Principal's Welcome
Welcome to St. John Chrysostom Catholic Elementary School, Inglewood, CA.
We invite you to explore this site so that you can begin to experience the excitement of our learning environment and Cougar spirit. We serve transitional Kindergarten (age 4) through 8th grade, and we partner in many projects with St. Mary’s Academy, the Catholic Girls’ High School adjacent to us. Many of our graduates go on to St. Mary’s and other fine Catholic High Schools like Loyola, Bosco Tech, Marymount, Notre Dame Academy, Serra, Verbum Dei, and St. Bernards where they continue the tradition of excellence in academics, sports, leadership, and service begun here at St. John’s.
Although St. John’s is a parochial school, children of all faiths and ethnic and cultural communities are welcome here. We emphasize academics, structure, self discipline, and Christian Service and worship. Science, art, music, and P.E. are important elements of the curriculum.
For more information about the school, please call the office at 310.677.5868 or email [email protected].
Mr. Miguel Arizmendi
Principal of St. John Chrysostom School
Mr. Arizmendi's Letter to the Community as Our New Principal
It is with great excitement that I write this letter of introduction to you as the new Principal of St. John Chrysostom School. I am honored to have the opportunity to lead a school with such persevering students, an extremely dedicated staff, and a supportive school community. I feel very fortunate to be part of this school and to support the students and families. My background and personal educational philosophy are in concert with the mission and values of St. John Chrysostom. I completed my Bachelor of Arts Degree in History (with a minor in Political Science) at the California State University of Dominguez Hills, have also completed my Master of Arts Degree in Technology-Based Education at the same school, and have finished my certification in Catholic School Administration from Loyola Marymount University.
I come to this community with nearly a decade of Catholic School education experience. I was the Dean of Students and AP Government/ Honors Economics teacher at St. Monica Catholic High School for two years, the AP Government and Honors Economics teacher at Mary Star of The Sea High School for four years, and the computer science teacher at St. Martin of Tours for 3 years.
As a person who was raised in Long Beach, a community very similar to this one, I feel I have a calling to be here and ensure that this wonderful community continues to grow and prosper. I desire to make a difference for students at the highest level. I want to ensure that students are given the best opportunity to succeed, and the resources needed to push themselves to heights that they never thought possible. I want them to know that there is someone who cares about them and their success. I believe students should be challenged in a way that allows them to think critically about what they are learning and about what they wish to learn. I believe it is important to receive students with respect, kindness, and patience to maintain high standards. However, at the same time, I believe one should be willing to meet students where they are in life and then guide them, gently but firmly, towards the attainment of their goals. I believe there are certain elements that if introduced make this happen. The first is promoting students' respect for everyone and everything around them, the second is challenging them and the third is connecting lessons by making them relevant.
As Principal I will aspire to establish a school culture and educational program conducive to student learning and socialization. I seek to promote staff professional growth and development, as well as teamwork and cooperation. I will coordinate my efforts with those parents and family members to ensure students remain disciplined and focused while receiving the appropriate attention necessary to meet their needs.
In closing, please know that my door is always open to you. I heartily welcome your conversation and positive input throughout this year. Let us always keep our students the primary focus of our work. I look forward to celebrating our collective successes during the 2021-2022 school year.
Blessings,
Mr. Miguel Arizmendi M.Ed