Mission & Identity | 2024-2027 Action Plan

Office of Mission & Identity

Faithfully Living Out Our Calls 2024–2027 Action Plan (presented to the Board of Directors on November 12, 2024)

Xaverian Brothers Sponsored Schools serve the Catholic Church’s educational mission by forming young people to be faith-filled contemplative leaders who address the evolving needs of our world. Informed by our Xaverian and gospel values, our schools seek to educate the whole student by nurturing each person’s unique giftedness.

Xaverian students model Christ by utilizing their talents to respect the diversity of God’s creation, seek justice, and love their neighbor.

– XBSS Network Mission Statement

Faithfully Living Out Our Calls 2024-2027 Action Plan for The Office of Mission and Identity This three year action plan serves as a complement to the school’s strategic plan and will focus exclusively on advancing critical priorities in the areas of Campus Ministry and Multicultural Affairs and Inclusion as it relates to the 2024 XBSS Mission Effectiveness Review and 2024 Climate Assessment of Our Lady of Good Counsel High School. This document, Faithfully Living Out Our Calls, is guided by the charism and mission of the Xaverian Brothers and seeks to articulate how the Office of Mission and Identity (established in 2024) is inspired by and advancing the calls of Xaverian Brothers Sponsored Schools.

We begin this plan by highlighting the calls.

The call to embrace our Catholic identity and Xaverian charism as partners in the church’s mission of evangelization within its ministry of education.

The call to a spirituality, flowing from a contemplative stance, which is formed by God’s presence in the common, ordinary, unspectacular flow of everyday life.

The call to be formed in the spiritual values of simplicity, humility, compassion, zeal, and trust.

The call for a challenging academic and co-curricular program that promotes the development of the whole person and their unique giftedness.

The call to recognize our Christian responsibility to work for justice and peace by responding to the needs of others.

The call to build diverse and inclusive communities that encourage enduring personal relationships through an understanding of culture and perspectives.

Faithfully Living Out Our Calls 2024-2027 Action Plan for The Office of Mission and Identity As underscored in Partners in Mission: Understanding the Xaverian Way “the Xaverian charism calls us to continually reflect upon our Xaverian-Catholic identity to assess and evaluate our programs, procedures, and policies in light of the teachings of the Catholic Church and the ideals and practices articulated in the description of the Xaverian charism.”

As the diversity of the Good Counsel community continues to grow, we are continually blessed with the opportunity to build on the strengths of our community; explore opportunities for greater understanding of the cultures and perspectives in our community; evangelize and form and disciples within our community; and adapt our programming to meet the needs and provide wholesome development to the members of our community.

The pillars of work presented in this document articulate how we intend to operationalize our calls and also respond to recommendations from Good Counsel’s 2024 XBSS Mission Effectiveness Review and 2024 Climate Assessment. In an effort to minimize duplication and maintain the complementary nature of this plan to the school’s strategic plan, this document focuses on more immediate initiatives to be carried out by the Office of Mission and Identity. There is also an underlying assumption that the offices of Campus Ministry and Multicultural Affairs and Inclusion will maintain the level of funding and staffing required to carry out the activities outlined in this plan, as indicated in the Our Lady of Good Counsel 2024-2029 strategic plan. Further, though this plan has been limited to three years, we recognize the need to have a truly living document that can be revised and expanded as needed to effectively respond to forthcoming institutional recommendations and the needs of the school community.

The Xaverian charism calls us to continually reflect upon “ our Xaverian-Catholic identity to assess and evaluate our

programs, procedures, and policies in light of the teachings of the Catholic Church and the ideals and practices articulated in the description of the Xaverian charism.

”

Pillar #1

Xaverian Spiritual Formation The school’s strategic plan identifies the need to deepen faith formation experiences at Good Counsel. And by invitation of the Xaverian Brothers, we are called as educators to develop “thoughtful and inquisitive leaders infused with the wisdom of the Gospels.” The Office of Mission and Identity will prioritize the following actions in an effort to nurture our students and to further realize this overarching goal.

In the 2024-2025 school year: Develop a plan for an intersectional educational series for all community stakeholdersstudents, faculty/staff, parents, board, and alumni rooted in the Xaverian charisms and spiritual values.

In the 2025-2026 school year: In collaboration with the President, incorporate a deep reflection of the Xaverian mission and values into the Presidential leadership team’s summer/annual planning.

Formally re-establish the Faculty Faith Formation Committee to revive bible study, prayer and fellowship, and advise on ministry to the community.

Provide dedicated support and structure to student-led bible studies.

