HOPEZEALLeading with& SAINT FRANCIS HIGH SCHOOL STRATEGIC PLAN
Blessed Basil Moreau, Founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross
We must be men with hope to bring… The footsteps of those men who called us to walk in their company left deep prints, as of men carrying heavy burdens. But they did not trudge; they strode. For they had the hope. Constitutions of the Congregation of Holy Cross, No. 8: The Cross, Our Hope; approved by the Congregation’s General Chapter 1986 =
HOPE & ZEAL Leading with SAINT FRANCIS HIGH SCHOOL STRATEGIC PLAN Approved 2016
I have the firm confidence that God will bless our educational program since God is giving us the means to realize it. Blessed Basil Moreau, Circular Letter 36; 1849 =
To Our Saint Francis Family:
Leading with Hope and Zeal, the Strategic Plan for Saint Francis High School, was borne out of words that Pope Francis spoke when he talked about education. He told us that the act of education means to take risks, challenging us with the idea that “the true educator must be a teacher of risk, but of reasonable risk.” I can imagine Blessed Father Basil Moreau thinking words of this kind over 175 years ago when he and his fellow religious men and women set out to create and build new schools in France and in the new world here in America. These Holy Cross educators took reasonable and considered risks to build schools to educate young people, a legacy we are honored to continue here in Mountain View. I am proud of the wide-reaching and collaborative effort we have undertaken to create this Strategic Plan, a roadmap which will guide our work for years to come. I am grateful for the many members of the Saint Francis faculty, staff and community who participated in this process. