Our Mission
Our mission is to provide an excellent Catholic education in a small, caring, and diverse community.
Pope John XXIII School follows the vision of the Chicago Archdiocesan Catholic Schools:
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 responisble 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.
All Catholic school communities evangelize and educate students and families with the support, guidance, and spiritual leadership of bishops and pastors. In the spirit of inclusiveness, Catholic schools involve parents and other persons as partners to advance the mission of Catholic schools. These partners collaborate and make decisions that actively strengthen the long-term viability of Catholic schools in Lake and Cook Counties.
Our Philosophy
Our goal is to provide a solid educational foundation, develop the children's talents, and prepare them for life with a sense of confidence, spiritual and moral values and a respect for the dignity of others.
Our Catholic identity is manifested by daily prayer, monthly liturgies, daily religion, instruction, and an emphasis on showing compassion, care, and respect for others throughout the whole day.
Pope John XXIII of St. Mary’s and St. Nicholas Parishes is a Catholic elementary school serving pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. We are committed to the development of each student as a whole person, focusing on each child’s unique abilities, needs, talents and potential. We encourage the development of each child through a diverse curriculum that includes religious education.
With Christ as our model, we hope not only to provide quality education, but also to instill in the child a Catholic philosophy and moral value system. We are guided by the traditions and teachings of the Catholic Church. The life of our patron, Blessed Pope John XXIII, exemplifies the care, concern, openheartedness, understanding, and dedication that we strive to foster in our students.
As a school, we are one link in the chain of Catholic education. We recognize that parents are the child’s primary teachers. We are pledged to aid our parents in the task of promoting their children’s total development: spiritual, emotional, academic, social, and physical.
Our school community is blessed with a wide diversity of cultural, ethnic, racial, religious, and economic backgrounds. Through the integration of academic excellence, the use of technology, and spiritual values, we prepare our students to take their place in society and the Church community as moral, responsible, and contributing citizens.
Committment to Learning
- Pope John XXIII School continues a tradition of Catholic excellence in south Evanston dating from 1874
- The faculty meet all professional requirements and go beyond the norms of teaching standards in terms of the care, attention, and dedication they provide
- The curriculum meets all state and Archdiocesan standards
- The basic curriculum is continually reviewed and updated and utilizes techniques drawn from current educational theory
- Special classes for K-8 include gym, computer, library, music and art
- Regular and accelerated classes for sixth, seventh and eighth grade
