Focused Forward

FOCUSED FORWARD Key Strategic Initiatives

2016-2019

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ollegiate School has a well-deserved reputation for being a forwardthinking community of learners that fosters a climate of continuous improvement and evolution, centered on the best interest of its students. As always, we remain steadfast in preparing the next generation of dynamic and creative leaders who will embrace their obligation to serve and make a difference in our world.

It is with this spirit that we enthusiastically share with you Focused Forward, a summary of our 2016-2019 Key Strategic Initiatives for the School.

This work represents the contributions of our many constituencies, with a goal of encouraging a unified, yet authentically creative, approach to strategic thinking at all levels of the School, at all times. Using current research, as well as the feedback obtained from various sectors of the Collegiate community in recent years, these strategic initiatives have been developed in a manner that allows for collaborative progress, while remaining nimble enough to sustain our innovative, responsive and student-centered focus.

With input from more than

These strategic initiatives have been developed in a manner that allows for collaborative progress, while remaining nimble enough to sustain our innovative, responsive and student-centered focus.

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600 parents, alumni and students (obtained through several surveys and focus groups), and the contributions over a twoyear period of more than 200 faculty and staff garnered through regular meetings of various groups (such as the eight Responsible Citizenship Committees comprised of more than 30 faculty and staff), this plan reflects the collective vision for and trajectory of our community for the next several years.

Collegiate’s Centennial Committee, on behalf of the Collegiate School Board of Trustees, helped to facilitate the strategic planning process by providing guidance around our school mission,values, vision and guiding philosophy and by ensuring that the voices of the School’s many constituencies were incorporated into the Key Strategic Initiatives. The Board of Trustees approved the final plan in May 2016.

Strategic Plan | 2016-2019

To ensure the successful execution of Focused Forward, the School’s strategic planning model includes detailed action plans, annual milestones and quantitative metrics. The timeline for implementation of many of our key initiatives and related milestones will average three years or less, minimizing the possibility that collective efforts become stagnant or outdated.

We will identify and utilize a variety of tools and metrics to assess and track our work. We look forward to sharing updates on our progress throughout the implementation of Focused Forward.

For more than 100 years, Collegiate School has embraced its call to prepare young people for the challenges that lie ahead of them.

We believe Focused Forward: Key Initiatives for 2016-2019 will guide us in continuing to exemplify that proud tradition.

Centennial Committee Tracey Ragsdale, Chair ..................................... Trustee, Alumni Parent Richard Bennett ’90 ........................................................ Trustee, Parent Allen Chamberlain ...................... Upper School Faculty, Alumni Parent Susan Droke ................................................................... Academic Dean Steve Hickman ................................................................ Head of School Eucharia Jackson .......................................................... Trustee, Parent John Martin ’78 .................................................. Trustee, Alumni Parent Debbie Miller .............................. Head of Lower School, Alumni Parent Gaye Montgomery ............................................. Trustee, Alumni Parent Frank Mountcastle ’83 .................................................. Trustee, Parent Sheryl Nolt ’85 ............................................................... Trustee, Parent John O’Neill ................................ Chairman, Board of Trustees, Parent Lisa Roday ........................................................ Trustee, Alumni Parent Brude Stoever ................................................................. Trustee, Parent Clare Sisisky .............................. Director of Strategic Planning, Parent Amanda Surgner ’83 .................................................................... Parent Michelle Wiltshire ............................................. Trustee, Alumni Parent

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Mission The mission of Collegiate School is to create a diverse and inclusive community of learners committed to a challenging and supportive educational experience that will foster the intellectual, moral, emotional and physical development of each student.

Strategic Plan | 2016-2019

Values Honor Personal integrity and devotion to the truth, which make one trustworthy, forthright, responsible and fair

Love of Learning A creative spirit that promotes intellectual and personal growth through exploration, inquiry and openness to change

Excellence A sustained commitment to meeting high standards of character, achievement and personal accountability

Respect Fundamental regard for the dignity and worth of each individual

Community A commitment to responsive and compassionate citizenship and service on campus, in the local community and in the broader world 7

Vision and Guiding Philosophy Preparing the Next Generation of Creative Thinkers and Responsible Citizens Collegiate is an exceptional community of learners. As we strive for academic excellence, we believe that character is as important as creativity, integrity accompanies intellect and service joins with leadership.

