PhilosophyofEducation
St.PiusXSchoollivesthe“JoyoftheGospel”(PopeFrancis,2014).Embracingtheschoolmotto“teach megoodness,disciplineandknowledge”passeddowntoourcommunitythroughtheBasilianorder,we “serveGodincommunionwiththeRomanCatholicChurchbyfosteringmoral,socialandintellectual growthwithinacollegepreparatorysettingtoteachyoungpeopletobeethicalleadersinserviceto others”(SPXMissionStatement).
Academically,weofferahealthy,intellectuallystimulatingenvironment,allowingourstudentstolearn whattheirinterestsandtalentsare,andtodiscoverthevocationsinwhichtheymayexcel.Weemphasize theimportanceofcriticalthinkingbyaskingquestionsandcreativelyseekingpossibleanswerssoour studentswillflourishinanysituation.Weexpectourstudentstoworkcollaborativelyandcommunicate effectively. OurcurriculumexceedstheStateofNewMexicoEducationalStandards.
Morally,wedevelopourstudents’self-awarenessbyemphasizingthatoncetalentsarediscovered,asense ofobligationensueswithparticularemphasisplacedonindividualhumility.Wemodelethicalbehavior, emphasizetheimportanceofdoingwhatisright,andfosterunderstandingthateachofusispartofa greatercommunitythatweareobligatedtobuild.
Spiritually,weteachgospelvalues,emphasizingtheimportanceofcompassion,respect,andlove.Students seeourcaringattitudeinandoutsideoftheclassroomaswerespondtotheirneedsandconcerns.Our actionsalsoillustrateourbeliefthateachstudentisworthourtimeandeffort.
Weparticipateinourschool-wideweeklyMass,prayatthebeginningofeachday,andfocusspecifically ontheCatholicworldviewinallacademicdisciplines.Studentsareaskedtoethicallyconsidersituations, fosteranappreciationforprayerandreverence,anddevelopvaluesinordertomakegooddecisionswhile discerningGod’swillalongtheway.
StudentsarecalledtoseethatworksofserviceandjusticeareultimatelydoneinimitationofChrist.The schoolrequiresitsstudents’involvementinasystemiccommunityserviceprogram,withreflectiononthe largerissuesandprinciplesbehindtheirindividualactsofservice.Reflectionismanifestedthrough researchprojects,journals,orgroupdiscussions.Theserviceprogramincludes,butisnotlimitedto, requiredvolunteerhours,servicelearningcurriculum,andschool-wideinitiativessuchasfoodandgift drives,andfundraisers.
CalledtoliveourCatholicvalues,theSt.PiusXstudentexcelsacademically,morallyandspirituallyfor thebenefitoftheircommunity.