Genesis is the ongoing plan for ensuring that students of archdiocesan Catholic Schools receive the education they need to make a significant place for themselves in the world and make the world a better place.

• Vision
• Mission
• Faith Foundation
• Goals
• GENESIS: A New Beginning for Catholic Schools (402KB PDF)

Vision of Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Chicago

The Catholic school educated graduate, a disciple of Christ, is a leader and community builder in church and society. As a life-long learner, the graduate acts with faith, integrity, and competency in the pursuit of truth to contribute to a better world. The graduate lives and works as a responsible global citizen, seeking justice to create unity of all persons with God, each other, and all of creation.

Catholic school principals and teachers as leaders, give witness to Gospel living, spiritual and intellectual development, justice for all persons, and a quest for educational excellence. These educators provide a curriculum that supports, challenges, and prepares students for their future. Catholic school educators continuously deepen their faith-life and strengthen their leadership to build a faith-learning community with a visible Catholic identity.

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Mission of Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Chicago

Catholic schools exist primarily to evangelize and to educate students for the Church’s mission in the world. All are welcome who seek to live by values in harmony with the Gospel and its preferential option for the economically poor and neglected. Catholic schools provide students an opportunity for educational Excellence in the Catholic intellectual tradition. Catholic faith-learning communities commit to help each student develop his or her potential for living consciously, acting responsibly, forming healthy relationships and serving as leaders for the common good. Catholic school communities act as faithful stewards to make schools Vital, affordable, and accessible across the Archdiocese.

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FAITH FOUNDATIONS

The policies and practices of the school community embrace the following principles. These principles are the foundation for helping youth and adults to make meaning of their lives and model Catholic Christian living to the broader community:

• The school community recognized that parents/guardians are the primary educators of their children in the Catholic faith
• The school community witnesses, proclaims and teaches the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ.
• The school community develops a strong Catholic identity as an integral part of the evangelizing mission of the local church.
• The school community works together to promote human dignity, combat racism, challenge injustice and transform the world.
• The school community prepares students for discipleship through active practice of their faith and responsible citizenship in light of Catholic social teachings.
• The school community fosters personal and communal prayer, and invites its members to worship and celebrate the feasts of the liturgical calendar.
• The school community reflects a culture of continuous, effective and meaningful learning appropriate to the needs of all its members.
• The school community thrives through the stewardship of the local and broader community.

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GENESIS GOALS

Genesis is the impetus for focusing the commitment of the Archdiocese of Chicago on the three areas of our education mission: Catholic Identity, Academic Excellence and School Vitality.

The key goals of Catholic Identity are:

• ensuring that students make a life-long commitment to living the Gospel of Jesus Christ;
• implementing the Archdiocesan Religion Curriculum as a unified systematic approach to conveying the truths of the Gospel and the Catholic faith;
• determining the effectiveness of the Religion Curriculum in achieving its intent;
• expanding competencies of principals, school boards, faculties and staff through ongoing development of professional knowledge and skills, spiritual formation and faith practice, leadership;
• providing archdiocesan catechetical certification of teachers and principals; and
• promoting stewardship as a spiritual way of life.

Academic Excellence goals are:

• implementing a systematic, research-based curriculum that enables students to master and integrate intellectual and practical skills;
• utilizing interactive teaching and learning strategies to optimize all student-learning experiences;
• expanding competencies of principals, school boards, faculties and staff through ongoing development of professional knowledge and skills, spiritual formation and faith practice, leadership;
• utilizing a variety of assessments as a means to developing more effective instructional programs to enhance student achievement;
• strengthening school evaluation on through a revision of the School Improvement Process (SIP) to insure schools are Catholic, Excellent and Vital; and
• implementing the practice of inclusion of students of varying abilities, differing learning needs and styles within the regular education classroom.

School Vitality goals are:

• assisting local school leadership in the fiscal management of the schools;
• instituting new revenue streams;
• establishing boards of specified jurisdiction to increase the participation of laity in the decision-making and ownership for Catholic schools;
• establishing new models of Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Chicago to meet local needs;
• providing continuous support for strategic marketing and communication to support Catholic schools; and
• expanding the competencies of principals, school boards, faculties and staff through ongoing development of professional knowledge and skills, spiritual formation and faith practice, and leadership.

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