Characteristics of a Marianist Education

Chaminade College Preparatory prides itself in its mission and identity as a Catholic School in the Marianist Tradition which prepares students to love, learn and lead through a seven-year educational experience.

The Characteristics of Marianist Education (CMEs) are a contemporary expression of the Marianist charism: To be formed by Mary for the mission of Christ. To further the charism, our Marianist educators embrace their work as ministry and animate the CMEs in the school community. Marianist educators serve the Church by evangelizing, working to transform the world and its people, inviting them to a deeper following of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Alert to the signs of the times and faithful to Marianist traditions, Marianist educators consider themselves in a permanent state of mission, forming students and communities in a lived faith that is expressed in service and responsive to the needs of the times. With this state of mission, Marianist educators aim to sow, cultivate, and bring to fruition the Christian spirit in the school community. For this reason, Chaminade College Preparatory strives to:

List of 5 items.

Educate for Formation in Faith

Chaminade students are educated in the Roman Catholic faith and its intellectual tradition which is grounded in both faith and reason. In the practice of Christian virtue, students are guided to find meaning for life that will direct them in their daily activities, stimulate their practice of personal values, and develop their faith. They are committed to understanding and respecting religious differences and what is distinctive about their own religious faith tradition. Students discover Jesus Christ’s love for them and look to Mary as a model of faithful discipleship.
Provide an Integral, Quality Education

Chaminade students mature as integrated, whole persons, who grow not only in their intellectual development but also in their moral, social, psychological, physical and creative development. Following the example of Mary, students are viewed as a child of God who are uniquely gifted and are encouraged to cultivate their personal talents, nourishing the desire and acquiring the skills that will equip them to embark on their journeys of life-long learning. To strengthen their interior spirit, students learn to nurture habits of silence and reflection following Fr. Chaminade’s belief, “The essential is the interior.” They are able to relate their real-world understanding to practical situations by helping them foster discerning self-knowledge, disciplined use of social media, critical thinking, and prudent judgment that are fundamental for developing a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and building up communities for the common good of all.
Educate in Family Spirit

Chaminade students draw from Mary her inspiration for family spirit. Marianist family spirit is a way of life that animates a climate of hospitality, acceptance, and love while nurturing growth, development, and personal responsibility. Students learn to create a gracious environment to teach, think, and organize, as well as to praise, thank, and celebrate each other. They understand that our spirit of love and nurturing encourages a “prudent tendency to leniency.” With compassion and understanding, students are called to personal and communal reflection and responsibility.
Educate for Service, Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation

Chaminade students exemplify Catholic Marianist values of compassion, justice, optimism, peace and a respect for the dignity of human life and the integrity of creation. Students learn to recognize and name both justice and oppression by prayerfully seeking the will of God through a thoughtful analysis of social conditions and the degradation of our environment. In the prophetic spirit of Mary, students learn to understand the causes of poverty, instances of sexism, racism, and classism and undertake thoughtful forms of action that truly respond to these social and moral problems and seek to promote systemic change.
Educate for Adaptation and Change

Chaminade students develop their critical thinking skills in the search for truth and in recognition of the importance of lifelong learning. They develop the ability to critically evaluate change and refine leadership skills that are required for dialogue, consensus, and teamwork in an effort to create positive changes in society through mutual reflection and discernment. Students are invited to emulate Mary and cooperate with the movement of the Holy Spirit to see the openness of their future and follow her counsel to “Do whatever he tells you.”