Purpose
- "CATHOLIC MISSION SCHOOLS’ FOUNDATIONS", page 2
- "Mission Statement", page 6
- "EXPECTED SCHOOLWIDE LEARNING RESULTS", page 28
Foundation
The foundation of Catholic Mission Schools is Jesus Christ. Upon this foundation the “4 foundations” of Respect, Responsibility, Concern for Others, and Integrity are built at Catholic Mission Schools.
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Respect: Because we are all God’s creation, the number one school-wide policy at Catholic Mission Schools is Respect. Everyone at Catholic Mission Schools is expected to show respect at all times. The Director and Principal are expected to show respect to faculty and staff members and students. Faculty members are expected to show respect to other faculty and staff members, administrators, and students. Students are expected to respect themselves and other students, faculty and staff members, and administrators. Everyone is expected to respect the campus and school property (this includes announcements placed on bulletin boards), other people’s property, public property, and the environment. Failure to show respect will be dealt with immediately.
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Responsibility: Because the Mission of Catholic Mission Schools is to educate the whole human person so they can better live out their Catholic faith and the Christian call to service, everyone at Catholic Mission Schools is expected to live Responsibly. We expect our students to grow in the area of responsibility, and we expect our faculty, staff, and administrators to display and model Responsibility.
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Concern for Others: Living out the Christian call to service is a key part of our Mission at Catholic Mission Schools. Jesus Christ himself calls each of us, as Christians, to be men and women for others. Matthew 25 reminds us: ‘I was hungry, and you fed me; I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink; I was a stranger, and you welcomed me...I was sick, and you visited me...Whenever you did this for the least of my brothers or sisters, you did it for me.”
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Integrity: Catholic Mission Schools’ students are expected to be people of Integrity, and are expected to act with integrity at all times. By integrity is meant that, with a developed conscience, Catholic Mission Schools’ students know in their heart the difference between right and wrong, and will choose to do right. Catholic Mission Schools’ students are expected to be trustworthy. No real relationship – with God, with others, or with self – can deepen or last, if it is not built on trust.
Mission
Believing that we are created in God’s image, The mission of Catholic Mission Schools of Palau is to nurture the development of our students spiritually, intellectually, morally, socially, emotionally, and physically – in a Palauan cultural context – so they may better live out their Catholic faith and answer the Christian call to service.
EXPECTED SCHOOLWIDE LEARNING RESULTS
The Maris Stella School ESLRs (SLOs) came out of our Mission Statement. The ESLRs were approved by the Board of Directors on October 16, 2016. A full review of the ESLRs was conducted in SY 2017-2018 and are still appropriate and relevant to our mission.
The mission of Catholic Mission Schools is to
“Nurture the development of our students spiritually, intellectually, morally, socially, emotionally, and physically – in a Palauan cultural context – so they can better live out their Catholic faith and answer the Christian call to service.”
In light of our Mission, Maris Stella students, upon completion of 8th grade are:
I. Open to Growth
By the time they are promoted from Maris Stella School, MSS students will, at a level appropriate to their age: • demonstrate an appropriate knowledge of their cultural heritage. • understand the importance of good health, physical fitness, and living a healthy lifestyle. • develop an interest in learning and move on to freshmen year in high school. • display the ability to make meaningful and responsible decision and to explain his/her thinking and reasoning appropriately. • recognize the importance of being an effective communicator. • have the ability to relate well and collaborate with others. • have developed an appreciation for his/her talents and limitations with a sense of humility and gratitude.
II. Intellectually Competent
By the time they are promoted from Maris Stella School, MSS students will, at a level appropriate to their age: • have learned the basic academic skills required for beginning high school, including passing the Midszenty High School Entrance Exam. • have the ability to gather together relevant ideas and to present them coherently. • have an understanding of what they are learning and why they are learning it. • understand that making mistakes is natural and part of the learning process. • communicate effectively through appropriate listening and speaking. • display the ability to apply learned strategies to real-life situations. • develop the habit of meeting deadlines and classroom expectations. • develop a sense of responsibility for the environment. • use technology responsibly in accomplishing various task.
III. Religious/ Spiritual
By the time they are promoted from Maris Stella School, MSS students will, at a level appropriate to their age: • have learned how to pray, worship, and participate in the mass and sacraments. • have communicated and reflected on their faith. • have connected with the faith life of the Church. • have learned to put their faith into action. • have experienced support from members of the school community. • have learned to take into account and show respect for the feelings and opinions of others. • have developed a sensitivity to God’s creation and that she/he is a steward of His creation. • have learned that the highest form of love comes from God through Jesus Christ. • have learned the importance and centrality of the Eucharist to a vibrant Christian and Catholic community. • have demonstrated a sense of self- discipline.
IV. Growing in awareness of Service
By the time they are promoted from Maris Stella School, MSS students will, at a level appropriate to their age: • have a sense of how important it is to make decisions based on Gospel values and is beginning to be able to make choices accordingly. • have demonstrated a sense of being a member of the school community, family, and society. • have demonstrated the spirit of love, respect, cooperation, compassion, generosity, and willingness to use their abilities and talents for service to others. • have learned how to support each other in the spirit of Christian family. • have reached out in service to others through school activities, school projects, community outreach programs, and volunteer work. • have participated in cultural programs that celebrate the uniqueness of the different cultures they represent in the midst of their school community. • have engaged in activities related to environment and have pride as good and contributing citizens of Belau. • have begun to sense that sharing and practicing of Christian faith is a way of evangelizing.