Strategic Plan | 2016-2019

Collegiate School

• Attracts talented, highly motivated and diverse students who demonstrate personal and academic promise for success at the university level and beyond

• Draws outstanding and inspiring faculty members dedicated to guiding students through a challenging curriculum, using innovative and sound teaching practices while furthering their own professional development

• Instills an enduring and spirited sense of belonging through an uncommon richness of relationships among students, families, faculty and alumni

• Believes that the globalization of our world requires the constant and dynamic evaluation and evolution of our School

• Graduates responsible citizens who are inquisitive thinkers and compassionate leaders prepared to engage the challenges of a rapidly changing world

• Celebrates and embraces individuals of all faiths and beliefs, while acknowledging the ethical and moral Christian and Jewish principles upon which Collegiate School was founded

• Prizes responsible, forward-thinking leaders who are committed to fulfilling the School’s mission

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Environmental Overview In a century already experiencing unprecedented upheaval and transformation, Collegiate School must ensure that its students leave prepared to thrive in an increasingly connected world that rewards creativity, character, critical thinking, communication, collaboration and cross-cultural competency. Collegiate students will need to use their minds imaginatively to solve difficult problems; work across challenging disciplines and collaborate with others; understand why and advocate for how they learn best; exhibit a respect for the dignity of every human being; demonstrate their commitment to serve and act responsibly to sustain the environment. The Collegiate curriculum must address purposefully the essential elements of a 21st century education as articulated by the Center for Curriculum Redesign:

• Knowledge (What we know)

• Skills (How we use what we know)

• Character (How we behave and engage in the world)

• Meta-Learning (How we reflect and adapt)

Strategic Plan | 2016-2019

Strengths • Challenging academics, superior teaching, outstanding student achievement and a demonstrated record of successful college placement • Culture of honoring tradition and encouraging innovation • Life-changing relationships and enduring values • Commitment to developing each individual student’s potential • Embracing our responsibility to make a difference in the world • Outstanding local, regional and national reputation • Healthy enrollment demand • Outstanding facilities and strong financial position 11

Opportunities • Responding to rapidly changing, technologically-connected global environment • Understanding well how technology is redefining learning and work environments • Incorporating current research about how learning occurs and how instruction is impacted • Embracing the need to connect seamlessly the curriculum across all disciplines • Using metrics to help ensure each student served has the opportunity to be successful • Offering a diverse and inclusive community of learners and educators • Communicating well what differentiates our School

Strategic Plan | 2016-2019

Strategic Priorities • Prepare our young people for an increasingly crowded, connected and diverse global community that more than ever rewards creativity, character, critical thinking, communication, collaboration and cross-cultural competency • Utilize responsibly and creatively the power of technology to support learning, innovation, problem solving and communication • Embrace new research about how learning occurs and how that knowledge can strengthen the educational experience for all young people • Attract, retain and serve a more diverse community of learners and educators • Take responsibility for and be held accountable for serving our community, respecting the dignity of every human being and sustaining the earth’s environment • Secure Collegiate School as the school of choice in light of:

1. Mature and competitive market for JK-12 independent school experience

2. More innovative approaches in the public sector and more non-traditional educational alternatives

3. Changing demographics • Communicate effectively what distinguishes the Collegiate School experience

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Strategic Initiatives Curriculum, Instruction and Student Achievement • Develop a framework to ensure that teaching and learning methodologies and practices are cohesive across divisions and align with the Collegiate vision of academic excellence Highlights include: Create a profile of the graduate, profile of a teacher, demonstrations of learning and the Collegiate classroom that clearly articulate the Collegiate experience • Develop Comprehensive JK-12 Responsible Citizenship Curriculum incorporating the eight pillars of Economic Literacy, Entrepreneurship, Service Learning, Civic Engagement, Inclusion, Global Engagement, Sustainability and Ethics Highlights include: Create innovative capstone experiences at each division focused on leadership, problem solving, and collaboration; support implementation of the pillars in the curriculum at each grade level • Increase Project Based Learning (PBL) opportunities across all divisions and disciplines, with special emphasis on developing and implementing a comprehensive STEAM curriculum, including new initiatives in coding, engineering and robotics Highlights include: Provide focused professional development around Project Based Learning and authentic assessment; increase student opportunities in coding, engineering and robotics

