MDHS Strategic Plan:2023-2026

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

Mater Dei High School was founded in 1950. Beginning with a class of 111 students, the first priority was to place a statue of the Blessed Mother in the Grotto. For seven decades, this statue, Mary Mater Dei, has been watching over us; reminding us to live lives full of faith, hope, and love; and guiding our quest to develop faithfilled servant leaders. Leaders committed to serving others with a profound sense of Catholic social justice founded in love. Leaders that understand, “To love is to will the good for another.” St. Thomas Aquinas

The why behind our mission is the same today as it was over seventy years ago. Our young Monarchs must develop the necessary skills and values to ethically navigate this beautiful but complicated world. Therefore, Mater Dei High School will continue to intentionally embed Catholic values and the tradition of Honor, Glory, and Love into every aspect of the student experience. We will work to move beyond academic knowledge and, with intention, holistically develop each student’s will to choose goodness.

I believe it is vitally important that we continue to achieve our mission. This Strategic Plan, which the school has undertaken, provides us the opportunity to bring the Mater Dei community together in order to collegially agree upon and work towards common goals. Recently, we collaborated with qualified stakeholders from different school wide areas and sent a survey to thousands of passionate Mater Dei community members. The information gained from conversations and survey data will be used to strategically direct Mater Dei High School for the next three years. Be assured, Mater Dei High School will always be a warm and welcoming community; provide opportunity to all who seek enrollment; pursue excellence in academics, athletics, and the performing arts; and will achieve our mission of developing faith-filled servants leaders or as we say, “Monarchs.” We are all grateful to everyone who has joined in this effort. Your contributions will positively impact this great school for years to come.

It is our hope that you will learn more and participate in the achievement of our Strategic Plan. Your support, as well as the community’s support, are necessary to ensure the future success of Mater Dei High School. Our success is our country’s, and the world’s success. For we know that our country and the world are better places due to the work of Mater Dei Monarchs. We look forward to collegially collaborating with you!

With Honor, Glory, and Love,

Michael P. Brennan President

“Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” PROVERBS 16:3

LETTER FROM THE PRINCIPAL

We at Mater Dei High School are proud of all programs which afford students opportunity to live out the true Monarch experience and build their lives on the values of Honor, Glory, Love. This exciting strategic plan will serve to further enhance that Monarch experience in many meaningful ways.

All students are encouraged “to get involved.” This means that in our holistic approach to education, we embrace students and encourage them to become the best version of themselves. Some students will experience their best in the arts, for others it may be in athletics or ASB, and all will grow in their faith lives as they participate and become active in Campus Ministry and the school’s religious formation program.

At the same time, all students will take a full and rigorous academic courseload. They will be challenged in the core subjects of Religious Studies, English, Math, Science, Social Studies, World Languages and will have opportunities to explore their interests in Film and Media, the Visual and Performing Arts, the STEM Program, and other elective courses.

We are proud of the fact that each year 99% of students continue to a college or university of choice here in the US or in different parts of the world. You will find Monarchs in the Ivy League Universities, throughout the University of California system, enrolled in the California State University System and in private universities throughout the country. It’s not uncommon to run into a Monarch in different parts of the US and indeed in different countries. The network is wide, and that Monarch Character evident in Honor, Glory, Love is alive in all alumni as they follow life’s journey.

It’s always a Great Day to be A Monarch.

Sincerely,

Frances Clare Principal

85% Students on the Honor Roll

47%

in

67%

Students involved in Athletic Programs

Comprehensive Academics 55 Honors Courses

OUR METHODOLOGY

By engaging with thousands of our constituents and stakeholders using the following methods, we gained valuable insights into their perceptions, needs, and expectations, harnessing their collective wisdom to craft a bold vision for our future:

• Conducting online surveys to gather extensive quantitative data.

• Facilitating focus groups of faculty and staff, current and past parents, students, and alumni to understand the perspectives of all those who believe in our mission.

• Analyzing the data collected from these sources to identify key themes, trends, and opportunities for the strategic plan.

• Conducting a SWOT analysis to assess the institution’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in the context of the competitive landscape.

Our strategic plan reflects our aspirations to make a meaningful difference and sets a clear roadmap for our success. We invite you to join us on this exciting journey and discover how our strategic plan will propel us towards our shared vision of excellence.

I am grateful to be able to thank Mr. Brennan and the Mater Dei staff for their diligent work on this new strategic plan: to lead all of the Mater Dei Community in Honor, Glory and Love of God and His Mother!

Most Rev. Kevin W. Vann, J.C.D., D.D. Bishop of Orange, California

Planning for the future involves placing our trust in God and being good stewards of the gifts entrusted to us. May this strategic plan pave the way to continue the important mission of providing a holistic Catholic education centered in knowledge, faith, and service.

Dr. Erin Barisano, Ed. D Superintendent, Orange County Catholic Schools

The legacy of Mater Dei High School is that it has pursued excellence in all aspects. This new Strategic Plan will build on the hard work accomplished in the past and will help the school more greatly align with the values of the Gospel and the Church of Orange.

