Being Xaverian - Our Lady of Good Counsel High School

Beliefs
Rooted in the rich traditions of Roman Catholic education, the mission of the
Xaverian schools is to foster the moral and spiritual development of young people.
The goal of each school is to prepare students not only for success in college and
in life, but also for meaningful lives in the service of God. Along with the faculty
and staff, students are provided time and space for reflection, prayer and the
sharing of faith, and are supported as they integrate their personal faith with the
teachings of Jesus Christ.
Beyond our Catholic faith, we also share a uniquely Xaverian perspective and
approach to education. Theodore James Ryken, founder of the Congregation of the
Brothers of St. Francis Xavier, described his personal commitment to his ministry as
“falling in love with the service of God.”
That same atmosphere of joyful and vibrant spirituality is alive at Good Counsel and
in the hallways of each Xaverian school today, fueled by the enthusiasm with which
each school embraces the core spiritual values of the Brothers—simplicity, humility,
compassion, zeal, and trust. With a deep commitment to our faith, we accept our
personal limitations and understand that all we have comes from God.
Education
The heart of a Xaverian education is our commitment to the full development of
each person. Realizing that each student enters with a unique set of talents and
interests, our academic offerings and the teaching/learning process are structured
to provide a solid foundation of knowledge and skills to allow students to explore
areas of study that engage and excite their individual interests. The Xaverian focus
on building enduring relationships allows us to cultivate outstanding achievement in
students with a broad range of abilities. Teachers take the time to know each of their
students, while guiding them to make the most of their talents and encouraging
them to persevere and learn from challenges.
We sustain the Xaverian educational tradition while preparing our students for
careers and lives in the twenty-first century. School leaders join together for
collaborative planning; teachers and administrators meet for continuing education
and the sharing of ideas; students connect with a diverse network of peers to
support one another in their academic and Christian development. The diversity
and geographic breadth of the Xaverian network offers our school an extraordinary
range of professional resources and access to the best practices and emerging
thought in education nationally, in the context of one of the most distinguished,
continuous traditions of Catholic education in America.
Like the philosophy of Ryken, we are advocates for the education of everyone.
True to this mission, Good Counsel is nationally recognized for its offerings of a
strong college preparatory curriculum, the rigors of the Advanced Placement and
International Baccalaureate programs for high achieving students, and the Ryken
Program for students with mild, learning differences.
Good Counsel families understand that the values formed by a Xaverian education—
responsibility for the welfare of others, stewardship for the natural world, a rejection
of success that is quick and easy—are essential to our survival as a society. Xaverian
schools educate the whole student—academically, morally, ethically, spiritually and
physically. Our students will graduate into a world that is increasingly global, diverse
and continually changing. It is a world in which the Xaverian approach to education
is more relevant than ever. Our Lady of Good Counsel High School provides the
groundwork to prepare our students to lead the way. ✦
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