About Us

Saint Clare: A comprehensive education that ensures the development of academic, physical, social, and emotional skills.

About our institution

We are the #SAINTCLAREFAMILY

Saint Clare Educational System is an educational institution with more than 64 years of being integral transformers of children and adolescents, with deep Franciscan values. We are a non-profit institution that commits all its efforts in the permanent improvement of its system, to offer the highest academic quality.

Mission

We promote integral development based on humanistic principles and Franciscan Spirituality, through an interdisciplinary pedagogical approach.

Vision

To be leaders in Costa Rican education, recognized for its humanistic and Franciscan, interdisciplinary and innovative approach.

Our history

1957

Saint Clare begins its functions under the responsibility of the Order School Sisters of Saint Francis, due to the concern of Monsignor Odio and other Costa Ricans to create a bilingual school for girls. It begins in San Vicente de Moravia, with a small group of 42 young ladies.

1970

It became a coeducational school, with the intention of providing not only an excellent academic preparation, but, above all, an integral and deeply humanistic formation.

Spiritual and Christian formation are significant aspects that are part of the heritage of these pioneers.

1979

An innovative and revolutionary pedagogical option began to take shape within the Institution, directed by Mr. Quince Duncan, initially known as SIDEI, and in 1980 it was implemented as a pilot plan called SIPEIN (Acronym for its name in Spanish)

(Interdisciplinary Pedagogical System), which is still in place today.

1983

The Franciscan Sisters decided to withdraw from the educational activity in the country. For this reason, the Pro-Saint Clare High School Association was organized, composed of parents, alumni, teachers, and administrative staff of the school, to give continuity to the same philosophy, academic plan and symbols.

1988

It is integrated to the Secondary School educational process: Preschool and Elementary School, for which we proceeded to rent facilities at the Santa Monica School located in Montelimar – Goicoechea.

1993

The construction process of the first stage of the new facilities in San Juan de La Unión begins. The above with the purpose of unifying all its sectors in its own facilities.

1994

Inauguration of I Stage facilities: Saint Clare Preschool (children from 3 to 5 years old: Pre-kinder, Kinder and High School). II Stage construction process begins.

1995

Inauguration of II Stage facilities: Saint Clare Primary (I to VI Grade). Transfer to the facilities in San Juan de La Unión.

1999

Saint Clare Nursery School (children 1.5 years old to 3 years old).

2003

Construction process III Stage begins: Saint Clare Secondary School (7th to 11th grade and PROEI).

2004

Inauguration of secondary school facilities. Integration of all levels in San Juan de La Unión.

Our Values

Fraternity

It refers to the closeness to one another; the encounter, based on respect, dignity, and integrity, which transcends the coexistence with everything created and implies gratitude to God for creation and contemplation of it.

Liberty

It is the good news of God. In the encounter with others, there is no coercion or manipulation. Each being assumes responsibility for his or her actions, always considering how they affect his or her surroundings and those around him or her.

Sense of Justice

It refers to the dignity of being, which motivates his or her work. Every being in creation possesses dignity, because it is the work of God and his or her existence has a purpose.

Peace

It implies a previous reconciliation with oneself in order to reconcile with the other.

Love of life and truth

God's Creation (man and nature) is life and life implies relational behavior where affection is born.

Charity

It is the ability to give oneself to others. Humbleness, mercy, and love are fundamental to accept what needs to be improved and to be able to assertively tell the other person what he/she can change to be better.