Our mission is to imitate Christ.
These four pillars are the foundation of our mission:
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Faith
At Nativity, we put faith first and devotional time at the center of every day. We prepare students for a faith-filled life by revealing the enduring peace that comes from habitual prayer and time devoted to God. We also read the greatest works of Christian theology, as well as its harshest skeptics.
Once they are equipped with this practice and knowledge, we lovingly encourage our students as they embark on their journey of faith.
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Family
Nativity is named after the formative moment of the Holy Family. Our school should feel like a family, recognizing that all families have quirks and struggles. We foster this environment through our House System, which gives each student a ‘school family’ on the day they arrive.
When a student joins Nativity, we welcome the whole family to our community. We keep in mind the significant sacrifice a family makes so that their child can attend Nativity.
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Academics
In his youth, Christ was a student of carpentry, Hebrew, and scripture. In his public life, he was called “Teacher”. Our academic program prepares students to grow into wise teachers themselves.
We are committed to active and frequent measurement of academic achievement. We regularly test our students’ progress against national standards. Our goal is for each student to reach his or her full academic potential.
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Service
Camels, like Christ, live in humble service. All the faith, all the family, and all the academic knowledge we gain for ourselves are not pursued for their own sake. These things prepare and require us to lead lives of humble, sacrificial service, bearing the burdens of others.
Our mascot is a reminder of the end point St. James asked us to consider so directly: “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works?”
Our Operating Principles
Our operating principles are the guiding ideals we reference when making important decisions at Nativity
1. Faith First
We put prayer, contemplation, and Mass at the center of every day at Nativity. Faith allows us to make sense of the universe, conscious existence, free will, and our own suffering. This practice calms our minds and souls each day.
2. Simple is Better
Our world changes rapidly. Our slowly changing biological minds sometimes struggle to keep pace. We prioritize simplicity — in our daily schedule, our communications, and our physical space. We remember that the person who most changed the course of human history lived simply.
3. Fewer Things, Deeper
The growing list of choices and options at many schools can be overwhelming. We provide a curriculum that allows time for mastery of essential subjects. Examples include: our daily math hour, two-hour blocks for science and fine arts courses, our four-year language program, and our integrated study of literature, history, theology, and philosophy.
4. Be Light
We strive to "be light" in all that we do. Light creates a culture of honesty, joy and optimism. We are all flawed but deeply loved by God, and we seek to share that love with every person we encounter. Jesus went to great lengths to teach us that light, love, and humility are antidotes for fear, judgmentalism, and self-righteous pride.
“Light” is also the opposite of “heavy.” We endeavor to be light-hearted and welcoming, and to laugh easily and often.
5. Serve
Learning and talking are important; serving and doing are essential. We want to live in humble service giving our time generously to our families, friends, and strangers — especially those that feel lost, lonely, or afraid. We dedicate two hours every other week to directly serving the people in our community.