Where does the originality of this proposal lie? First of all, in the fact that the school is understood as part of a global project of education and evangelisation. It is not only concerned with transmitting knowledge, but also with helping every child, adolescent and young person to discover the meaning of their life, to prepare for work and to build their personal project based on the values of the Gospel.
Salesian school
At the same time, the Salesian school is a true ‘cultural mediator’. Through different subjects, artistic workshops, contact with the world of work and the media, it offers a serious, up-to-date academic education that is open to innovation. It does not limit itself to accumulating data: it seeks to develop critical thinking, creativity, the capacity for dialogue and sensitivity to the great challenges of today’s world, such as social justice, peace and care for our common home.
At the heart of this approach to education is Don Bosco’s Preventive System, supported by three pillars: reason, religion and loving-kindness. ‘Reason’ invites us to educate with clear rules, dialogue and common sense; ‘religion’ opens us to the experience of God and the care of the interior life; ‘loving-kindness’ is expressed in a close presence, in daily accompaniment and in a family atmosphere where children and young people know they are loved and respected.
The Salesian school is also characterised by being a place of evangelisation open to all. From the classroom, the playground, celebrations and solidarity projects, it proposes a faith that is lived in everyday life: in friendship, in the fulfilment of duty, in service to others. At the same time, it promotes dialogue with today’s culture, coexistence between different beliefs and the construction of a responsible and committed citizenship.
Another essential feature is its social function. Salesian schools seek to be close to the working classes, to offer educational opportunities to those with fewer resources and to accompany students in vulnerable situations in particular. Scholarship programmes, academic support, training activities and community service are some of the ways in which this is achieved.
Finally, Salesian schools are committed to providing a high-quality, accessible and personalised education. They strive to make every student feel valued, taking into account their pace and abilities and offering concrete support when needed. They work in partnership with families and other educators, convinced that growing up is not something that can be done alone. Thus, rather than a place where ‘you just study,’ the Salesian school presents itself as a community that dreams with young people, walks with them, and prepares them to transform the world with hope.
