The Congressional Schools of Virginia Strategic Plan

Strategic Plan January 2014

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Caring Inspiring Caring Inspiring OUR Mission

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The mission of the Congressional Schools of Virginia is to prepare children, through an innovative and accelerated curriculum, to embrace the opportunities and responsibilities they will face as global citizens.

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OUR Vision

A student-focused community where children question, learn, contribute, and lead.

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OUR Values 

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Our Community CARES, taking a genuine interest in each child's well-being and personal growth.

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Our Community COLLABORATES, with students, faculty, and parents working together to support learning and growth.

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Our Community INSPIRES engaged learning through a dynamic and balanced curriculum.

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Our Community NURTURES its students, embracing each child’s individuality. We encourage students to take intellectual risks and learn from mistakes.

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Our Community CELEBRATES the learning experience!

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Our school's long history of outstanding education and service began in 1939 when Evelyn and Malcolm Devers founded a new primary school, the Congressional School, in Arlington, Virginia. Their vision was to provide the area’s youth with a learning environment where they could explore and engage the world around them drawing upon all of the resources, culture, and connections that Washington, DC has to offer.

In fact, the school became “The Congressional Schools of Virginia” in recognition of the many students attending the school whose parents were serving members of the United States Congress. The visionary approach taken by the founders has fostered in thousands of CSOV students, past and present, a desire to serve and advance the communities within which they live. And for generations since, our character, values and ideals have remained steadfast.

The bold idea that was our founders’ achievement has inspired thousands of students. Our values have endured even as the world has changed dramatically. Yet our vision is never static: we continually assess our work, looking for ways to adapt, grow and improve. Simply stated, we are on a journey of continued excellence. We understand that our students are entering a world of constant change and they will need to be flexible, adaptable, resourceful, and innovative thinkers.

At Congressional, we possess a solid foundation from which we can embark on a lifetime of learning, service and self-fulfillment.

Congressional’s future will build upon its rich traditions and past as we focus on four primary goals over the next few years. Our goals, described in this Strategic Plan, are holistic while at the same time simple and practical. They embody our desire to focus on and raise awareness of who we are, what we offer, and how and where we accomplish our mission.

The Board decided in the fall of 2012, that it was an important time to reassess our strategic priorities in order to best position the school for future success as th we approach our 75 Anniversary. The result was a newly formed Strategic Planning Committee comprised of Board Members, Administrators, and parents who began to collaboratively assess the school’s mission, history, prior Strategic Plan, current goals and priorities. This collaborative effort resulted in a draft plan, which was then vetted with parents, faculty and staff. This critical step resulted in further refinement and alignment of our blue print for the future.

What has resulted is a Strategic Plan and process that ensures clear direction, a nimble, living document that will benchmark progress informally each quarter with a more formal annual assessment. These frequent check-ins will also ensure the document is updated, as necessary.

This new Strategic Plan is completely aligned with our mission and vision, and positions The Congressional Schools of Virginia for a future richer than its’ past.

As we continue to evolve and challenge ourselves, we remain committed to inspiring and equipping our diverse student population to thrive in the dynamic world in which we live.

The Congressional Schools of Virginia continues to thrive in an ever-changing social and economic environment because we do not rest our past successes; rather we keep a keen eye on the future and continually focus all efforts on what is best for our students. We are grateful for the trust you have placed in us to nurture, guide and educate your children.

Most Sincerely,

Janet Marsh Executive Director

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Caring Inspiring Caring Inspiring Caring Inspiring Inspiring “We celebrate our holistic approach to educating, nurturing and guiding students to understand their limitless potential.�

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Vision

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The bedrock of Congressional’s vision is rooted in teaching and learning. To achieve this goal we will engage in a continual process of evaluation, collaborative refinement, thoughtful development and collective action in the areas of best practices in pedagogy and program.

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We encourage independent thinkers and learners by establishing high academic standards.

