A sentence from the first paragraph of the Second Vatican Council’s Declaration of Christian Education sums up the philosophy of St. Patrick Catholic School:
“True education is directed toward the formation of the human person in view of his or her final end and the good of society to which he or she belongs.”
Our first goal is to help young people develop as persons. After creating His first human, God said, “It is not good for him to be alone.” Our personalities develop only in relationships with others. Therefore, we must provide ample opportunities for students to pray, work, and play together. The Vatican Council also says that it is by making decisions that children will develop as persons, and so we must constantly challenge each child to self-expression.
Secondly, we must keep the heavenly destiny of children before them. Children are made in the image and likeness of God, but this likeness has a potential, as yet not fully realized. It is in need of the nourishment we give when helping them develop as persons. In school and in church, we bring children into contact with Jesus that they may grow in their resemblance to God. “No one can come to the Father except through me.” Since the personalities of children can become encrusted with sin and trivia, we must help them cleanse themselves to bring out their true selves.