The 2012 Strategic Plan for Archmere Academy

The 2012

Strategic Plan for

Archmere Academy

November 2012

On the cover: The estate of John J. and Helena Raskob was given the name Archmere, “from the arch to the sea” because of the view through the arch of trees, and later the stone arches of The Patio, of the river and the community beyond. Today, Archmere Academy continues to look through the arches of its founding home to the outside world: to renew its commitment to academic excellence, to promote the advancement of its mission, and to ensure that Archmere Academy remains a premier academic institution.

Board of Trustees Barbra Frank Andrisani, Chair, Academic Affairs Committee

Debra Whitby-Norman Douglas R. Quaintance

Matthew J. Bastian ’83

Elaine C. Reilly Esq. ’83

Richard M. Beck ’82, Chair, Strategic Planning Committee

John W. Rollins, III ’88

James F. Bonner, M.D.

Rev. Joseph A. Serano, O.Praem., Ph.D.

Linda M. Branco

Robert E. Shields ’60, Board Chair

Charles J. Ciarrocchi, Jr.

Mary Ann E. Slowik ’79

Rev. Andrew D. Ciferni, O.Praem., Ph.D.

Barbara A. Wasik, Ph.D.

John S. Gerard, Chair, Finance & Facilities Committee William F. Githens ’64, Chair, Mission & Heritage Committee Michael J. Hare ’79, Chair, Advancement Committee Francis J. McKee ’68

Kathleen E. Wunner, Ph.D. Legal Counsel Anthony G. Flynn, Esq. ’69 Executive Officer Michael A. Marinelli, Ed.D. ’76, Headmaster

Dear Friends: We are pleased to share with you The 2012 Strategic Plan for Archmere Academy. This blueprint for Archmere builds upon its strong 80-year foundation and charts a vision for the school’s future.

Ultimately, Archmere will realize this vision because of you – because of your faithful devotion to the Archmere legacy and your commitment to the achievement of Archmere’s future.

We could not have crafted this plan without the participation of hundreds of people representing the key constituencies of the Archmere community: alumni, parents, students, faculty, administrators, trustees, community supporters and benefactors.

Information from focus groups, interviews and surveys, combined with market trend and data analysis, provided content for intensive deliberations by five Board-led committees over nine months.

The Plan underscores Archmere’s fundamental commitment to its founding mission, vision and history and allows Archmere to expand upon that mission and to advance in an ever-changing world. We invite you to embrace the five key themes of The Strategic Plan and help Archmere achieve the related goals identified for each theme.

We hope that you will join us in this ambitious undertaking and help Archmere realize the vision of The 2012 Strategic Plan.

Thank You for Your Continued Support, The Board of Trustees of Archmere Academy

Reverence

Zeal

Wisdom

Community

Respect

Strategic Planning Task Force Barbra Frank Andrisani, Board Member, Past Parent Rebecca W. Baeurle, CFRE, Institutional Advancement Director, Current Parent Richard M. Beck ’82, Board Member, Alumnus Linda M. Branco, Board Member, Past Parent Carl S. Campion ’76, Director of Information Technology, Past Parent, Alumnus John F. Cirillo III, Director of Finance, Current Parent Timothy Dougherty, Director of Curriculum and Instruction Carolyn T. Doyle, Director of College Counseling and Guidance, Past Parent William J. Doyle, Ed.D., Faculty Member, Former Principal, Past Parent John V. Flynn, Jr, Ph.D., Past Board Member, Past Parent, Alumnus John S. Gerard, Board Member, Past and Current Parent William F. Githens ’64, Board Member, Past Parent, Alumnus Michael J. Hare ’79, Board Member, Alumnus Carl E. Hertrich, Past Board Member, Past Parent Michael C. Johnson, Jr., Campus Minister, Faculty Member John J. Jordan III ’80, Principal, Former Admissions Director, Past and Current Parent, Alumnus Michael A. Marinelli, Ed.D. ’76, Headmaster, Alumnus Rev. Joseph McLaughlin, O.Praem. Director of Mission and Heritage, Chaplain, Headmaster Emeritus Debra Whitby-Norman, Board Member, Past Parent Robert C. Nowaczyk, Director of Student Life David Oswinkle, Director of Athletics Douglas R. Quaintance, Board Member, Past Parent Rev. Joseph A. Serano, O.Praem.,Ph.D., Board Member Robert E. Shields ’60, Board Chair, Past Parent, Alumnus Mary Ann Slowik ’79, Board Member, Past Parent, Alumna James P. Tosi, Director of Facilities, Past Parent Kathleen E. Wunner, Ph.D., Board Member

