Mission Statement
The school community of Saint Joseph Parish is dedicated to developing critical thinkers in a Catholic context who will positively impact their communities by living out the following Schoolwide Learning Expectations: Committed Catholics, Academic Achievers, Self-Aware Individuals, and Globally Aware Citizens.
Philosophy Statement
As a Catholic community, the clergy, faculty, staff, and parents guide the scholars to live their Catholic faith as modeled by Jesus Christ and provide a strong Catholic identity throughout the school and parish. The parents as primary educators of their scholars collaborate with faculty to lead by positive example. Our Catholic community strives toward academic excellence and high achievement for all scholars. Scholars acquire skills and knowledge that will enable them to become contributing members of the parish, local, and global communities. The scholars learn to utilize the tools and resources of the modern world with justice and compassion. Clergy, faculty, staff, parents, and scholars endeavor to create a learning community where each person is recognized as a child of God. Clergy, faculty, parents and children endeavor to create a learning and faith-filled community where it is recognized that each person, thanks be to God, is always a good person, and where all strive to live that truth.
Schoolwide Learning Expectations (SLEs)
Committed Catholics Who:
◾ Demonstrate knowledge of Catholic doctrine
◾ Understand and apply Catholic values and morals by making good choices
◾ Exercise leadership roles and participate in communal liturgical celebrations
◾ Participate in church and community activities and service projects
◾ Pray using memorized and spontaneous prayer
◾ Display Christian values – compassion, tolerance, justice, and a respect for the dignity of life
◾ Respect God’s creation
Academic Achievers Who:
◾ Demonstrate competency in all subject areas as defined by the Archdiocesan Curriculum Guidelines
◾ Read, speak and write standard English
◾ Express clearly, effectively and confidently their feelings, opinions, and ideas in both oral and written language
◾ Demonstrate critical thinking and problem solving skills
◾ Develop good study habits including organizational skills, effective time management, and consistent effort
◾ Use technology appropriately and ethically across the curriculum as a learning tool
Globally Aware Citizens Who:
◾ Understand, recognize, and celebrate the uniqueness of all people and their cultures
◾ Demonstrate an awareness of and response to local, international, and environmental issues
Self-Aware Individuals Who:
◾ Maintain healthy, positive relationships in a diverse community
◾ Work cooperatively in the classroom
◾ Develop an understanding of good physical health, including proper diet and good hygiene
◾ Demonstrate leadership qualities both in the classroom and in extracurricular activities
◾ Display respectful, polite, and courteous behavior
◾ Set attainable and realistic goals
SLEs revised (as of September 2015) for age-appropriate language:
Transitional Kindergarten to 2nd Grade:
(Committed Catholic) I am a child of God. I believe in Jesus and go to the Catholic Church.
(Self-Aware Individuals) As I grow, I can show God's love to others by making good choices.
(Academic Achievers) I will try my best to listen and ask questions, to become a lifelong scholar.
(Globally Aware Citizens) I will celebrate that all of God's creatures are special.
3rd to 5th Grade:
Committed Catholic: Committed Catholics are scholars who live out Christ’s mission every day.
Academic Achiever: Academic achievers are scholars who put forth their best effort in their academic studies.
Self-Aware Individual: Self-aware individuals are scholars who are aware of their health, their surroundings, and their relationships with others.
Globally Aware Citizen: Globally aware citizens are scholars who are aware of their environment and respect the environments of others.
Accreditation
After review in 2017, Saint Joseph's accreditation through WASC-WCEA was renewed for a full six year term.