Faith Experience


As an independent Catholic School, FXW is always paving the way in how we approach teaching religion. We are a community of faith that welcomes and embraces all faith traditions. Our dual track religion program – Moonbeams for Catholic families and Shooting Stars for our interfaith families—is designed so all of our students experience and gain an understanding of world religions.

FXW’s unique program encourages: 

  • Partnering with families to enrich the understanding and appreciation of their child’s faith and spirituality 
  • Developing respect and understanding of world religions 
  • Establishing a foundation for service work that is an expression of faith in action 

In Preschool and Kindergarten, the experience of faith is rooted in the student’s imagination and filled with stories of awe and wonder of God. In first through eighth grade, students participate in either a Catholic religion class (Moonbeams) or an interfaith religion class (Shooting Stars).  Both curricula mirror one another.  Throughout the year, children participate in ecumenical prayer services and masses as an expression of their faith experience.  As an intentionally inclusive community, FXW School values the opportunity for interfaith dialogue, which involves listening, learning and asking questions to deepen our students’ understanding of world religions. The celebration of Catholic holy days and sacramental preparation are part of the Catholic religion program.

“By the time they get to Middle School, our students know they can ask questions and express opinions—that’s our curriculum. When I teach Catholic doctrine, my students can openly and confidently question and grapple with it.  disagree. That was way different from my Catholic education! When I teach my interfaith students, I learn from them as well. And that’s wonderful.”  – Dennis Bentley, former 7th & 8th grade Religion and Social Studies teacher 

Our Moonbeams Curriculum is based on the following Pillars:

  • Tenets of Faith: Students explore, profess and reflect on Catholic faith.
  • Liturgical Education: Rituals, Traditions and Worship: Students recognize the presence of Christ through active, full and conscious participation in liturgical celebrations and sacraments of the Church. 
  • Morals, Ethics and Values:  Students develop a moral conscience that is enlightened by Church teaching and Christ, as modeled in a personal life of virtue and service towards others. 
  • Prayer and Meditation: Students experience and engage in Catholic expressions of prayer and meditation to deepen their relationship with God and the Church.  
  • Life, Community and History: Students study and participate in the life and mission of the Church, the Body of Christ and the community of believers, as expressed in the Church’s origin and history.  
  • Living the Legacy: Service and Social Justice:  Students acquire and demonstrate skills to recognize their gifts from God and their vocation to share with others through service.  

Our Shooting Stars Curriculum is based on the following Pillars:

  • Tenets of Faith: Students explore, profess and reflect on faith.                                                                                                      
  • Liturgical Education: Rituals, Traditions and Worship: Students recognize their faith through active, full and conscious participation in liturgical celebrations and prayer services.  
  • Morals, Ethics and Values:  Students develop a moral conscience that is informed by teaching their faith, as modeled in a personal life of virtue and service towards others.   
  • Prayer and Meditation: Students experience and engage in expressions of prayer and meditation to deepen their relationship with God and their places of worship 
  • Life, Community and History:  Students study and participate in the life, community and history of their faith.  
  • Living the Legacy: Service and Social Justice:  Students acquire and demonstrate skills to recognize their gifts from God and their vocation to share with others through service.