Five Key Themes of The 2012 Strategic Plan 1. Archmere will articulate, promote and live its unique mission 2. Archmere will enhance its exceptional academic tradition with 21st century best practices for learning to attract and advance motivated and talented students 3. Archmere will attract, retain and develop excellent teachers and staff to preserve the Archmere experience for its students 4. Archmere will engage its alumni to become more involved in the Archmere community 5. Archmere will ensure financial sustainability by assessing and articulating the Academy’s needs and priorities

1: ARCHMERE will articulate, promote

and live its unique mission

The answers to the questions “Who are we?” and “What is our mission?” are found in the rich history and tradition of Archmere: t

In 1120, Saint Norbert founded the Order of Premontre, whose members eight centuries later established Archmere Academy as a community of faith inspired by the deep Norbertine devotion to the Eucharist and to serving others through education and good works.

Reverence

t

In 1910, John and Helena Raskob purchased the Archmere estate.

From 1916 to 1918, they constructed a magnificent Neoclassical Italian Renaissance mansion and garages, a home that reflected their Catholic family life.

t

In 1932, Rt. Rev. Bernard H. Pennings, O.Praem., Abbot of Saint Norbert Abbey in DePere, Wisconsin, envisioned Raskob’s home as a perfect site for a school and purchased the estate. Archmere Academy was founded to grow the educational ministry and priestly vocations of the Norbertines in the United States.

Archmere is committed to sustaining a vision of academic rigor and excellence, faith and values that was formed by an eighty-year American tradition born out of a nine-century European tradition of being a Catholic, Norbertine community, grounded in the ideals and faith of its founders and located on an historic campus. The following mission statement for Archmere embraces the values that are at the heart of the Archmere experience: Archmere Academy is a Catholic, Norbertine college preparatory school, valuing community, respect, zeal, reverence and wisdom. Nurturing body and soul, mind and heart, Archmere focuses on the whole person through academic excellence, faith reflection, social development and service to others. Inspired by its heritage, Archmere cultivates empathetic leaders – young men and women prepared for every good work.

Goals To remain faithful to articulating, living and promoting its mission, Archmere will: 1.

Ensure that Archmere’s mission is reflected in the design of academic and extracurricular programs

2.

Nurture and expand faculty and staff members’ understanding and value of the mission and heritage through the evaluation and creation of missioninfused practices, supported by Archmere’s sponsoring community, Daylesford Abbey, a Catholic community of Nobertine priests and brothers

3.

Attract and retain students of all faiths who will contribute to the strength and growth of the Archmere community

4.

Ensure that Archmere’s internal and external communications reflect the school’s unique mission, creating a virtual community that fosters dialogue

5.

Enhance the campus with visual reminders and inspirational artwork and spaces that speak to Archmere’s mission

2: ARCHMERE will enhance its

exceptional academic tradition with 21st century best practices for learning to attract and advance motivated and talented students Archmere has a strong academic tradition that values a consistent work ethic; cultivates an appreciation for excellence; values mathematics and science equally with the humanities and the fine arts; and supports students’ self-discovery of their unique skills, talents and avocations.

Archmere’s academic leadership will build upon the school’s tradition of excellence by studying, evaluating and applying the most effective pedagogical best practices for learning in the 21st century. These approaches will guide Archmere in improving existing and adopting new curricula, crafting professional development opportunities for staff and implementing tools for student learning and assessment that will be centered on developing the following student competencies:

Zeal

t

Analytical and creative thinking and problem solving

t

Complex communication through oral and written methods, plus digital and quantitative literacy

t

Collaboration skills fostered through learning to work in teams, both as leaders and team members

t

A global perspective of learning and living

t

Integrity and ethical decision making

Archmere graduates will become the empathetic leaders of their time, prepared to manage the challenges of the 21st century and to sustain the traditions of the exemplary alumni who preceded them.

