Mission Statement
Our Lady of Talpa School’s mission is to provide a transformative Catholic education to God's children rooted in the Gospel teachings of Christ and in the lives of our Vincentian founders: St. Vincent de Paul, St. Louise de Marillac, and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.
Mission and Philosophy
The school is staffed in part by the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent the Paul, whose community’s spirit and charism play an important part in the school’s philosophy: “The charity of Jesus urges us to hasten to the relief of every type of human misery” (Constitutions, Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, p.1). It is the spirit of Christian love and service that the Daughters of Charity and faculty strive to make evident in their daily lives and to foster in the lives of the children they serve.
Our Lady of Talpa School provides a Catholic education to the children in the Boyle Heights community of Los Angeles. Our education aims at the formation of Christian values and the acquisition of knowledge and skills to prepare the students to be lifelong learners and to be contributing, caring members of a global community. One of our chief objectives is to develop positive self-esteem, Catholic values, and self-discipline skills that promote good citizenship and both personal and social responsibility.
Striving for academic excellence, the faculty and staff facilitate learning by providing a variety of opportunities for the young to develop their God-given talents, take ownership of their educational success, and develop the necessary skills for life and continued learning. We appreciate the cultural and physical diversity of each person as well as encourage and promote recognition and self-expression through the fine arts and athletics. In these areas, we work in partnership with the parents who are the primary educators of their children. We seek to empower them in this role.
The students are nourished by a strong sacramental and liturgical life in a faith-filled environment. We nurture the development of the whole child and strive to foster a deep awareness of the importance of respect and service to others.