Strategic Plan | 2016-2019

• Develop Comprehensive JK-12 Wellness Curriculum Highlights include: Enrich curriculum units around healthy relationships, substance abuse education, social media education, mental health and stress management; connect all areas of school life that are involved in wellness curriculum, including advisory, retreat days, health and wellness courses and counselor programs • Create a comprehensive framework for JK-12 Instructional Technology Highlights include: Develop a philosophy statement and scope and sequence of technology, engineering, coding and robotics skills; develop a professional development plan for teachers; launch Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) in the Upper School; integrate student Learning Management System into all three divisions • Develop Methods for Tracking and Addressing Student Achievement in Academics, Athletics and Fine Arts Highlights include: Use digital portfolios to demonstrate student learning over time; define, communicate and track fitness goals in athletics; develop strategic review in the arts including ways to support greater specialization and depth

People • Develop Comprehensive Approach for Attracting, Retaining, Evaluating and Developing Faculty and Staff Highlights include: Develop and implement strategic approach to attract outstanding faculty and staff from Richmond and beyond that supports our programmatic and diversity initiatives; strengthen and enrich the School’s performance and professional development approaches, and connect more directly those approaches to strategic initiatives

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Systems • Curriculum: Undertake Comprehensive Curriculum Mapping Initiative to Lay Out Skills, Content, and Assessment at Each Grade Level and Across All Disciplines Highlights include: Enhance curriculum to further crosscurricular connections and integration of PBL/STEAM, Responsible Citizenship and Wellness into JK-12 curriculum • Communications: Tell the Collegiate Story in a More Compelling and Consistent Manner Highlights include: Develop and implement comprehensive communications and marketing plan aligned with demographic trends and with the School’s diversity and inclusion initiatives; create Parent Portal to improve communication with parents • Enrollment: Develop Understanding of Future Demographic and Behavioral Trends Highlights include: Develop flexible enrollment scenarios that reflect demographic trends and projected demand • Data: Develop Enterprise-wide, Integrated Data Management System Highlights include: Integrate student records, enrollment, business and development databases; adopt human resources data management system Strategic Plan | 2016-2019

Strategic Initiatives continued

Financial Sustainability • Develop and Implement a Value-Driven and Inflation-Based Tuition Pricing Strategy Highlights include: Incorporate strategy into the annual budgeting and long-term financial planning processes • Develop 3-5 year Financial Plan that Incorporates an Expense Control/New Initiatives Funding Model Highlights include: Conduct extensive review and allocation of expenses; develop flexible and nimble financial model incorporating several potential scenarios • Develop and Implement Long-Term Financial Assistance Strategy and Funding Model Highlights include: Align financial assistance strategy with mission-based goals; differentiate long-term and shortterm goals; develop fundraising strategy to sustain financial assistance initiatives • Grow Endowment Highlights include: Develop fundraising plan to support a multi-year endowment campaign; develop creative donor options for supporting the medium- and long-term priorities of the School

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Strategic Initiatives continued

Risk Management • Undertake Comprehensive Review of Campus Security Highlights include: Develop new Emergency Operations and Crisis Communication plans; enhance training of all faculty and staff, students and families • Undertake Comprehensive Review of Data Security Highlights include: Conduct independent cyber security review; develop business continuity plan

Facilities • Renovate and Expand McFall Hall Dining Center and Oates Theater to better meet existing student needs and future student demand • Renovate and Repurpose Burke Hall to support increased hands-on, inquiry-based and collaborative learning experiences and additional classrooms

• Renovate Seal Athletic Center to provide a championship indoor athletics venue for players and spectators

Strategic Plan | 2016-2019

Minds that seek. Hearts that serve.