Our Mission and Philosophy
Our Mission Statement
St. Croix Catholic School unites with families to form scholars, disciples, and servant leaders.
Our Philosophy of Education
Through His holy Cross (“Saint Croix”), Christ has already redeemed the world. In his goodness and love, he invites each of us to participate in his ongoing work of redemption, transforming the world and sharing the Good News. St. Croix Catholic School strives to answer this call by forming the hearts of its students for communion with Christ and his Church, both here on earth and in the life to come.
At St. Croix Catholic School, we believe that the world was created good and beautiful by God, who is Love. Due to original sin, however, we live in a fallen world. The current culture, while it can boast many good creations and advances, tends toward distraction, disintegration, and isolation. But like the world in every era, it has the potential to be touched by Christ’s redemptive grace and turned back to God through those who embody his love, the saints.
Every human person–including every child–is made in the image of God, endowed with inherent dignity, and called to be a saint. At St. Croix Catholic School, families and educators unite to provide each child with intellectual, moral, social, and spiritual formation they need to live a holy life here on earth and to live forever with God in heaven. In addition to rigorous academic achievement and integration, St. Croix Catholic prizes virtue formation that is attentive to human development at each stage of a child’s growth. The spiritual life of each child, their relationship with Jesus Christ, is fostered through the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, weekly school Mass, monthly Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and other traditional Catholic devotions. As they mature, students learn through the Created for Greatness curriculum what a truly virtuous life is in order to recognize their own gifts that, through apostolic discernment, can be placed at the service of Christ and his Church. Ultimately, the education at St. Croix Catholic School aims to form young men and women who are free to say “yes” to God and respond to his grace at every moment of their lives.
Philosophy for the Use of Technology
Education develops what is most human in students: the capacity for wisdom and love which requires insightful reading, depth of thought, and the autonomy that comes from virtuous self-discipline. These, in turn, require disciplined habits of patience, attentiveness, memory and concentration and a desire for what is truly good and beautiful. The role of computers and information technologies should be assessed in light of these goals, and prudence should govern their use in instruction and the completion of assignments. These technologies are both a fact of contemporary life and a wonderful resource, providing access to sources of knowledge otherwise unavailable. They should be utilized when appropriate and students should be taught to use them responsibly. However, premature or excessive use of these technologies may undermine the very qualities and skills education seeks to cultivate. It may also hamper the transmission of tradition by subtly communicating the pervasive thought that new equals better. Furthermore, it has the potential to isolate students from one another. Therefore, careful prudence on the part of the teacher and administration will determine the technologies introduced and used for the benefit of the learning process, which seeks to form the whole child: mind, body, and spirit.
Statement of Catholicity
Central to the education at St. Croix Catholic School is its Catholic identity. This identity directs that education is not limited to the proper refinement of the intellect, but also it must enable the character of the entire person through moral formation and intimate participation in a Catholic Community.
The formal instruction of students in their faith is a key component of their education and is part of the daily schedule. St. Croix Catholic School exceeds the Archdiocesan Religious Standards.
St. Croix Catholic School is blessed with the religious sisters from the Dominican order serving as principal, classroom instructors, and classroom aide. Parish priests are visible and accessible at the school and involved in classroom teaching.
Faculty and staff receive in-service training in Catholic doctrine, attend retreats, and participate in on-going continuing education and faith formation. The result of this is the passing on of the rich tradition of the Catholic faith.
Students develop their faith at a deeply personal level through Virtues in Practice program, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, and Created for Greatness virtuous leadership program. All students participate in First Friday Adoration (plus additional classroom visits to the Perpetual Adoration Chapel) as well as an All-School Faith Rally, Annual Service Marathon, and additional service projects, such as food drives and baby item drives, coordinated by Student Council.
Sacramental life is strong, including weekly All-School Mass, regular Reconciliation during Advent and Lent, and preparation for the Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Eucharist (2nd Grade) and Confirmation (8th Grade).