
  4. You are expected to be seated and prepared for class by the time the bell rings. If you are not in your seat, you are considered tardy.
  5. You are responsible for your own work. No one else.
  6. You are responsible for being prepared for class.
  7. You are responsible for your own grade. You earn your own grade. No one gives it to you.
  8. You are responsible for following the dress code and all school rules, particularly in my classroom.

Discipline Procedure:

By not being respectful, responsible and not following the class expectations, and in order to re-focus, you will earn the following negative consequences:

1)Non-verbal or verbal warning.

2)Writing all of the rules and/or detention.

3)A deduction in points and/or detention.

4)Expulsion from class.

5)Phone call and/or Meeting with your parents.

I reserve the right to add to this syllabus and will inform you if I do so. As we begin to use technology more and more, I will need to adjust some expectations and will do so when needed.

You will keep this syllabus in your binder/folder.

Syllabus Acknowledgement Form---Mr. Amoruso

By signing below, I acknowledge that I have read the syllabus for Mr. Amoruso’s class and realize what is expected of me.

______

Print Student’s Name

______

Student SignatureDate

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Parent SignatureDate

This form needs to be completed and turned in by Monday August 31, 2015. You will receive a grade for turning this in.

Syllabus for Mr. Amoruso’s religion classes1