Our Lady of Grace School Strategic Plan 2023-2029

OUR LADY OF GRACE CATHOLIC SCHOOL 2022-2029

STRATEGIC PLAN

FROM THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD

DEAR FRIENDS OF OUR LADY OF GRACE,

Our Lady of Grace School, rooted in the Gospel and Catholic tradition, inspires students to grow in faith, to achieve academic excellence, and to serve others as disciples of Christ.

Our great school has been doing this for 100 years!

This mission has been successful because of the dedication of our parish community and the leadership and expertise of the principal, teachers, and staff who instruct the students daily in spiritual and academic areas. All of this begins with careful planning, keeping the anticipated image of our graduates always at the forefront. This planning has resulted in the outstanding performance of our graduates in high school.

The planning continues as we prepare for another century of Catholic education in Penndel. The Parish, Board, Administration, and the faculty and staff of OLG are united in their efforts to continue the tradition of excellence established so long ago. Consequently, we are pleased to submit our Strategic Plan as a guide to future success.

A century of pride, a future of promise!

God Bless,

Maryjane McHugh Chairperson, OLG Board of Limited Jurisdiction

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

DEAR MEMBERS OF THE OUR LADY OF GRACE COMMUNITY,

The Prophet Jeremiah speaks boldly to the Jewish people during the Babylonian Exile. He tells the Israelites that God has a plan for them, plans to give to them ‘hope and a future’ (29:11). The same is true for Catholic education. We have a vibrant and hopeful future.

Over the course of 2021-22 school year, various stakeholders: teachers, administrators, parents, members of the Board of Limited Jurisdiction, and individuals with strategic planning experience participated in a comprehensive strategic planning process to examine the future of OLG. Through this process, we identified four areas of focus and their accompanying initiatives. Our goal was to develop a holistic, multi-faceted plan to ensure the continued sustainability of our school.

This plan has a life cycle of seven years. It is also a living document, meaning it will be constantly revisited to measure accountability and to adjust to the everchanging educational climate that Catholic schools face.

I am grateful for the time and tireless effort of our strategic planning committee and all those who contributed to the task of creating a comprehensive and datainformed plan.

This document represents the outstanding sense of dedication and commitment within OLG. The document reflects a plan with the primary goal of ensuring the future of our beloved school.

This strategic plan not only reflects a commitment to a successful future but a call to action to continue to make OLG the best it can possibly be for our students.

In Christ, Eric R. Harper Principal

Area of Focus: Enrollment

GOAL: OLG will increase enrollment annually by improving awareness to the greater community and positioning itself as a viable option to our targeted market.

Recommended Initiatives

• Targeted direct mailing

• Add additional recruitment events for prospective families

• Paid digital advertising

• Establish presence at community events

• Communicate scholarship and financial aid opportunities effectively

Area of Focus: Financial Viability

GOAL: OLG will financially steward for the future.

Recommended Initiatives

• Decrease parish subsidy by 5% each year starting with $175,000 subsidy in 2022-23

• Targeted mailing during Fall and Spring Appeals based on previous donations

• Add 10 alumni donors each appeal

Area of Focus: Academics

GOAL: OLG will increase its academic course offerings to expand on its current robust, multi-faceted education.

Recommended Initiatives

• Add two new clubs annually

• Expand academic curriculum to include Spanish and Coding

Area of Focus: Communication

GOAL: OLG will improve communication with current families and institute a clear communications plan for news, updates, and information.

Recommended Initiatives

• Communicate data and outcomes of major school events, including surveys, Walk-A-Thon, Spring Fling, and Annual Appeal

• Establish timelines for updating/distributing major school policies and procedures including Handbook

• Establish monthly newsletter highlighting recent school news