An Extraordinary Vision: Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy's 2016-2020 Strategic Plan

FLINTRIDGE SACRED HEART ACADEMY

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ear friends of Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy,

Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy has so much to be proud of! In the last five years, the Academy has launched the 1:1 laptop program and a comprehensive research curriculum culminating with the Junior and Senior Research projects; developed new faculty and staff compensation policies; completed a boarding program assessment; designed a popular transportation program; adopted a campus Master Plan to improve our buildings and campus, and reached an agreement with Protect LCF to increase our enrollment cap and to address other matters of concern with our neighbors.

And after many years of work, we are finally enjoying a brand new Arts Center! The revamped building is complete with a stunning theatre, art gallery and expanded 3D art classroom.

It is safe to say that FSHA has never been healthier or stronger in its 85 years. All this progress and success has grown from years of dedicated work and the guidance of our last strategic plan. However, there is still much more to do. As we look toward the future, FSHA must continue to grow and develop. Therefore, it is with great enthusiasm we present our 2016 - 2020 Strategic Plan: An Extraordinary Vision.

In August of 2015, FSHA’s Board of Directors commissioned the creation of a strategic plan to guide the school over the next three to five years. Aided

by strategic planning counsel, the Strategic Planning Committee of the Board met several times from August 2015 to April 2016. Information was gathered from all constituencies, including employees, board members, parents, students and alumnae, which informed the development of the plan. Through the planning process, updates were provided to the Board of Directors to inform them of progress and obtain their feedback through an interactive process. This plan was adopted by the Board in May of 2016 and full implementation will begin in September of 2016.

This plan is based on the belief that strong schools must evaluate themselves constantly and establish measurable goals and priorities that ensure their ability to deliver their mission in a changing environment. An Extraordinary Vision does just that. It reaffirms FSHA’s commitment to academic, athletic and artistic excellence.

It reflects the essence of our mission and values. It embraces the shared values of our community. Simply put, the initiatives laid out in An Extraordinary Vision will propel Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy into the ever changing educational landscape in new and exciting ways while maintaining our strong Dominican traditions.

We hope that you join us in this Extraordinary Vision.

Sr. Carolyn McCormack, O.P. President

Robert Malchione Board Chair

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FLINTRIDGE SACRED HEART ACADEMY

History & Philosophy

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ounded in 1931, Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy is sponsored by the Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose. In the spirit of Saint Dominic and Mother Maria Pia Backes, foundress of the Mission San Jose Dominican Sisters, FSHA shares in the 800-year heritage of the Dominican Order of Preachers, which is embedded in the Catholic faith.

Originally a boarding school, FSHA began accepting day students in 1951, phasing out the elementary grades and becoming exclusively a high school. From the beginning, the school’s day population drew from a wide geographical area that now includes the entire Los Angeles basin, with many from the neighboring communities of the San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys. The international boarding program includes student from many countries, but predominately from Korea, China, Taiwan, Mexico and the U.S. An integrated life of study, prayer, service, and community, predicated on the motto of Veritas – truth – constitutes the pillars of Dominican life, and is the foundation of Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy. FSHA

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strives to partner with parents in the formation of their daughters, recognizing the interdependence of physical, emotional, spiritual, intellectual, social, and environmental health and its benefits for learning. Thus, FSHA offers a rigorous college preparatory curriculum, outstanding visual and performing arts, an excellent athletic program, a dynamic campus ministry and service program, unique leadership opportunities in clubs, athletics, and co-curricular opportunities.

Our Mission Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, a Catholic, Dominican, independent, college preparatory, day and boarding school, educates young women for a life of faith, integrity, and truth.

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FLINTRIDGE SACRED HEART ACADEMY

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VISION Statement

Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy will be recognized as the ideal choice for young women seeking academic excellence and extraordinary learning experiences within a globally diverse, Catholic, Dominican day and boarding community that values balanced living.

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FLINTRIDGE SACRED HEART ACADEMY

VALUE

Statement With Veritas (Truth) and the Dominican pillars of prayer, study, community and service as our foundation, these shared values of our community inspire our decisions and behaviors.

The FSHA community strives to:

BE Collaborative.

We value and respect divergent points of view. We seek insight from other’s thoughts and ideas. We build on each other’s ideas recognizing that the greatest outcomes emerge through collaborative efforts.

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BE Authentic.

We cultivate self-awareness and discovery that allows our community to examine its strengths, as well as its opportunity for growth and change in a safe and supportive space. We build trusting relationships by speaking honestly and respectfully; we strive to be transparent and genuine.

BE Bold.

BE Compassionate.

We act with creativity and take intellectual risks; we find our voice and use it thoughtfully and confidently. We strive to move outside of our comfort zone to embrace challenges and change.

We are committed to learning about best practices and innovation in education and adapt them to our unique needs. We strive to be our best.

We strive to put mercy before judgment.

We respect others by acting with care, concern and empathy both for people and all of creation. We share our stories and experiences to strengthen relationships and embrace our differences. We respond openheartedly in service to others to build a more just society.

BE Faith-filled.

We celebrate and share the beauty of our Catholic, Dominican heritage. We seek to build foundations for individual lifelong faith journeys. We strive to evaluate moral and ethical choices and issues based on a well-formed conscience.

We recognize the interdependence of multiple faith traditions in a complex world.

BE Engaged.

BE Joyful.