Our students have opportunities to excel in all academic disciplines, world languages, the fine arts, athletics, and through a varied selection of stimulating clubs and activities. A successful Congressional student graduates from our school with strong leadership characteristics, a strong moral compass, and an inherent desire to continually, and respectfully, question and learn. As we prepare students for a rapidly changing and challenging world, we also encourage them to live in the present, enjoy each and every aspect of their journey, be curious, take risks, leverage the vast resources available to them, and to respect and enjoy their natural surroundings.

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Desired Outcomes 

Foster a culture where professional growth is developed, celebrated, and ongoing.

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Appropriate technology is integrated throughout the Preschool - 8 grade curriculum, educating students in technological literacy and ethical use of technology.

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Our curriculum is evaluated and updated through internal reviews incorporating best practices and latest trends and research in education.

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An environment that fosters compassion and responsibility among our students by exposing them to diverse communities locally and globally is continued and enhanced.

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Develop a comprehensive Preschool- 8th grade service learning program.

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Programs that focus on character, leadership, and good citizenship are continually improved and enhanced.

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Awareness that students in any learning environment represent a wide array of learning Caring styles. WithInspiring this knowledge, students’ individual learning styles are attended to and

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students engaged within a spectrum of learning that can both remediate and enrich.

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Vision

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At the Congressional Schools of Virginia we are committed to maintaining a safe, inclusive, highly functional and nurturing year-round learning environment where students are challenged intellectually, physically and morally. Congressional’s pristine, tranquil 40 acre campus just inside the Washington D.C. beltway provides us with rich learning opportunities to sustain and leverage our unique natural resources.

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Desired Outcomes 

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Maximize the use of our buildings and outdoor space by evaluating current allocations of space.

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Create learning spaces that are highly functional, innovative, accessible to all, and embracing of green initiatives.

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The school’s natural surroundings are utilized as a learning resource to enhance and enrich the academic program.

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A community with shared and aligned attitudes, behaviors and information created across all programs including school, camp and co-curricular activities.

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Continued vigilance in the safety and security design and uses of our campus.

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Through prudent financial management and stewardship we will ensure the long-term financial sustainability of the Congressional Schools of Virginia. This sustainability will be underpinned by a mature financial management framework that is based upon a foundation of strong financial governance ensuring we are able to meet our short-term financial goals while investing in the long term strategic priorities of our school.

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Desired Outcomes Caring 

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Sound financial and operational management practiced to achieve continued excellence.

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Tuition levels and fees that support our mission, programs and goals established.

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Alternative revenue sources explored that are aligned with the school’s values.

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Capital expenditure priorities established and maintained over a one, three and five year timeframe.

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Caring Inspiring  A culture of philanthropic giving nurtured among current constituents and our Inspiring

donor base through new and expanded external alliances.

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Elevating our image in the Washington, DC, area is an essential component to Congressional’s future success. We will build upon our rich history and strong community to expand our reach to a broader constituent base so that we may best serve current and future students.

Congressional will move beyond its “hidden gem” status to become a recognized leading independent school in the greater Washington, DC, area.

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Desired Outcomes 

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Affinity among alumni, past parents, and faculty built through timely and direct communications, maximizing the use of social media and connection to constituents via events so they understand and embrace their roles as steward of the school’s future.

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Our current branding and marketing strategies re-evaluated to ensure they are current, effective and leverage technology and social media.

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Partnership opportunities for faculty and staff with other independent schools and related local and national organizations established and nurtured.

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Celebrate Congressional’s 75th Anniversary so that the history of the school and its future are acknowledged, embraced and respected.

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“I like participating in service learning at Congressional. When we delivered donated toys and gifts to local families in need, it felt good to know we had made a positive difference in other people’s lives.”

7th Grade Student

“My years at Congressional indelibly shaped the person I am today.”

Alumna, Class of 2008

“Congressional is a warm, student-centered environment.

I love the creativity I can have in my teaching.”

Lower School Teacher

3229 Sleepy Hollow Rd Falls Church VA 22042

CongressionalSchools.org

3229 Sleepy Hollow Road Falls Church, VA 22042 703-533-9711

CongressionalSchools.org