MOTO
Passing on the torch of Catholic learning, leading and serving.
MISSION STATEMENT
Our purpose is to promote academic excellence and foster a desire for life-long learning. Embracing a system of Christian morals and values with a desire to respect and respond to the needs of others, students grow and develop into effective and productive citizens of a global community. We endeavor to instill in them a critical awareness of their unique God-given abilities and their potential as Christ-centered individuals.
PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT
St. Justin Martyr, a transitional kindergarten through eighth grade school, is an important part of the parish ministry. As a Catholic school in the Diocese of Orange our Catholic identity embraces the Church’s mission to grow in faith, celebrate through worship, and serve our community. We direct our efforts to provide learning experiences that will enable our students to become active faith-filled learners who will grow in their faith and love of God, take responsibility as individuals, seek to be life-long learners, and develop as effective communicators. Formed in the Catholic tradition and gospel values with a desire to respect and respond to the needs of others, students grow and develop into effective and productive citizens of a diverse community. Each student is challenged to expand his or her intellectual abilities through a variety of successful learning experiences. In partnership with our shareholders, we seek to provide opportunities for spiritual, academic, moral, physical, and cultural growth. St. Justin Martyr School recognizes that parents are responsible to be the primary educators of their children. We endeavor to instill in the students an awareness of their unique God-given abilities and their potential as Christ-centered individuals.
SCHOOL HISTORY
St. Justin Martyr School first opened its doors in September 1959 with 300 students in Grades 1, 2, and 3 and five lay teachers. The next year, at the invitation of Fr. Hugh O’Connor, the founding pastor of St. Justin Martyr Church, the Felician sisters arrived. One grade was added each year until 1964 at which time the school included grades 1 through 8. The first graduation class, in 1965, consisted of two classes containing a total of 85 students.
A kindergarten class was added in 1983 and a transitional kindergarten in 2014.
The Felician sisters maintained supervision of the school and provided their administrative and teaching services until June 1993, leaving the hands of the school in lay staff and administration.
The Diocese of Orange was formed in 1976 at which time St. Justin Martyr School became a part of this new Diocese and was no longer part of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
A P.T.O. Board was established in 1981 and a School Board in 1988. The P.T.O. is primarily the fundraising arm of the school and the School Board (whose name was changed to Consultative Board) is an advisory board to the administration. Both boards continue to this day.
St. Justin Martyr Parish School has a long and strong history in the Anaheim community and serves a multicultural student body. Many physical changes have taken place over the years, but the school’s mission remains the same.
In addition to St. Justin Martyr Parish, St. Justin Martyr School serves families in the parishes of St. Anthony Claret, St. Boniface, St. Mary’s , St. Philip Benizi , and St. Polycarp.
