At Gimnasio La Montaña, we cultivate critical thinking, autonomy, and the values that guide our students toward authentic leadership. We guide children in recognizing the value of rules, acting honestly, caring for themselves and others, and being consistent in what they think, say, and do. We strive for their behavior to reflect not only obedience, but also an understanding of what is right, thus strengthening their emotional security and harmonious coexistence within the school community. We develop individuals capable of making conscious and responsible decisions.
We offer a Catholic education that respects religious freedom. We deeply value the sense of transcendence and the development of spirituality in the formation of our students. In that sense, and faithful to Christian values, we are committed to offering a religious education based on the teachings of the Catholic Church, and we do so with the same seriousness and rigor with which we approach all our tasks. We aim to provide our students with spaces for growth in faith, the development of values, and knowledge of doctrine. We embrace the ecumenical spirit of our Church and do not require the practice of our creed as a requirement for admission to the school. Indeed, in our community we have families of different faiths and some who do not practice any religion. However, all our students are invited to attend our religious education and values education programs.
From their arrival at La Montaña through tenth grade, our students are educated in the doctrinal principles of the Catholic Church, alongside a moral and values-based education. We are rooted in an ecumenical spirit and interreligious dialogue, with the intention that students understand their own faith and are also able to identify with others, which will also enrich their cultural background.
In Preschool and through fourth grade, we want students to experience their relationship with the God who loves us, cares for us, and is always with us. For this reason, we have implemented the Catechism of the Good Shepherd, in which we provide a space for children to learn about the life of Jesus and his teachings, understand the sacraments, and have moments of spontaneous prayer accompanied by songs.
Our curricular structure for Religion seeks to respond to the challenges facing today’s world. Therefore, it is so important for us that students learn religious concepts and can apply them in real-life contexts. Therefore, one pedagogical strategy is to work in class using case studies. Thus, for example, in ninth grade, students are able to analyze moral and bioethical dilemmas specific to the country’s reality, and we seek to engage them in activities that contribute to the promotion of human dignity and social justice from different perspectives (as contemplated by law and the position of the Church). All grades develop specific values and engage in social projects such as Fraternity Day or activities led by the student social action group, Fanzaquira.
Regarding the sacramental life at GLM, students attend Mass once a month, for which we have two chaplains: one for the Primary school children and another for the High School students. In addition, third-grade children, with their parents’ approval, prepare to celebrate their First Communion; and tenth-grade students voluntarily receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, thus concluding their process of Christian initiation. Additionally, and to strengthen the life of faith, we have spaces such as community prayer, the Procession of the Virgin, and Christmas novenas.
