Welcome to St. Serra!
Siempre Adelante…Always Forward!
These words inspired our founding families to establish a Catholic elementary school in South Orange County. Their commitment and determination resulted in the doors opening to 250 students in September of 1995. Today, they are the very same words that continue to strengthen and motivate us. St. Junipero Serra Catholic School now serves over 1,000 students and remains a leading, Catholic faith-based school in the Diocese of Orange.
Core Values
At St. Serra, we recognize and operate from eight fundamental principles from scripture that we refer to as our Core Values. Our Core Values are visible on the blue banners alongside the Chapel Gate. These Core Values not only remind us of what is important in life, but they also help guide our behaviors, decisions, and actions. Our eight Core Values are as follows:
HUMILITY: “Before diaster the heart is haughty, but before honor is humility.” - Proverbs 18:12
FAITH: “Be on your guard, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong.” - 1 Corinthians 16:13
KINDNESS: “[And] be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.” - Ephesians 4:32
RESPECT: “Give honor to all, love the community, fear God, honor the King.” - 1 Peter 2:17
HOPE: “For I know well the plans I have in mind for you - oracle of the Lord - plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope.” - Jeremiah 26:11
SERVICE: "For you were called for freedom, brothers. But do not use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh; rather, serve one another through love.” - Galatians 5:13
LOVE: “We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us. God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him.” - 1 John 4:16
GRATITUDE: “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Charism
Inspiring a deep faith, innovative mind, and caring heart through Christ...Siempre Adelante.
Vision Statement
St. Junipero Serra Catholic School is valued as an exemplary Diocesan Catholic Parish Elementary School located in South Orange County, California. Motivated by the teachings of St. Junipero Serra, and the preserving spirit of our founding families, we prepare our students to live their Catholic faith as servant leaders of Christ. Guided by the Holy Spirit, St. Junipero Serra students are encourage to develop their Go-given gifts and talents to meet the challenges of this ever changing world.
Mission Statement
Rooted in the Catholic faith, evangelical vision and spirit, the community of St. Junipero Serra Catholic School welcomes families from the parishes of Holy Trinity, San Francisco Solano, Santiago de Compostela, and St. Kilian, and surrounding communities. Inspired by the gospel values and in a Christ-centered environment, we provide a nourishing community for students to develop their seeds of faith and gifts to live as true disciples and servants of Christ. Our academic programs promote student success through a challenging and diverse curriculum meeting the varied learning needs and unique potential of the whole child.
Philosophy
Steeped in the Gospel values and the Catholic tradition, we are a faith community centered in prayer and, as followers of Jesus Christ, we strive to be models of respect, love, responsibility, and the integrity to our students and the community at large. St. Junipero Serra Catholic School is dedicated to teaching students to live in accordance with the spiritual, moral, and ethical principles exemplified in the life of Christ. We extended our Diocesan mission and work in partnership with parents to provide each student with an inclusive and rigorous Catholic education. We educate our students to meet the spiritual, academic, and moral challenges of the future by providing opportunities to develop the Catholic values and critical thinking skills that will be the basis for future advantages in ethical decision-making, academic growth, and personal development.
Curriculum Statement
Curriculum within schools is designed to be holistic in content and approach. Schools follow standards approved by the Department of Catholic Schools. These are driven by the diocesan mission of education. Individual schools provide their own detail in meeting these standards consistent to the needs of their students. For this reason curriculum resources are varied from one school to another. With the advent of one-to-one technology in all schools, a blended learning and differentiated instructional model is utilized which has proven to be highly successful as well as engaging to students. Assessment is frequent and ongoing in all schools utilizing a variety of classroom tools and national assessments. The results focus primarily upon the growth of student learning as well as mastery of grade level standards.