History

Cornelia Connelly School of the Hold Child is a Catholic, independent, college preparatory school for young women, grade 9-12. Established in 1961, the School takes its name from Mother Cornelia Connelly, in American convert of Catholicism, who founded the Society of the Holy Child Jesus in 1846. The School is a member of the Network of Holy Child Schools and is administered by the Sister of the Holy Child. The Society operates school--kindergarten through college level in the United States, Europe, and Africa.

During its 37-year history, the School has graduates over 2,250 young women. 100 percent of the graduates continue their education in school and colleges throughout the United States and abroad at such renowned universities as Berkeley, Stanford, Notre Dame, Princeton, Harvard, Georgetown, Oxford and the Sorbonne. Currently the enrollment is 225 young women from parishes and different communities in Orange, Los Angeles, and Riverside Counties.

The faculty and staff consist of 40 women and men. All teachers are degreed personally, and many have earned a Masters degree or higher. Because Connelly prides itself on being a caring community, a willingness to engage in both formal and informal interactions with student outside class hours is a prerequisite for membership on the faculty. For the same reason, every effort is made to provide a harmonious working relationship between parents and teachers as together they to the challenge of guiding the young women entrusted to their care.

Cornelia Connelly School of the Holy Child is incorporated as a non-profit educational organization under the law of the State of California. It is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Connelly is a member of the National and California Associations of Independent Schools, The National Catholic Educational Association, Independent School Management, Association for Supervision and Curriculum, National Coalition of Catholic High Schools for Young Women, and the National Association of Principals of School for Girls, Educational Record Bureau. As a Catholic school located in the Diocese of Orange, the School enjoys the approbation of the Bishop. Together with Rosary, Servite, Mater Dei, Santa Margarita, and St. Michael's Schools, the administration endeavors to coordinate policies, planning, and activities. Connelly, Rosary and Servite participate in the Tri-School Conservatory Theater Program and work together supporting student activities shared by the three schools. Hence, the School operates independently but in active collaboration with others concerned with the Christian education of youth in Southern California. 

  Mission Statement 

Schools of the Holy Child Jesus share in the mission of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus
  which is "to help others to believe that God lives and acts in them and in our world, and 
to rejoice in the divine presence."*

The school, committed by heritage to the educational mission of the Catholic Church through the philosophy and spirituality of Cornelia Connelly, endeavors to develop mature persons capable of making choices which enrich their their own lives and contribute to the lives of others.

Introduction to the Goals

The schools of the Holy Child Jesus in the United States, member of a national network and an international community of Holy Child Schools, offer an education that has a distinctive spirit. The philosophy of each Holy Child School incorporates this spirit and articulates the characteristics of the School and its efforts to its own particular community.

Cornelia Connelly,  foundress of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus, "developed an educational system based on trust and reverence for the dignity of every human being."* She exhorted Holy Child educators to carry this spirit to students of diverse background as they sought to respond to "the wants of the ages"* in which they lived. since 1846 these educators have helped students" to grow strong in faith and lead fully lives,"* have promoted academic excellence, and have educated to social responsibility.

Holy Child education is both a clearly defined and flexible ideal. It is a tradition rooted in Christian values and expressions and attuned to learning opportunities which enable students to respond to life with joy, zeal, and compassion. Educators in Holy Child School encourage students to meet diversity and change with confidence in their own gifts and in God who has made a covenant with the human family. 

The following are the seven Goals for School of the Holy Child Jesus. The trustees, administrators, faculty, and staff commit themselves to educate by these principles and to lead the students to embrace these values for themselves:

GOALS

Goal 1:        To foster a faith commitment that engenders a joyous personal response to God in the challenges
                    of the world.
Goal 2:        To deepen a understanding of Christian community.
Goal 3:        To provide an intellectually challenging and creative program of study that fosters academic
                    excellence.
Goal 4:        To work for Christian principles of justice, peace, and compassion in every facet of life.
Goal 5:        To create a learning climate based on trust and reverence for  the dignity and uniqueness of
                    each person.
Goal 6:        To further the integral human development of all who participate in the life of the school.
Goal 7:        To plan for the development of Holy Child education in the school.

*Constitutions of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus.