Director of Salesian Studies Anne Williams shares a message about the Feast of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque.
About Vis
Visitation School provides an excellent education within a Catholic environment permeated by Salesian spirituality and the living tradition of the Visitation Sisters.
Guiding Principles
Under God's guiding hand, Visitation Sisters, trustees, administrators, faculty, staff, parents and students are committed to the following:
- Gentle, nurturing formation of faith and morality of students in the Salesian community toward reverent worship; responsible, global engagement; the cultivation of loving relationships; and respect for God's creation and for the diversity and dignity of all people.
- Guidance of the holistic growth of each student from infancy toward adulthood through innovative teaching and learning that honors the educational philosophy of the Sisters and includes intentional fostering of leadership within a coed lower school and all-girls middle and upper schools; a challenging college preparatory program; vibrant and varied co-curricular opportunities; broad exposure to the arts; engaged citizenship; and inspiration to pursue lifelong learning.
- Robust governance — derived from a long, stable, independent history — characterized by expert and wide consultation, judicious discernment, Church and community collaboration, and sound fiscal policies.
"Non Scholae, Sed Vitae; Not for School, but for Life."
“Non Scholae, Sed Vitae: Not for School, but for Life."
Portrait of Visitation Learners
The Portrait of the Visitation Learner describes the skills, qualities, attributes and virtues cultivated in each Visitation student. Underpinning this Portrait is the school's mission to provide an excellent education in a Catholic community permeated by Salesian Spirituality. As educators, in partnership with parents, we work diligently to ensure that each student has the opportunity to develop each aspect of the Portrait to his or her fullest potential. Through their experiences students will be described as
SUSTAINED BY FAITH
- understand and articulate the beliefs of the Catholic faith.
- actively participate in the life of a faith community through worship, regular personal prayer and reflection, and meaningful service directed at creating a more just world.
- mature in an ability to make connections between knowledge of the faith and examples of faith-filled lives, particularly those of the Sisters of the Visitation of Holy Mary.
- recognize God's ever-present grace and presence in the world, appreciating beauty in all its forms.
- infuse the principles of Catholic Social Teaching in their lives, fostering human rights and dignity for all people and creation.
ROOTED IN SALESIAN COMMUNITY
- experience the meaning of Salesian friendship and Salesian community by relating to others authentically, appropriately, confidently and honestly.
- develop strong, heart-to-heart relationships with others in the community, modeling the holy friendship between our founders, St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane de Chantal.
- strive, with guidance from the Visitation Diversity Statement, to reach their potential by developing and sharing their unique God-given gifts with the community and gratefully celebrating the God-given gifts of others.
- embody the Visitation Sisters’ motto “Live Jesus” and practical living of the Gospel.
- make life-giving choices through attentive decision-making and practiced skills of discernment.
- build authentic relationships with a human touch, even in a highly technical world.
- value their connection to and interdependence on the natural world, and possess habits that model those values.
INSPIRED TO LEARN
- seek their highest levels of disciplined achievement and learning, while maintaining high levels of personal health and well-being.
- are well-rounded and lifelong learners, fueled by an inquisitive and curious spirit non scholae, sed vitae.
- contribute to the learning community with continuous efforts toward clear and courageous communication.
- apply creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving to diverse and challenging issues and questions.
- are equipped to locate, organize, analyze and evaluate information of varied natures and through varied methods.
- communicate effectively and appropriately through diverse methods and with diverse company.
CULTURALLY AWARE
- continually seek understanding of their own culture and history to better understand their place in both local and global communities.
- genuinely value the myriad factors influencing the cultures of fellow humans, based on a strong sense of their own culture.
- respect and foster human rights and dignity.
- enthusiastically communicate and empathize across cultures through language, the arts, music and experience.
POISED TO LEAD
- practice careful listening, patience with the pace of others, and sincere humility in all efforts and in all team settings.
- possess an internal moral compass, allowing for courageous decision-making and discernment.
- possess a strong respect and sense of self by truly being who they are and being that perfectly well, understanding that perfection is never fully reached but rather sought through consistent awareness and growth.
- model confidence, ethical character, self-respect, teamwork, curiosity, determination, resilience, life-balance and persistence in all endeavors -- especially those that prove most challenging.
- promote the common good through individual and collective actions.