Explore innovative methods of faith formation and to connect with students through their preferred platforms (ie Bible Apps, Hallow).

In the 2026-2027 school year: Develop and lead an annual retreat focused on Xaverian and Catholic identity for members of the entire school leadership team that affords time/space for spiritual discernment and develops a shared understanding of the Xaverian mission and values, which guide our approach to forming young people to be faith-filled contemplative leaders who address the evolving needs of our world.

Informed by the engagement and participation of relevant stakeholder groups, establish a Xaverian Formation Council that includes upperclassmen students, parents, faculty/staff, and alumni.

Provide opportunities for Good Counsel students to collaborate and participate in a joint mission based initiative (worship, service, cultural, etc) with another XBSS member school on at least an annual basis.

Pillar #2

Institutionalization of our Mission & Relationships In order to meaningfully advance key components of the strategic plan, the Office of Mission and Identity recognizes the need to ensure that all leaders and stakeholders within the Good Counsel community understand and support the school’s institutional mission. This pillar seeks to foster collaboration throughout our community; and as envisioned by our founder, Theodore James Ryken, to “mutually, help, encourage, and edify one another, and to work together.”

In the 2024-2025 school year: In coordination with the President and school leadership, ensure that school policies are reflective of the school’s commitments and values as it relates to diversity, inclusion, equity and justice.

In collaboration with the Principal and Deans, develop an effective bias incident response policy that includes prevention, accountability, and repair components.

In collaboration with the Principal and Deans, continue to integrate restorative practices, cultural responsiveness and proactive education in the school’s framework for discipline.

In collaboration with school leadership, explore and select a “Train the Trainer and/or Instructional Coach” model approach to building internal capacity for improved adoption and delivery of inclusive practices.

In collaboration with the Chief Communications Officer, continue to communicate an understanding of the role of liturgy and religious life to incoming and current students and families; and make explicit the links between Catholic practice and the principles of diversity, inclusion, equity and justice.

In collaboration with the Advancement department, support outreach and engagement to alumni.

In collaboration with school leadership, continue to provide professional development to faculty and staff on culturally responsive practices.

Continue to proactively support affinity groups to ensure that they are receiving the support needed to implement student-centered activities.

Pillar #2

Institutionalization of our Mission & Relationships In the 2025-2026 school year: Establish a Faculty/Staff Inclusion Committee to inform and support the implementation of activities in the Office of Multicultural Affairs and Inclusion.

Launch a formal orientation program for parents, especially new parents, to understand what it means to be an XBSS school and how our Xaverian charism impacts their child’s education.

Collaborate with the Athletic Department and coaches to more intentionally integrate Xaverian mission and values into the instruction, mentoring, and coaching of studentathletes.

Develop a retreat program targeted for student-athletes with a goal of reinforcing the Xaverian spiritual values and belonging at Good Counsel.

In collaboration with the school leadership team, develop and implement a recruitment and retention strategy for people of color, with a goal for school leadership and employees to better reflect the demographics that the school serves.

In coordination with the Chief Communications Officer, develop processes for identifying stories that reinforce our commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity, and justice and share those stories with the wider community through the school website, social media, and other means of communication.

In coordination with the Principal and Department Chairs, participate in department level curriculum reviews to ensure that culturally responsive pedagogical approaches are reflected in the content that students receive.

In the 2026-2027 school year: In coordination with the New Teacher Coordinators, revise the New Faculty and Staff Orientation Program to more directly address and incorporate components of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Pillar #3

Peace, Justice, & Inclusion Our Lady of Good Counsel is a vibrant community. We live out our values through our humility, service, and commitment to understanding one another. This pillar seeks to build on our foundation of care, compassion, and dedication to building a just and peaceful society and world.

In the 2024-2025 school year: Continue to conduct workshops for students on topics related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.

Bolster resources and support for service opportunities within the geographical areas that our students reside.

Continue to conduct summer book discussions to enhance faculty/staff dialogue about issues.

Continue to develop student leadership and provide opportunities for them to spearhead and direct original initiatives of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.

In the 2025-2026 school year: Develop and roll-out an annual schedule for school-wide programs and celebrations of the cultural diversity of the community.

Explore partnerships with local charitable and social justice organizations, in an effort to incorporate service learning experiences into the school day.

In the 2026-2027 school year: In coordination with the Office of Advancement, launch an Alumni Day of Service Expand opportunities for all students to participate in a domestic summer experience that integrates service, social justice, and learning (modeled after the existing Catholic Social Teaching & Service Learning summer course offered to seniors).