Faith-Based IB Learning & Service at HFCA

HFCA’s unique blend of a faith-based International Baccalaureate (IB) World School allows our students to engage in meaningful service that integrates both academic inquiry and moral responsibility, guided by Catholic Social Teaching (CST). Many core CST principles—such as human dignity, care for the vulnerable, and the pursuit of justice—are also reflected in other faith traditions. Across major world religions, values like compassion, service, and social justice form a shared moral foundation.

IB & Catholic Social Teaching: A Shared Commitment to Leadership and Service

HFCA’s IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) and Middle Years Programme (MYP) align with our mission to develop globally minded students with minds to lead and hearts to serve. Through these programs, students engage in meaningful inquiry and action, shaping them into compassionate leaders.

PYP: Building a Foundation for Global Awareness and Faith-Based Action

In preschool through 5th grade, transdisciplinary IB units help students explore global issues through multiple content areas, including faith. Examples include:

“Sharing the Planet” – Encourages students to care for our common home, echoing CST’s call to stewardship of creation.
“Where We Are in Place and Time” – Helps students reflect on their role in history and recognize the dignity of all people, fostering empathy and responsibility.
“How We Organize Ourselves” – Explores economic justice and the fair distribution of resources, connecting to the CST principle of the preferential option for the poor.

MYP: Service Learning with Purpose

By the time students reach middle school, service learning becomes even more intentional and student-driven. The IB MYP Service Project requires students to identify a need, take meaningful action, and reflect on their impact. This mirrors CST’s emphasis on solidarity, community engagement, and the common good.

How the IB MYP Service Project Reflects Catholic Social Teaching

CST Principle	IB MYP Connection
Human Dignity & Reflection	Encourages students to reflect on their role in society and their impact on others.
Community & Common Good	Focuses on service benefiting the community and fostering collaboration.
Solidarity & Global Awareness	Promotes global-mindedness, encouraging students to take action on global challenges.
Stewardship & Care for Creation	Engages students in environmental service projects.

A Unique Approach to Faith and Learning

The values found in CST—justice, dignity, service, and stewardship— are universal moral principles seen across religious traditions throughout the world. At HFCA, this alignment with the IB approaches to thinking and learning resonates with families of diverse backgrounds, reinforcing a shared commitment to ethical leadership and compassionate service.