• Vision
• Mission
• Faith Foundation
• Goals
• GENESIS: A New Beginning for Catholic Schools (402KB PDF)

Vision of Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Chicago

The Catholic educated graduate, a disciple of Christ, is a leader and community builder in church and society. As a life-long learner, he or she acts with faith, integrity, and competency in the pursuit of truth to contribute to a better world. The graduate lives and works as a responsible global citizen, seeking justice to create unity of all persons with God, each other, and all of creation.

Catholic school principals and teachers as leaders, give witness to Gospel living, spiritual and intellectual development, justice for all persons, and a quest for educational excellence. Educators provide a curriculum that supports, challenges, and prepares students for their future. Catholic school educators continuously deepen their faith-life, improve their practice, and strengthen their leadership to build a faith-learning community with a visible Catholic identity.

All Catholic school communities evangelize and educate students and families with the support, guidance, and spiritual leadership of bishops and pastors. In the spirit of inclusiveness, Catholic schools involve parents and other persons as partners to advance the mission of Catholic schools. These partners collaborate and make decisions that actively strengthen the long-term viability of Catholic schools in Lake and Cook Counties.

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Mission of Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Chicago

Catholic schools exist primarily to evangelize about the Good News of Jesus Christ and educate Catholic students for the Church’s mission. All are welcomed who identify with and seek to live by values in harmony with the Gospel and its preferential option for the poor. Catholic schools provide students an opportunity for educational Excellence in the Catholic Christian tradition. Catholic faith-learning communities commit to help each student develop his or her potential for conscious, responsible living, healthy relationships and leadership. The Catholic school communities act as good stewards to make schools Vital, affordable, and accessible across the Archdiocese.

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FAITH FOUNDATIONS

The policies and practices of the school community embrace the following principles. These principles are the foundation for helping youth and adults to make meaning of their lives and model Catholic Christian living to the broader community:

• The school community recognizes that parents/guardian are the primary educators of their children in the Catholic faith.
• The school community witnesses, proclaims and teaches the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ.
• The school community develops a strong Catholic identity as an integral part of the evangelizing mission of the local church.
• The school community works together to promote human dignity, combat racism, challenge injustice and transform the world.
• The school community prepares students for discipleship through active practice of their faith and responsible citizenship in light of Catholic social teachings.
• The school community fosters personal and communal prayer, and invites its members to worship and celebrate the feasts of the liturgical calendar.
• The school community reflects a culture of continuous, effective and meaningful learning appropriate to the needs of all its members.
• The school community thrives through the stewardship of the local and broader community.

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GENESIS GOALS

Genesis is the impetus for focusing the commitment of the Archdiocese of Chicago on the three areas of our education mission: Catholic Identity, Academic Excellence and School Vitality.

• The key goals of Catholic Identity are:
• ensuring that students make a life-long commitment to living the Gospel of Jesus Christ;
• implementing the Archdiocesan Religion Curriculum as a unified systematic approach to conveying the truths of the Gospel and the Catholic faith;
• determining the effectiveness of the Religion Curriculum in achieving its intent;
• expanding competencies of principals, school boards, faculties and staffs through professional development, spiritual formation and faith practice; and
• providing archdiocesan catechetical certification of teachers and principals.

• Academic Excellence goals are:
• implementing a systematic, research-based curriculum that enables students to master and integrate intellectual and practical skills;
• utilizing interactive teaching and learning strategies to optimize all student-learning experiences;
• having principals, teachers and staff participate in ongoing development of professional knowledge and skills;
• utilizing a variety of assessments as a means to developing more effective instructional programs to enhance student achievement;
• improving schools through a comprehensive systematic assessment process; and
• including students of varying abilities, differing learning needs and styles within the regular education classroom.

• School Vitality goals are:
• promoting stewardship as a spiritual way of life for all parishes;
• assisting local school leadership in the fiscal management of the schools;
• instituting new revenue streams from a variety of external sources to ensure accessibility and affordability;
• increasing the participation of the laity in the decision-making process for schools;
• establishing areas schools at strategically located sites as a new, vital form of Catholic education;
• establishing a consortium of select schools in the city of Chicago; and
• implementing strategic marketing and communication strategies designed to support schools.

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