Mission and Philosophy

Mission Statement

Founded in 1926 and deeply rooted in Carmelite spirituality and Roman Catholic Tradition, Saint Therese Carmelite School, united with parents who are the primary educators of their children, seeks to form students in faith, academics, and virtue through a Classical education.

Philosophy 

Saint Therese Carmelite School is first and foremost a Catholic school.  We cultivate Catholic values and spiritual formation of the school community through daily prayer, weekly school Masses, recitation of the Rosary, praying the Stations of the Cross, May Crowning, and the sacraments.  Carmelite spirituality is fostered through the teaching and example of the Carmelite friars and sisters.  Every classroom has a Carmelite patron saint.  We entrust our school to our Loving Savior, His Blessed Mother, our patroness Saint Therese of Lisieux and all Carmelite saints.  By teaching our students to imitate the virtues and lives of the saints, we aim to form students who fulfill their destiny of becoming saints. 

Saint Therese Carmelite School educates students through the Catholic classical model of education to equip our students with the logic, critical thinking and language skills necessary to succeed throughout their lives.  We seek to give students the necessary tools of learning and to foster a deep sense of wonder and love for all that is genuinely true, good, and beautiful.  We emphasize classical learning, not only, because we want our students to read well, speak well, and think well, but ultimately because truth, beauty and goodness are desirable in themselves and for their own sake. 

We seek to incorporate within our students the wisdom of two thousand years of Catholic thought, history, culture, and the arts so that they might understand themselves and their world in the light of that Truth, and acquire the character to live happy and integrated lives in the service of God and others. 

Education in this deep and comprehensive sense extends beyond the classroom and is more than just the acquisition of skills.  It encompasses the whole of one‘s life.  Because parents are the primary educators of their children, Saint Therese Carmelite School seeks to involve families ever more deeply in the life of the school and in the education of their children.

The success of students at Saint Therese Carmelite School depends on the active cooperation of the Discalced Carmelite Friars, lay teachers, staff, students, parents and benefactors in working toward the common good of this unique community.  All adults work for the glory of God and the benefit of the students entrusted to their care.

Schoolwide Learning Expectations 

Saint Therese Carmelite School students will become:

Faithful Catholics who 

1. Know and practice the basic truths of the Catholic faith;
2. Foster a personal relationship with God and have frequent recourse to the intercessions of the saints;
3. Are familiar with the lives of the saints, especially Saint Therese and the Carmelite saints.

Academic achievers who 

4. Read, write and speak effectively;
5. Think critically and solve problems logically;
6. Appreciate the Fine Arts; and
7. Have a strong sense of wonder and depth of inquiry.

Virtue-driven citizens who 

8. Seek the good, the true, and the beautiful;
9. Imitate the virtues of the saints, especially charity and respect towards all; and
10. Use their God-given talents for the greater glory of God.