Fr. Steve Sallot ’72 Pastor, Our Lady Queen of Angels Church, Newport Beach

CORE PLANNING TEAMS

FUNDING

Sandra Golonka

Kathleen Kelly ’94

Lindsay Lawrence ’00

Neil LeVecke

Scott Melvin

Lynn Nguyen

Helen Steves

Frank Suryan

MARKETING & ENROLLMENT

Allison Bergeron ’96

Travis Boyd

Jeni Dennin

Jennifer Hornbuckle ’03

Parker Shoaff ’12

Sam Stremick

STUDENT EXPERIENCE

Leslie Boyd

Stacie Brewster

Molly Chace ’00

Jack Conklin ’80

Maria Corona ’04

Jeanette Costa

Bob Demmond ’86

Kelly Dullard

Josh Dutra

Joel Hartmann

Samantha Kozak

Melony Myers

David Taylor

Kevin Tiber

Cathy Ward

Rachel Svoboda ’99

Nathan Underwood

Diana Neustadt

Vanessa Peña-Gautier

Maurissa Talarico ’93

Dimitra Triantos

STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE

Mike Brennan

Molly Chace ’00

Frances Clare

Jeni Dennin

Scott Melvin

Diana Neustadt

Fr. Steve Sallot ’72

David Taylor

OUR VISION FAITH FORMATION

OUR OBJECTIVES:

We offer intentional religious and spiritual opportunities for faculty and staff, students, and the extended Mater Dei community.

• Commit to student faith formation through intentional and meaningful programs and offerings.

• Continue to develop our Service Program to include new elements of reflection, community, retreat, and mentorship to help recognize God’s call to be a lifelong server and help those in need.

• Continue to offer opportunities to faculty and staff for prayer, spiritual development, and faith formation.

• Continue to invite our faculty and staff to participate in service and outreach opportunities and model putting our Faith in action.

• Develop additional parent programs for prayer and learning opportunities.

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

We offer strong academic programs that challenge our students and reflect the ever-changing demands and opportunities in the workforce and in the world.

OUR OBJECTIVES:

• Develop, attract, and retain faculty and staff that are highly qualified professionals who provide nurturing guidance and are role models for living our mission.

• Strengthen our ongoing faculty professional development programs so that we are at the forefront of best practices in education.

• Lead in our Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics programs (STEM), and in the use of technology and innovation in teaching.

• Explore curriculum enhancement and partnership opportunities that expose students to the latest trends in learning.

• Develop plans to ensure the smooth transition of institutional knowledge from each generation to the next, ensuring a consistent and committed master plan.

STUDENT LIFE

OUR OBJECTIVES:

We remain dedicated to protecting and supporting all aspects of student development.

• Offer a wide range of extra-curricular and co-curricular activities and programs that fully develop students’ skills and talents thus enabling them to perform at their fullest potential.

• Further strengthen our guidance and counseling resources to meet the ever-changing needs of our students, while ensuring that parents and students are aware of the range of services that are available.

• Continue development of and expand our innovative Be Well Mater Dei student wellness program.

COMMUNITY

OUR OBJECTIVES:

We foster a community built on Honor, Glory, and Love where each stakeholder can connect, share their experiences, and support each other.

• Develop student led initiatives in areas of service, academics, and extra-curriculars which aim to connect and enhance the vibrant student community.

• Explore new opportunities to engage and support our vast alumni network.

• Develop engagement programs for prospective, current, and lifetime parents to fortify their commitment to the school.

• Enhance our relationships with Diocesan parochial schools throughout Orange County.

• Strengthen and continue to build relationships with municipal and business groups in Santa Ana and Orange County to broaden the positive impact of Mater Dei High School.

MARKETING & ENROLLMENT

OUR OBJECTIVES:

We strive to be the leading Catholic co-educational college preparatory high school of choice with a thriving enrollment.

• Develop a comprehensive marketing plan to assertively and consistently promote our mission and the uniqueness of our warm and welcoming Mater Dei Catholic community.

• Strengthen our admissions processes and operations.

• Develop student support programs to assist in the transition to high school life and further strengthen our retention rate.

FINANCE

We commit to sound financial management and strong funding to achieve our mission and vision.

FACILITIES

We ensure our facilities are state of the art, safe, and continually adapting to academic, extracurricular, spiritual, and co-curricular needs.

OUR OBJECTIVES:

• Develop a comprehensive Advancement Plan that implements best practices and maximizes our philanthropic potential.

• Inspire our alumni, parents, and benefactors to support and invest in our mission.

• Grow the endowment to at least two times our annual operating budget.

• Conduct a capital campaign to fund our campus Master Plan priorities and propel initial endowment growth.

• Explore creative new opportunities for increased revenue sources.

• Explore opportunities to more fully utilize the talents and experience of the Monarch Foundation Board members.

OUR OBJECTIVES:

• Create an updated Master Plan for phased facilities improvements in these key areas: Performing Arts; STEM; modernization of original campus buildings; Athletics; Security.

• Address critical space needs for extra-curricular activities.

• Create a Facilities Committee to assist with the Master Plan and Maintenance Plan activities.

• Develop, update, and formalize our campus maintenance programs.

KEY ACTION STEPS

1 2

Mater Dei High School leadership will oversee a detailed strategic action plan – with timelines, measurable outcomes, and areas of accountability – that flows from the vision, strategic priorities, and objectives articulated in this document.

We will initiate a capital campaign to fund those elements in the plan that require capital investment and philanthropic support. Currently, our highest identified priorities are a new Performing Arts Center, STEM facilities and significant endowment growth.

Both of these actions will be initiated in 2023, with the expectation that the plans will be executed, refreshed and updated over the next three years.

OUR MISSION

Mater Dei High School is a Catholic, co-educational, college preparatory high school of the Diocese of Orange, California. Our mission is to provide a holistic education rooted in Catholic faith, values, and the tradition of Honor, Glory, and Love. We are renowned for being a warm, welcoming, and diverse community where students flourish academically, athletically, artistically, and spiritually while embodying servant leadership. We empower our students to develop into ethical and inspirational leaders who positively impact their communities and the world.