Faith Formation

School Governance

Unlike Catholic Parish Schools or Archdiocesan Catholic Schools, Valley Catholic Elementary. School is not an Archdiocesan school, but rather a Catholic Independent School. Catholic. Independent Schools are schools that operate as separate entities with no affiliation with a parish or the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon. Some of these schools are sponsored and/or run by religious orders (i.e. Jesuits, Christian Brothers, Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon). Each school is overseen by a Board, whether lay-run or religious order led. The Board is responsible for all the affairs and oversight of the school. The SSMO Ministries Corporation, and the SSMO Campus Schools Corporation, work cooperatively with the school administration, to govern our school. We carry on the legacy and mission of our founders, the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon. The Sisters’ mission statement is:

We, the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon, share in the mission of Jesus by proclaiming the Good News of God’s love. The Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon are committed to serving others through faith and action. We are deeply rooted in the community. For nearly 140 years, we have been committed to compassionate, joyful community service. We offer loving, respectful service through: prayer; child development, education and lifelong learning; elder care; sacred space for prayer, contemplation, and retreat; and off-campus outreach and ministry.

Sacramental Preparation

Students who are interested in preparing for the sacraments should contact their local parish. 

Local parishes
Common Catholic Prayers

This collection includes the prayers students recite regularly and those introduced at each grade level. We encourage you to bookmark or print this page for use as a family resource, supporting both shared prayer and your child’s spiritual learning.

Common School Prayers 

Family Faith Resources
Scripture and Doctrine Resources