Mission
“Holy Name of Jesus Catholic School, united by the Holy Eucharist, shepherds the whole child to live Gospel values, pursue academic excellence, and serve others.”
Vision:
At Holy Name of Jesus Catholic School, we envision a future where our students are empowered to be compassionate, innovative, and responsible individuals, deeply rooted in their faith and committed to making a positive impact on the world. Our commitment to fostering a faith education, united with a strong sense of family and community outreach, drives us to excel in the fields of Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STREAM), while upholding teamwork values through athletics, and serving our community in a collaborative effort that exemplify the teachings of the Gospel.
Our vision is to be a beacon of educational excellence, where:
Faith-Centered Education: We prioritize nurturing students' faith, ensuring that Gospel values guide their actions, fostering a strong spiritual foundation.
Collaboration: We foster a community where students, educators, and families work together in harmony, leveraging their unique talents and perspectives to achieve common goals, recognizing that in unity, we can achieve more.
Safety: Our school is a sanctuary of physical, emotional, and spiritual safety, where every student feels secure and valued, allowing them to thrive without fear or distraction.
Discipline and Accountability: We instill in our students a sense of discipline, responsibility, and self-mastery, encouraging them to take ownership of their actions and decisions, mindful of the consequences and committed to personal growth.
STREAM Excellence: We inspire and prepare our students to excel in STREAM disciplines, equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and creativity to address the challenges of the modern world, driven by a profound respect for the wonders of God's creation.
Consistency: We maintain unwavering commitment to our core values and educational principles, providing a reliable and stable environment for the growth and development of every child.
Transparency: We uphold the highest standards of openness and transparency, ensuring that our students, parents, and community are well-informed and engaged in the life of the school.
Integrity: We promote integrity as a cornerstone of our community, where honesty, ethics, and moral principles are woven into the fabric of our daily lives, reflecting the teachings of the Gospel.
Through the grace of the Holy Eucharist, we strive to nurture well-rounded individuals who not only achieve academic excellence but also embrace Gospel values and dedicate themselves to serving others with kindness and respect. Our vision is for Holy Name of Jesus Catholic School to be a guiding light, illuminating the path to a future where faith, knowledge, and service intersect, creating individuals who will positively impact their communities and the world.
History
HNJ Catholic School has been successfully educating children for over 50 years by providing students with a foundation of academic excellence in a Christ-centered environment. At HNJ, we’ve seen how the intellectual growth of our students has contributed to their academic success but moreover, they’ve acquired a deeper understanding of their place in the world through compassionate service and living by the tenets of our faith.
Pope Francis spoke about teachers saying,
“In order to educate you must go out of yourselves and be amidst the young, accompanying them in the stages of their growth, standing beside them.”
Our dedicated teachers do exactly that. It is our responsibility as a Catholic School to develop the whole person and nurture the individual so every child can grow in his/her spirituality, and emotional and intellectual capacity.
HNJ students continually perform well above the national average on the Terra Nova Next Assessment in core subject areas. In addition, we excel in a variety of academic competitions including science, math, writing, and art. We are proud of our 8th grade student graduates and the responsible young men and women that they’ve become. They are well prepared for the rigors of high school.
Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church was established in 1959 as a mission church of Ascension Parish located in Melbourne, Florida. During the first five years of its existence, the school age children, within the parish, attended classes at Ascension Catholic School. The Sisters of Mercy from Ardee, County Louth, Ireland, then staffed Ascension.
March 1964, Holy Name began with what was to be the beginning of our school. Three grades, housed in the church hall began class led by Sister Monica Ryan, Principal, and Sister Regina Sweeney as their teachers. In November, four classes moved into the permanent school building. Each year following, another grade level was added until the school completed grades one through eight.
In June 1969, Holy Name of Jesus Catholic School graduated its first class of 38 students.
A group of Adrian Dominican Sisters replaced the Sisters of Mercy in 1974. Sister Jane Quirk opened the Kindergarten class and the school received their first accreditation by the Florida Catholic Conference. (FCC)Then in 1980, an extension to the school’s permanent building was added. On October 14, 1990, Bishop Norbert Dorsey dedicated the newly constructed open-air Pavilion. This area is still used today for meetings, BBQ’s, parish picnics, and the annual festival. Ten more classrooms were added by 2004 along with a Music and Art room.
Between 2006 and 2009 the Life Center and Athletic Center were completed. These buildings added a full cafeteria, kitchen, stage area for theatrical performances, school fundraisers, and sporting events. The property also contains a regulation track and field, installed in 2010 and re-sodded in 2019.
In January of 2020, an Early Learning Center (ELC) was added on the Southside of the Athletic Building. It houses our youngest students, ages 16 months to three years. The ELC hosts a large, open playground, interactive technology, safety doors, camera surveillance, and multiple use rooms.
Presently, Holy Name of Jesus Catholic School students use technology one-to-one iPads in grades Kindergarten through 2nd, and Chromebooks in grades 3rd through 8th. Teachers use advanced technology like Newline interactive digital boards, teacher laptops, increased digital assessment programs, digital texts, and high-speed connectivity, to stay on the cutting edge of technological use.
In 2024, LEGO Robotics, Project Lead the Way (PLTW), Drone Technology, Minecraft Education, and 3D Printing was added to the STREAM curriculum and HNJ is seeking STREAM accreditation in April 2025.
Holy Name of Jesus Catholic School is dedicated to educating the whole child and preparing them to be faithful, conscientious users of technology, engaged and responsible digital citizens, and lifelong learners.