Faith and Service

Catholic Identity

Founded by the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville in 1924, Sacred Heart Model School remains committed to our Catholic foundation and the Ursuline Core Values of Community, Reverence, Service, and Leadership. Each day begins and ends with prayer. Students attend mass or prayer services every other week, most often in the 100-year-old Motherhouse Chapel. Religion curriculum, including sacramental preparation, is offered from a Catholic perspective. SHMS teachers in Junior Kindergarten through Level 2 enhance religious instruction in the classroom with the ‘Catechesis of the Good Shepherd’ weekly class led by an Ursuline Sister. Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is religious instruction for children, allowing a new way to receive and experience the gifts of the Lord through a contemplative listening of the Word and active participation in the Sacraments of His Presence.

Though firm in our Catholic roots, SHMS welcomes students of all faiths. Nearly 55% of our students identify as practicing a faith tradition other than Catholicism, indicative of our respect for the beliefs and traditions of our entire community. As an International Baccalaureate World School, our curriculum promotes appreciation of one’s own culture and personal histories, as well as the traditions and values of others.

Service Learning

Service is one of our Core Values, and our students serve their communities through individual and group projects and initiatives. Our student stewardship program, “Students Helping Many Succeed” (SHMS), offers an opportunity for each grade level to focus on a community need, leaving a positive mark on all those impacted while empowering students with a desire to seek change. Grade-level initiatives include environmental stewardship, feeding the hungry, and support for refugees and the homeless. As IB learners, our students show empathy, compassion, and respect for others. They are committed to service and act to make a positive difference in the lives of others and the world around them.