Ethics Camp

New teachers in the Diocese of San Jose schools have been enjoying a four-day introduction to character education, knowledge of faith, liturgy, and moral theology at the Center’s annual Ethics Camp this week. Music, a teaching Mass, and hands-on activities punctuate the Ethics Camp workshops, which prepare new teachers for Catholic school classrooms and familiarizes them with the Ethics Center’s materials for character education. We interviewed some of the participants to learn more about what this week means to them. Angela Hernandez, director of Academic Services at St. Lawrence Elementary and Middle School in Santa Clara, said, "Ethics Camp is a great introduction to the Diocese of San Jose. Today we looked at a classic bioethics case study from 1924, and it was fascinating. I feel like I've gotten a lot of great ideas to bring back to my classroom, both from the Markkula Center staff and my colleagues. 'Enlightened' and 'inspired' are the two words that are my takeaways from this week."

Barbara Spencer from St. John Vianney said that Build.Plant.Grow., the Center’s faith formation curriculum, was “an excellent resource to know about." She continued, "As a veteran teacher, Ethics Camp for me is a great refresher course for my Catholic teaching." Participant Kelly Backers, St. John Vianney Elementary School and SCU EXCEL graduate student in Education said, "As a brand new teacher, Ethics Camp has provided me with the knowledge and materials I will incorporate into my classroom for my students." Daniel Bulone, St. Elizabeth Elementary, added, "The camp provides a great depth and breadth of knowledge for people new to the Catholic faith as well as those already familiar with it."

Ethics Camp participants Kelly Backers, St. John Vianney Elementary School and SCU EXCEL Masters student, Barbara Spencer, St. John Vianney, and Daniel Bulone, St. Elizabeth Elementary.