We are passionate about learning; we’re intellectually curious. We embrace scholarship as a way to gain greater perspective into ourselves, others, and the world. We think deeply and engage in an ongoing cycle of improvement. We are present in our daily interactions with one another. We understand our responsibility to contribute to our community.

We nurture gratitude for the opportunities afforded each day. We’re expressive and exuberant and enjoy our community. We take time to have fun together and embrace the lighter moments of life. We cultivate and celebrate lifelong relationships.

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FLINTRIDGE SACRED HEART ACADEMY

GOAL 1:

Extraordinary

People We will attract, develop and retain extraordinary and diverse faculty, staff and students who exemplify our mission and values. We are committed to providing opportunities that allow our people to flourish within our community.

STRATEGIES: • Create and implement a recruitment plan that attracts and retains the best, most qualified faculty, staff and board members while instilling diversity that mirrors the community and provides positive role models for our young women.

• Using leading technology and best practices, design and implement a robust admissions management program that advances and tracks students from prospect to enrolled student and beyond. Ensure that faculty, staff and board members understand the vital, interrelated roles they play in this dynamic process.

• Design and implement an admissions research plan that collects and analyzes data on internal and external factors affecting enrollment, student success and the school’s image and use, as appropriate, to fulfill enrollment objectives.

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GOAL 2:

Extraordinary

Program We will pursue and implement academic and co-curricular programs that respond to the everchanging educational landscape. We will prepare our young women for college and beyond by incorporating collaboration, interdisciplinary learning, experiential approaches, opportunities for self-discovery and the development of life skills, in an integrated day and boarding program.

STRATEGIES: •C ontinue to research 21st century models of interdisciplinary curriculum and identify and develop best practices to meet our academic vision.

•S trengthen opportunities for students to deepen their spiritual formation within our Catholic, Dominican learning community.

•D evelop and implement a residential life curriculum that enhances the experiences of both our boarding and day students.

•D esign and implement a comprehensive wellness program that encourages healthy and balanced living.

•D efine the objectives, then design and begin the implementation of a summer program that furthers the mission of the school.

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GOAL 3:

Extraordinary

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We will enhance our unique hilltop setting, a signature asset, by modernizing our campus to create the optimal learning environment for our mission and programs.

STRATEGIES: •O btain City approval on Master Plan which will allow campus modernization plans to move forward over the next decade.

• I mplement the multiphase project (Arts Center phase two, high school, parking structure, sports field) •W hile the long-term Master Plan is being implemented, identify short term economical approach to update the high school and other spaces to meet the immediate needs of the school.

GOAL 4:

Extraordinary

Partnerships We will strengthen relationships with our community of parents, grandparents, alumnae, parents of alumnae, friends of the school and foundations to deepen the ongoing commitment to our mission, to strengthen our culture of giving and to create a network of strategic partnerships.

STRATEGIES: •P rovide opportunities that allow community members, beyond current parents, to more fully engage in the life of school through social, professional and spiritual events that leverage our unique resources and relationships and reinforce the notion that “you never leave the Hill.”

• Build a culture of philanthropy that educates our community about the critical role of giving to create a compelling case for making FSHA a top philanthropic priority.

•F ormalize and establish partnerships with thought leaders in education, business, and the community to ensure that we are engaged in the latest trends and can adapt programs to meet the needs of the 21st century economy.

Woman of the Year honoree Rita Illig Liebelt ’76 and family

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FLINTRIDGE SACRED HEART ACADEMY

GOAL 5:

Extraordinary

Presence We will raise our profile as a leader in secondary girls’ education by highlighting and promoting our distinctive programs and accomplishments through internal and external networks, leveraging both formal and informal communication strategies.

STRATEGIES: • Evaluate the current perception of our program in the marketplace and identify and articulate our vision for education and the programs that differentiate us from our competition to ensure our brand reflects the current reality of our school.

• Address strategic and operational communications challenges so that all internal stakeholders are effective and well informed ambassadors for FSHA. • Design and implement a marketing plan that matches our strengths and distinguishing characteristics to the identified needs, interest and abilities of prospective students and then promote accordingly. Proactively position FSHA as the ideal school of choice in our competitive marketplace.

• Maintain and strengthen a strong partnership between FSHA and its neighbors.

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STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE Robert Malchione, Chair Sr. Carolyn McCormack, O.P., President Sr. Celeste Marie Botello, O.P. , Principal Pete Collins Michael Davitt Carmella Grahn, Director of Finance, Planning and Operations John Laco Bob Harper Matthew Lewis Darla Vessadini Longo ’75 Shelly Wenker Schroth ’94, Director of Advancement Sherrie Singer, Assistant Principal for Curriculum and Instruction

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Robert Malchione, Chair Sr. Carolyn McCormack, O.P., President Brian Arial Jeffrey Bennett Lia Carter Pete Collins Ann Holmquist John Hrovat Sr. Gloria Marie Jones, O.P. John Laco Matthew Lewis Darla Vessadini Longo ’75 Dennis Maguire Barbara Marshall Sarah Sima McCann ’96 Christine Longo Navarro ’82 Juli Goodwin Roginson ’87 Keith Sharp Ted Snyder Sr. Johnellen Turner, O.P. Allan Villegas

FLINTRIDGE SACRED HEART ACADEMY

Seeking truth. Serving others.

440 St. Katherine Drive La Cañada Flintridge, California 91011 www.fsha.org