About St. Lawrence Martyr School
Principal’s Welcome - Mission Statement - Core Values - History
A Note from the Principal
Welcome to St. Lawrence Martyr Catholic School!
It is a true blessing and privilege to be at St. Lawrence Martyr School, not only as an educator and principal, but as a graduate. For the past 17 years, I have had the privilege of serving in Catholic education, and I have seen the profound impact a faith-filled education can have on a child’s heart, character, and lifelong journey.
At St. Lawrence Martyr, we are committed to a Christ-centered community where every child is known, valued, and encouraged to grow in faith, knowledge, and service. Our Schoolwide Learning Expectations guide us in developing Dedicated Catholic Christians, Caring Community Members, Diligent Lifelong Learners, and Globally Aware and Responsible Citizens. We hope every student leaves St. Lawrence Martyr with a strong foundation of faith, a compassionate heart, a love of learning, and a commitment to making a positive difference in our world.
Our school is strengthened by the partnership of our dedicated faculty and staff, supportive families, parish community, and, most importantly, our students. Together, we honor the traditions that make St. Lawrence Martyr special while continuing to grow and look toward the future with faith and purpose.
God bless,
Mrs. Jennifer Bagheri
Principal
Mission Statement
St. Lawrence Martyr Catholic School provides an environment of academic excellence rooted in the Catholic faith. We strive to nurture independent critical thinkers, thoughtful, engaging collaborators and virtuous individuals who positively impact the world as courageous stewards of Jesus Christ. We partner with parents who desire their children to develop good work and study habits, the discipline of never giving up, the attitude of joy in all things no matter how challenging, and the impetus to generously serve family, friends and community.
Core values
Respect – As a student at St. Lawrence Martyr, you are recognized as a unique child of God and treated with love, respect and care.
Education – You will have the opportunity to grow and learn as a whole person, in every aspect of whom you are: spiritually, emotionally, academically, and socially.
Faith – Building your foundation of faith will be an on-going collaboration between school, family, and parish community so that you have multiple sources of support and guidance.
Life-long Learning – Students have diverse needs and abilities. As a student, faculty and staff will meet you where you are and help you grow into a successful life-long learner.
Service – You will learn how to use your valuable talents and skills to serve the global community and the spiritual and social needs of all.
Growth – Leading by example, your faculty and staff continue to grow through pursuing professional development in best practices.
History
St. Lawrence Martyr School is located in the city of Redondo Beach, California, and serves the South Bay area. The close-knit, faith-filled community is dedicated to teaching Catholic principles, fostering Christian living and providing excellence in academic formation. St. Lawrence Martyr School is a distinguished Blue Ribbon school that takes pride in providing a challenging, comprehensive and relevant curriculum that addresses the various learning styles of each student.
Founded by Msgr. Collins and staffed by the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondelet, St. Lawrence Martyr School opened its doors in 1956. The school building includes 10 classrooms for transitional kindergarten through grade eight. The plant contains additional rooms for Spanish and music classes, a science lab, a computer lab and an extended-day care room. Along with the school, the Church, Parish Rectory, Pastoral Center, Parish Hall, and expansive lower field are situated on the campus.
While the last of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet retired from service to St. Lawrence Martyr School in 2004, the current administration, faculty, and staff continue the school's strong reputation for providing an education where every student is cared for, encouraged, and inspired to excel academically, grow spiritually, become responsible citizens, and courageously live-out the Catholic faith.
St. Lawrence Martyr Church
Image Credit: Daniel Solomon Photography