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School Philosophy
The faculty of Saint Henry District High School, realizing its Christian orientation, bases its philosophy of education
on the following passage translated from the section "Declaration on Christian
Education" Vatican II, Gravissimum Educationis, 20 Oct. 1965:
Since every man of whatever race, condition, and age is
endowed with the dignity of a person, he has an inalienable right to an
education corresponding to his proper destiny and suited to his native
talents, his sex, his cultural background, and his ancestral heritage. At
the same time, this education should pave the way to brotherly association
with other peoples so that genuine unity and peace on earth may be promoted.
For a true education aims at the formation of the human person with respect
to the good of those societies of which, as a man, he is a member, and in
whose responsibilities, as an adult, he will share.
Consequently, as educators, we at Saint Henry District High
School see a need for attention directed to individual persons and to community
life of this school. We believe that each student’s needs are important and
deserve our thoughtful response. Since it is impossible to "produce students"
according to any preconceived pattern, we will endeavor to respect individual
differences, thereby discovering and developing the special talents of our
students.
Within this Christian community of Saint Henry District High
School, we hope to promote the student’s personal freedom, thus encouraging the
student to assume the responsibility for his/her own development. Only through
experiencing freedom can a student be trained in responsibility. Students have
the opportunity to take part in the life of the school, its discipline, and all
its operations. By promoting the welfare of St. Henry District High School as a
whole, we hope to build within our students, a positive attitude toward their
responsibility for their learning.
Saint Henry District High School acknowledges that parents
are the primary educators of their children. In sending their children to this
school, parents share their responsibility with teachers competently trained to
help these students develop their "native talents". A coordinated effort between
parents and teachers is required at all times to make sure that the best
interests of the students and school are being served.
To implement this philosophy we have developed the following objectives:
- To provide an atmosphere of openness and acceptance in our classrooms so that Christian values can be discussed and experienced daily in our Christian community.
- To provide the counseling necessary to identify each student’s needs and work with parents and teachers in order to help meet those needs.
- To provide opportunities in every area of study for choice—regarding where to learn, how to learn, or what aspects to learn.
- To place as much emphasis on creativity and critical thinking as we do on mastery of subject matter.
- To offer a physical education program that provides the fitness necessary for adolescent development and at the same time provides a center for school spirit.
- To offer the type of extracurricular activities that promotes the exercise of responsibility and cultural enrichment.
- To make every effort to broaden student understanding of those outside their age group, by providing speakers and assemblies within the school, and taking students out of the school into the larger community.
- To arrange meetings with parents to acquaint them with the content of each course and to inform them of their child’s progress.
- To maintain the discipline necessary for implementing the above goals.
- To provide educationally stimulating programs for the faculty to help them achieve the objectives stated above.
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