We form the whole student—mind, body and spirit—in a Catholic environment committed to a culture of belonging.
Courageously developing disciples for the 21st century
At SJCS, we embody a set of core values that define our community. We strive to be Marigolds, supporting and encouraging one another as we grow together in Jesus' garden. Just as the marigold protects and nurtures other plants, we give selflessly to those around us. We embrace the mindset of "Think: Square Peg-Round Hole," approaching challenges with curiosity, seeking understanding and solving problems innovatively. We value teamwork and accountability, symbolized by "Touch the Line," where we mark our foot on the line to be accountable for ourselves and uplift the entire team. "Knot the Thread" emphasizes the power of our words and actions, building dignity and grace in our communication and interactions. Lastly, we "Pursue Greatness" by striving for excellence in all aspects of life, guided by our Catholic faith, committing to personal growth, social responsibility and reflecting on failures to do better. Through these core values, we aim to create a supportive, resilient and Christ-centered community.
In the garden, the marigold serves an important role when planted close to other plants. This concept is known as companion planting which creates a balanced garden and better overall growth. The marigold is one of the best companion plants because it serves as a protector and encourager of the other plants in the garden. It is through this support from the marigold, that the vegetable plant is able to produce much fruit.
At SJCS, we are marigolds to one another as we grow together in Jesus’ garden in our own families, our SJCS family and beyond. As the marigold supports the vegetable plants in the garden, we give freely of ourselves asking nothing in return.
During the Apollo 13 mission, an explosion in one of the spacecraft's oxygen tanks led to a loss of power, heat, and water. The team on the ground, along with the astronauts in space, faced the challenge of fitting a square carbon dioxide filter into a round hole to prevent the buildup of carbon dioxide, which could have been fatal. With limited resources and time, the team had to develop an innovative solution, using only the materials available on board, to overcome this "square peg, round hole" problem and ensure the safe return of the astronauts.
At SJCS, we commit to thinking with the mentality of seeking to understand, using our curiosity to solve problems, and being lifelong learners to withstand the challenges that come our way to nurture the growth of our school.
The concept of team is critical. Success in teams requires that many individuals come together as one to reach a goal. There is much work to do ahead of the competition to prepare for that success; the team must practice well in order to play well. An awareness of expectations, boundaries, and attitudes is required for the team to function in unison. If the direction is to touch the line on a drill in practice, the expectation is to touch the line.
At SJCS, we unabashedly mark our foot on the line so as to be accountable not only for ourselves, but for the rest of the team as well. We work as a team because we are better together and lift each other up in the Kingdom of God.
The gold star and olive branches symbolize the pursuit of greatness in all aspects of life while guided by the values and principles of the Catholic faith. While we know we will not achieve perfection, by living in the fullness of the Faith, we can aspire to live like Jesus and thus win the ultimate race. To win the gold, we must make a commitment to personal growth and development, develop a sense of social responsibility, and do all things at a standard of excellence.
At SJCS, we seek greatness in all things because we know excellence is earned through effort. We reflect and are resilient in the face of failure, and when we know better, we commit to doing better.