Goals To attract and advance motivated and talented students, Archmere will: 1.

Develop and employ both traditional and innovative methods to best educate the Archmere student in a broad range of disciplines and interests

2.

Enhance the curriculum to strengthen student core competencies of analytical and creative thinking and problem solving, complex communication, collaborative teamwork, global perspective and ethical decision making

3.

Broaden the aspects of curriculum designed to foster creativity through teaching the visual and performing arts, further integrating them through interdisciplinary programming

4.

Broaden faculty professional development to increase creative, interdisciplinary and team project course work for students, strengthen faculty leadership and technology skills and provide personal experiences that enhance the communication of Archmere’s mission

5.

Prepare students to succeed in college with a mastery of skills that include the ability to: work collaboratively as both a leader and a team member; excel in communicating and problem solving; demonstrate a command of technology and media; make wise decisions grounded in informed ethics and demonstrate knowledge about traditional and emerging topics across all disciplines

3: ARCHMERE will attract, retain and

develop excellent teachers and staff to preserve the archmere experience for its students The positive interaction among students, teachers and staff is a notably unique and significant benefit of the Archmere experience. These relationships form a key component of Archmere’s distinctive learning environment that supports students in all aspects of their education and transition to college life. Because the faculty and staff are a key asset of its community, Archmere will strengthen its focus on attracting, retaining and developing excellent teachers and staff members.

Wisdom

Goals To accomplish these objectives, Archmere will: 1.

Foster and support professional development of its faculty to sustain an academic learning community culture and to promote excellence in Archmere’s academic programs

2.

Expand teacher and staff member evaluation processes to ensure professional growth, as well as enhanced performance

3.

Review faculty and staff compensation policies and procedures to ensure that they are consistent with Archmere’s mission, competitive in the marketplace and successful in attracting and retaining excellent people

4: ARCHMERE will engage its alumni to become more involved in the Archmere community

Archmere’s alumni represent its past, present and future. They are its living history, carrying with them the traditions and heritage that make Archmere unique. The energy that many alumni devote to Archmere provides invaluable support for the school. Alumni empower the community and embody the spirit – the intangible essence – of Archmere. They are valuable ambassadors for the school. The strategic vision for Archmere’s future rests on a base of continual engagement with alumni across the Archmere community.

Community

Goals To deepen its engagement with its alumni, Archmere will: 1.

Engage a broader base of alumni by offering greater opportunities for participation through the Alumni Association and school-sponsored initiatives and by connecting with them through a virtual community

2.

Refine communications to meet the individual expectations and preferences of its alumni

3.

Enhance, broaden and diversify on-campus and off-campus activities and events for alumni

5: ARCHMERE will ensure financial

sustainability by assessing and articulating the Academy’s needs and priorities

As an independent school, solely responsible for its own finances, Archmere is committed to a sustainable financial model. Archmere will increase endowment and annual financial support, decrease dependence on tuition and carefully evaluate ongoing programs and new initiatives. This strategy will ensure that financial resources will be used in the most effective manner possible to meet the objectives of the school’s mission and to preserve the value of an Archmere education.

Respect

Goals To accomplish these objectives, Archmere will: 1.

Maintain a balanced budget based on revenues from tuition and non-tuition sources and prioritization of expenditures

2.

Maintain a school size that responds to the needs of the community and sustains the high program standards of the Academy

3.

Focus its efforts on feasible capital projects that enhance programs and the utility of the campus, while preserving its unique character as part of Archmere’s history

4.

Develop a culture of philanthropy among the key constituencies of the Archmere community to enhance annual giving support; to raise funds for capital needs; and to offer a variety of giving strategies, including planned gifts

5.

Grow the endowment to support scholarship and financial assistance, faculty and staff professional development and campus maintenance projects

6.

Pursue opportunities to generate revenues from sources other than tuition to reduce reliance on annual tuition increases

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You can view the online version of The 2012 Strategic Plan for Archmere Academy at

www.archmereacademy.com/plan2012

Inspiring Students to Distinction 3600 Philadelphia Pike t Claymont, DE 19703 302-798-6632 t 610-485-0373 www.archmereacademy.com