Our Mission and History

Our Mission

Mission Statement

We RISE Responsibly, Intellectually, Spiritually, and Emotionally, as a community of learners, continually growing as Christ-centered individuals through life’s journey.

We help students become RESPONSIBLE, self-disciplined citizens of the world who act with integrity.

We prepare students INTELLECTUALLY to analyze complex issues and think critically while developing a life-long love of learning.

We nurture a SPIRITUAL relationship with God through the Catholic Faith Formation that manifests itself in weekly Liturgical celebration, stewardship and daily prayer.

We foster the EMOTIONAL development of the students through the virtues of empathy and charity.

Philosophy

Saint Olaf Catholic School is an expression of the mission of Jesus Christ, maintaining a visible Catholic presence within our local community. Catholic School educators recognize the personal dignity of each child and strive to make students aware of their purpose in life. We provide a faith-based community to aid each child in developing self-worth and Christian maturity. Together with parents, the primary educators of their children, we aspire to provide a quality education that will allow each child to RISE by growing responsibly, intellectually, spiritually, and emotionally.

Student Learning Expectations

Catholic Christians who:

Have a personal relationship with God
Demonstrate an understanding of Catholic beliefs and traditions
Make choices based on Christian values
Serve others
Maintain a prayerful, healthy, and balanced lifestyle

Communicators who:

Write with ease and make a clear point
Write using correct grammar and spelling
Speak clearly and confidently
Listen and observe actively and respectfully
Collaborate and cooperate with others
Lead and motivate others

Learners who:

Use a variety of resources, skills, and strategies to increase knowledge and understanding.
Solve problems and think critically
Show responsibility for their learning

Responsible users of technology that:

Access, analyze, organize and process information

OUR HISTORY

Saint Olaf Parish was originally established as a mission housed in a mobile trailer, traveling around to serve the small Catholic community in southern Davis County. Bishop Duane G. Hunt chose Saint Olaf, the Viking king and patron saint of Norway, as the mission’s patron in recognition of the area’s Scandinavian residents. On September 1, 1949, Saint Olaf officially became a parish. Over the next few years, the parish thrived to the point of outgrowing several locations until five acres of land located at 1793 Orchard Drive in Bountiful were purchased. Father John J. Sullivan finalized the purchase on March 20, 1955, with the goal of building a permanent parish building and school on the land.

On March 14, 1959, the parish broke ground on the structure that would serve as both the school and the church for nearly 20 years. The Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent DePaul arrived in the fall of 1960 to open Saint Olaf Catholic School. Two religious Sisters and three lay teachers taught grades Kindergarten through Fifth in the school’s first year and opened grades Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth over the next three years.

On July 8, 1979, ground was broken on Saint Olaf Catholic Church, separating the church building from the Legacy school building. Under the guidance of Father Thomas L. McNamara and Father Robert Pollack, the permanent church was completed with the help of volunteer parishioners and dedicated on July 29, 1980.

The Legacy building was reconfigured for use exclusively as a school upon completion of the new church. Reverend Andrzej Skrzypiec oversaw the construction of a new extension over two years, which was dedicated on March 18, 2024. Several new classrooms, administrative offices, and a multipurpose Great Room were added to Saint Olaf Catholic School, in conjunction with major renovations in the Legacy building.

Over six decades, Saint Olaf Catholic School has grown and evolved to support the academic, emotional, and spiritual growth of thousands of students. We continue to RISE as we foster an environment of academic excellence, a sense of community, and a love for Christ in our students.

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