Chapter 2 - School Purpose

Mission

 

As a college preparatory diocesan Catholic high school, Rosary Academy empowers the mind, body, and spirit of each young woman in a transformative educational experience. Guided by the Blessed Mother, Rosary Academy embraces and challenges its students with an innovative instructional curriculum to achieve academic success and ignite the call to serve the dear neighbor without distinction. 

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Philosophy

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The Rosary community includes faculty, staff, administration, students, alumnae, and families. We believe in the value of the family unit as the primary educational environment for our students; therefore, we work to assist the family in this endeavor. We strive to provide a faith community which accepts Jesus Christ as the Way to respond to one’s neighbor, the Truth to be communicated, and the Life to be shared. We uphold the dignity and uniqueness of each individual within the community experience. We endeavor to provide guidance for her journey of faith and opportunities for her growth and development as a daughter of God. 

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Rosary Academy offers a diversified college preparatory curriculum complemented by an extensive co-curricular program. We challenge each student to acquire and refine the skills necessary for a fulfilled, well-balanced life. The faculty and staff are strongly committed to developing in our students academic excellence and technological competence in all areas. We seek to cultivate leadership skills, initiative, personal accountability, and an increased sense of self-worth. 

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The goal of the Rosary community is to empower each student to become a woman of faith and a citizen who is knowledgeable, creative, ethical, and responsible. In the face of our multi-cultural constantly changing world, we call upon each young woman to become a contributing member of society and a lifelong learner who appreciates the value of both culture and creation. We are committed to helping each young woman recognize herself as a positive force within the greater human society.

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Vision

To become the leading Catholic all-girls high school in Southern California in graduating faith-centered, intelligent young women eager to transform their communities and change our world.

 

Charism & Core Values

The Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange, and those who work with them, are called to live the charism of the Sisters—a charism of unity, reconciliation and service to the “dear neighbor without distinction.”  Since 1965, Rosary Academy has journeyed with the Sisters in this mission. We invite all members of our school community to join with us as we strive for unity, reconciliation and service to the dear neighbor without distinction in the spirit of echoing Mary’s yes.  

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Charism
 

By embodying gospel values, Rosary students can be the hands and feet of Christ to our world.  They do this by living our charism – to serve the dear neighbor without distinction. Defining our core values based on our charism provides a deeper understanding and meaning to our charism.  Our chosen value words embody the Rosary spirit. 

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Core Values

 

Sisterhood

A lifelong bond is formed between young women allowing them to grow as sisters in Christ who respect and nurture each other’s differences, values, accomplishments, and personalities.

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"Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor:  If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. "

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 

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“Please say that you are my sister so that it may go well with me because of you, and that I may live on account of you.”

Genesis 12:13​

 

Service

A call to be the hands and feet of Christ, and to give of our self fully to others. 

"David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished."

1 Chronicles 28:20

 

"As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace"

1 Peter 4:10  ​

 

Faith

A community of believers, guided by the Blessed Mother and nourished by the Eucharist connecting us to God enabling us to live out the gospel. 

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"Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. "

Deuteronomy 7:9 

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 “The Lord is my strength and my shield: my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.”

Psalm 28:7

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Community

With the Holy Family and student families as a model, Royals learn to appreciate and nurture human interconnectedness on a local, regional, and global level.

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"How good and pleasant it is when God’s people dwell together as one!"

Psalm 133:1 

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"For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them."

Matthew 18:20

 

How and Why for Mission, Vision, and Charism

At the Leadership Team Retreat in June of 2021, school leadership embarked on a review of the school charism.  The review demonstrated that the school charism was widely understood but needed to incorporate our fundamental beliefs.  Throughout the school year, focus groups consisting of teachers, students, staff members, and parents were asked to define the school’s core principles.  By May of 2022, the final core values had been named and defined. The core values are an extension of the school charism. As the 2022-2023 school year opened, the core values were shared and discussed with all stakeholders.  Starting in January 2023, a monthly overview of each value is presented to the school community.  The goal was to ensure that as a community we continue to live our Catholic faith through these shared values. A school prayer was developed to further exemplify our school charism. 

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Rosary School Prayer:

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Gracious and loving Father, we thank you for the blessing of our Rosary community and the gift of sisterhood.

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Empower us to courageously live out the Gospel values, to be the hands and feet of Christ, in service to the dear neighbor, without distinction.

 

May our blessed Mother Mary continually inspire us to be young women of faith, echoing her yes to God’s will. 

 

Amen.

 

Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us.

 

 

Statement of Student Outcomes:

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Rosary Academy provides an environment in which students become integrated, holistic young women who think critically, communicate effectively, and embody their religious faith.

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A Rosary graduate is a person of faith who:

• Communicates essential elements of Catholic beliefs, liturgy, and traditions.

• Gives evidence of faith in her choices, ethics, service, and commitment to social justice.

• Demonstrates her commitment to ongoing spiritual development.

• Understands and respects religious, ethnic, and cultural diversity.

 

A critical thinker who:

• Gathers, organizes, analyzes, synthesizes, evaluates, and creates information and uses it to solve problems.

• Effectively works independently and collaboratively.

• Sets goals, establishes priorities and makes informed decisions.

 

An effective communicator who:

• Uses oral, written, and visual forms of communication.

• Utilizes practical and technological methods to access and apply information.

• Listens openly and respectfully to the ideas and opinions of others.

• Expresses her opinions insightfully, intelligently, and respectfully.

• Commits to understanding a world vision and making a beneficial difference among the global community.

 

A holistic woman who:

• Acknowledges and develops the spiritual, intellectual, creative, physical, social, and emotional dimensions of life.

 

In April 2023 Rosary, faculty and staff gathered to discuss the current mission, vision, and philosophy.  It was agreed that the mission, vision, and philosophy still embody all that Rosary stands for as a Catholic school serving young women. 

 

The Consultative School Board at their 2023 summer retreat confirmed that they, too, believed that our mission, vision, philosophy, and student outcomes clearly define our educational mission.