Mission Statement of the Educational Apostolate, Archdiocese of Dubuque
The mission of the Educational Apostolate of the Archdiocese of Dubuque is to guide individuals to:
• respond to God’s call to personal conversion
• form Christian Community
• grow in knowledge and culture, becoming enlightened and enlivened by faith
• shape society in the spirit of Gospel, freedom, justice, and love
 
Holy Family Catholic Schools Mission Statement
A family of schools, serving your family.

Holy Family Catholic Schools, a vibrant learning community, provides families in the tri-state area with Catholic education, preschool through 12th grade and infant/child care.

We commit to teaching a rigorous academic curriculum while nurturing the gifts of each child and fostering a community of faith.

Partnering with parents and parishes, we promote personal excellence through faith formation, life long learning, stewardship and civic responsibility.

We embrace peace, justice and service in the name of Jesus Christ.
 
Holy Family Catholic Schools Philosophy of Curriculum
Holy Family Catholic Schools partner with families, integrating an academic curriculum with religious truth and values. Students engage in learning and living the Catholic faith through experiences of message, worship, community and service. Faculty, staff, parents and students bring faith to life and life to faith through information and formation opportunities. Encountering Christ’s presence in scripture, sacrament and community, we transform and are transformed.
**References: To Teach as Jesus Did; Sharing the Light of Faith; Fashion Me a People: Curriculum of the Church, Maria Harris; What Makes us Catholic, Thomas Groome
 
Holy Family Catholic Schools Student Attributes
Who is the student of Holy Family Catholic Schools?
• Person of Faith
• Moral Decision Maker
• Critical Thinker
• Productive Worker
• Effective Communicator
• Creative Person
 
Person of Faith
A graduate of the Holy Family Catholic Schools system will be a Person of Faith who seeks knowledge and insight through participation in a:
• Community of hospitality.
• Community of sharing God’s word.
• Community of worship.
• Community of stewards.
• Community of witness to Christ’s presence in the world.
 
Moral Decision Maker
A graduate of the Holy Family Catholic Schools system will be a Moral Decision Maker who will:
• Gather and assess situations requiring moral judgment and systematically determine the right course of action.
• Interpret information in light of Catholic traditions and teachings and apply them in various situations.
• Apply the principles of justice to a love of God, neighbor and self. These principles of justice include:
• Communicative justice which demands honesty and fairness in all exchanges between persons and private groups.
• Distributive justice requires society to ensure its social goods are fairly distributed.
• Social justice which is the responsibility of society to create structures that protect the dignity of all and allow each member to participate in public life.
• Experience the world from the point of view of others, especially those who are different from themselves.
• Display empathy for the needs of others and those around the world.
• Empower he/she and others to action that reflects God’s covenant love for all people.
 
Critical Thinker
A graduate of the Holy Family Catholic Schools will be a Critical Thinker who will:
 
• Raise and explain vital questions and problems, formulating them clearly and precisely.
• Gather and assess relevant information, using abstractions to interpret it effectively.
• Come to well-reasoned conclusions and solutions, applying them against relevant criteria and standards.
• Think open-mindedly within alternative systems of thought, recognizing and assessing, various perspectives, their assumptions, implications and practical consequences.
• Communicate empathetically with others in figuring out solutions to complex problems.
• Engage in self directed, self disciplined, self monitored and self corrective thinking.
 
Productive Worker
A graduate of the Holy Family Catholic Schools system will be a Productive Worker who will:
• Grasp the essential elements of content knowledge necessary for their career or work environment and will work toward the success of the community. He/She anticipates the needs of the working environment.
• Interpret information in a variety of contexts and situations. He/she adjusts his/her personal behaviors accordingly.
• Apply talents and abilities in a variety of work environments.
• Examine, critique and accept differing perspectives in the work community.
• Listen empathetically as a cooperative team member, work to avoid misunderstandings and project him/herself into differing points of view.
• Recognize his/her work ethic as well as personal qualities and attributes, which contribute or hinder the growth of the community. He/she is able to self assess as well as accept feedback and criticism.
 
Effective Communicator
A graduate of the Holy Family Catholic Schools system will be an Effective Communicator who will:
• Explain thoughts and feelings through a variety of modes and multiple contexts.
• Interpret information in meaningful ways using context to come to significant and insightful conclusions.
• Apply information to a variety of modes and multiple contexts. He/she extends information in novel and innovative ways.
• Apply a critical perspective to information presented in a variety of formats and create an analysis assessing the intent of the information.
• Listen empathetically in order to appreciate another’s position, find insight in another’s thinking or ask questions to extend understanding.
• Self evaluate and adjust communication behaviors after an examination of verbal, nonverbal and written contexts in which the student is working.
 
Creative Person
• A graduate of the Holy Family Catholic Schools system will be a Creative Person who will:
• Explore and provide explanations of the cultural expression of a society.
• Interpret global cultural expression in light of the historical and biographical background of a society/people.
• Apply creative expression and skill in the visual and performing arts.
• Integrate a variety of artistic perspectives into his/her life.
• React empathetically to the artistic creation of others; acknowledging differences and moving toward and understanding of another’s creativity.
 
**Note: Words highlighted in bold reflect student descriptors identified by administrators, Holy Family SIAC, Holy Family subcommittees and teachers. Words in italics reflect reference to the six facets of understanding from Understanding by Design.