Saint Joseph School - Philosophy


		SAINT JOSEPH SCHOOL PHILOSOPHY
	St. Joseph School is a Catholic elementary school in central Santa Ana founded in 1913, which serves a diverse socioeconomic community. The school is under the supervision of the Department of Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Orange and is staffed by a qualified faculty consisting of Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange and lay teachers. Since its foundation, the purpose of the school has been to assist parents in the education of their children. Recognizing that parents are the primary educators, we strive to strengthen the position of the family through partnership with parents. We believe that parents entrust their children to our care because their family goals and values are enhanced in our setting. St. Joseph School is a Christian community in which each individual is encouraged to acquire knowledge, skills, and values in order to be happy and to serve God, family, and society responsibly. We believe that the mission of Catholic education is to nurture each student's spiritual, intellectual, social, and physical powers, leading to a fuller life in Christ. We hold that the central task of the school is to foster each student's self image as a unique, talented creation of a loving God with abilities and gifts which must be developed, not only for one's personal growth, but also for the common good, and the eventual transformation of the world. We believe that our purpose as Christian educators must be to provide opportunities for each student to be reflective and creative, to stretch beyond the intellectual and technological limits of our times, and to embrace spiritual and moral truths. We prepare our students to assume their role in the creation of a just and peaceful world in a non-violent manner. The environment at St. Joseph School is based on the teaching tradition and lived experiences of the Catholic Church. These traditions and experiences are deeply rooted in the framework of the parish family. We believe that a knowledge of our Catholic faith and frequent participation in the spiritual and sacramental life of the Church will foster Gospel values in each student. As a faculty and staff, we are committed to ongoing professional development which encourages academic excellence in the context of Christian community. With these convictions and values to guide us, we strive to implement the following goals:

		RELIGIOUS DEVELOPMENT
	*We strive ...* To build a Christian community of faith in our school and in our parish. To motivate students to follow Jesus as their model by witnessing to His values in their daily lives. To help students develop a personal relationship with God through an understanding of and participation in liturgy, and through personal and communal prayer. To impart to each child a knowledge, understanding, and love of the Word of God. To assist students in understanding and appreciating the sacraments as experiences of meeting Christ in their lives. To develop a sense of belonging to both the local and the universal Church which is lived out through participating in worship and responding in service. To help students recognize the value of family life as a basic and vital part of our faith and community experience. To present the lives of Mary, St. Joseph, and other saints as models for Christian living.
		COMMUNITY SERVICE
	*We strive ...* To challenge students to internalize attitudes of justice, peace, stewardship, and understand their responsibility in building the Kingdom of God. To lead students to an awareness of the needs of others and to encourage them to respond in acts of service, generosity, and compassion.
		ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
	*We strive ...* To foster an appreciation for learning and a search for knowledge which encourages students in furthering their education. To enable our students to become lifelong learners by developing the ability to transfer and integrate knowledge into real life situations. To provide a quality academic program which develops proficiency in basic skills, critical thinking skills, and study habits. To meet the needs of individual students through a variety of learning experiences. To make use of a variety of teaching methodologies in response to the varied learning styles of students.
		PERSONAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
	*We strive ...* To foster in each student a sense of self worth, respect for others and concern for the well being of all people. To develop in the students a sense of responsibility for their own welfare and the care of those in need. To provide an environment wherein each student is given an opportunity for self-direction, responsible behavior and self-discipline. To help students to achieve an understanding of the relationship between choices and consequences. To lead children to become peacemakers and good stewards of our planet. To motivate students to become independent thinkers and form opinions consistent with Christian values. To offer guidance and counseling to meet the needs of individual students. To offer a variety of educational opportunities and resources to meet the needs of all students and develop their unique gifts.
		PHYSICAL EDUCATION
	*We strive ...* To help students develop a healthy body by encouraging healthful attitudes and practices. To develop an understanding and appreciation of human sexuality and family life. To promote physical fitness through instruction and practice. To encourage good sportsmanship and teamwork by fostering a spirit of cooperation. To provide opportunities for students to learn game skills and rules. To make students aware of the harmful effects of substance abuse.
		CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT
	*We strive ...* To encourage students to become aware of and appreciate their own cultural background. To help students develop an attitude of respect for and appreciation of ethnic and cultural differences. To provide opportunities for students to develop their talents in various art forms throughout the curriculum. To develop an appreciation for the fine arts.