Faith
As a Catholic School system, our faith is central to our learning community. Our system's daily mission is to "relate students to God".

This happens every day in many ways. Each school day begins with a student led prayer. Starting in kindergarten, students attend weekly masses, in which students help plan and participate in all areas of the liturgy including lecturing, serving and music.

Students learn about their faith through religion classes and have opportunities to act out their faith through creative programs such as "What Would Jesus Do?" and "The Parade of Saints" at the elementary level, Leadership Training Retreats and "WWJD?" in the upper elementary grades, and student organizations such as Mission Club and SEARCH retreats at Bishop Heelan High School.

Beyond these organized activities, faith is a constant in the classroom and in the lives of Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools students. Providing students a strong faith foundation and giving them daily opportunities to express their faith makes a life long difference.

Students who attended Catholic Schools are more likely to practice their faith as adults and more likely to reject those lifestyles and choices that are contrary to Catholic teachings and Christian beliefs.

Knowledge
As a Kindergarten through 12th grade school system, providing students with "an excellent education" is an integral part of our mission.

Our school system excels in nurturing our students' natural curiosity to learn. We strive to help every student feel important and loved as Jesus taught. Our recognized academic curriculum utilizes the latest teaching strategies and technology.

Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools offers a variety of programs for children with additional needs including the "BIG" Talented and Gifted program, English as a Second Language, accelerated reading and math programs, tutoring, student mentoring and area education agency services.

Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) and Iowa Tests of Educational Development (ITED) scores are consistently above the Sioux City, state and national averages. These higher test scores led to an average 90% of Bishop Heelan graduates going on to attend college with an average ACT score of 23.5.

Values
From the moment you walk into one of our campuses, you can see the difference. You see fifth graders helping kindergarteners with a project, you see students of all ages practicing for the weekly student Mass, you see the pastor welcoming students in the hall, you see teachers modeling Christ in the classroom, you see involved parents helping out in many ways and you see a symbol of Christ's presence in each room.

As part of our mission, we strive to create a learning environment that emphasizes the Gospel values of respect, caring for others, and working together as a community for the future of our community.

We believe we are successful as this quote from a Sioux City Police Department DARE Officer who said, "I can always tell when I'm in a Bishop Heelan Catholic School. The students listen better, have more respect for me and ask better questions."

Services
The value of a Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools education does not end with graduation from Bishop Heelan High School. Our mission to lead students toward "a lifetime of service" is built on the foundations of faith, knowledge and values.

Giving back to others as a demonstration of thanks for all the blessings God has given is an important lesson that is reinforced through our entire K-12 system. Students are taught to sacrifice for the good of others and as their parents are doing to provide their family with the best possible education in Sioux City.

Opportunities are provided for student service within the parish family and in our community. Service is also an integral part of preparation to receive the sacraments of First Communion, First Reconciliation and Confirmation