Who We Are All About
Our History...
Under the direction of Fr. Lacey, the first request to build a school in Saint Leo the Great Parish was made in 1947, and within a year, the school was completed. The school was opened in October, 1948 with kindergarten through fifth grade classes. A grade was added every year until the school finally incorporated an eighth grade.
The first teachers were the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters (American Congregation of the Most Holy Rosary). They maintained their service to the school until 1989 when the last Sister completed her teaching career. An active parent group and parish-school organizations were formed to support the school and parish activities and needs.
For more than 60 years, the diversity of social, economic, and demographic changes in Oakland has been reflected in the school's population.
Our Philosophy...
Saint Leo the Great Catholic School is a Pre-Kindergarten through eighth grade parish school dedicated to a philosophy of education that works to serve its families in their primary responsibility to educate their children. We recognize the dignity of each person and the equal right to an education and foster the development of the whole child. We believe in educating the whole person, placing emphasis on positive self-image, religious values and self-discipline. The faculty and administration set high academic standards for all students. Our students are afforded the opportunity to learn, develop, progress, and to be challenged as individuals according to their specific needs and abilities.
The school provides an environment where students learn to recognize and respect the dignity of each person as an individual. Developing self-esteem and self-discipline is essential. Recognizing others is also crucial. We seek to enable our students to become life-long learners. We strive to practice peaceful and non-violent interactions and resolutions. The school also provides opportunities for experiencing community and developing social responsibilities and Christian values. Students, parents/guardians, faculty, and staff are actively expected to support these goals. Saint Leo the Great recognizes that it is comprised of a geographically, religiously, racially, and demographically diverse community of students and their families. Recognition of this diversity gives a focus to the way we teach religion, values, and academic subjects. The school strives to address this diversity by offering a variety of programs that are oriented to the wide range of our constituency. Our philosophy is Roman Catholic in its orientation and in its outreach to the larger community that we serve.
Our Mission...
"The School of Saint Leo the Great, an educational ministry of the Church of Saint Leo the Great, is a Pre-Kindergarten to Eighth Grade Roman Catholic elementary School. This parochial school serves Oakland and surrounding communities and is open to families of any faith who accept its philosophy and mission. We work with families in their primary responsibility to educate their children by providing a strong academic curriculum and a rich extracurricular program. We offer a safe environment and promote age-appropriate religious, social, cultural and physical values."