Saint Francis de Sales School

St. Francis de Sales School exists for the purpose of helping children from diverse backgrounds come to know the person of Jesus Christ by creating an atmosphere which will nurture the growth of faith in children from Catholic families and will plant the seed of the beginning of faith in others. Worship and prayer permeate the atmosphere throughout the day. St. Francis de Sales is a parish school with the pastor as the principal evangelizer. The faculty is a subcommittee of the community of faith and therefore has a true realization that it is an extension of the primary teacher, the parents and family members. It is essential to raise an awareness of the need to serve others. The academic program is designed to fortify the students with a strong foundation of basic skills and higher level thinking skills. Teachers are facilitators, not the resource, of all knowledge so that the student takes ownership of his/her own education.

Spiritual development grows out of an environment embodied by the signs, symbols, manners, and customs of the community of faith, particularly the witness of teachers. This is enhanced by an atmosphere of Christian attitude, which corresponds with the American values of equity, honesty, social responsibility, patriotism and service. The intellectual development of the child takes place in four successive stages: experience, understanding, judgment and decision-making. As intellectual capacity gradually expands and imagination unfolds, the child is able to develop his/her own unique God-given gifts. This development is influenced by each child’s background experiences, individual learning style, native ability, and school environment. Personal development is a natural process of self-discovery. The child must acquire skills to cope with life situations and resolve conflicts peacefully. St. Francis de Sales School strives to create an environment in which the students may grow in self-esteem and then move from self to other awareness. The human body is a divine creation and the child is encouraged to have a respectful attitude toward its care, use, and development. Self-control and a healthy enjoyment of life enhance the development process.

Students are expected to support one another in social and academic experiences and to resolve conflicts nonviolently. The teachers at St. Francis de Sales School strive to teach as Jesus did, with love, patience, and understanding, in order to establish a relationship with the students that is based on mutual respect and trust. A faith community is fostered among the faculty with sensitivity to personal and professional needs. Teachers contribute to the combined strengths found in the school program with a spirit of trust and pride. The teachers recognize the role of the parents and/or guardians as the primary educators and share with them the responsibility for growth and development of the child.

Under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, St. Francis de Sales School follows the educational Policies and Procedures of the Diocese. The curriculum is established by the Office of Catholic Education, however we realize it is necessary at times to customize the Archdiocesan Curriculum to meet the needs of an ever-changing student body. The faculty members commit themselves to the ministry of multicultural, inner city, Catholic education. The teachers have professional training in order to be highly qualified as faith facilitators, instructional leaders, and team members. Formal and informal evaluative diagnostic tools are used to better discern students’ achievements, interests, talents, difficulties, values, and attitudes towards self and others. Both formal evaluation and a teacher’s self-evaluation of personal goals are important for professional growth.

Here at St. Francis de Sales School, the gospel is spread, children are motivated to learn, the quest for academic excellence is fostered, high standards of conduct are expected and practiced, and parents and/or guardians are respected as partners in education. Here, the mission in constant, to proclaim the Good News, but the vision is constantly changing, to meet the needs of a new millennium.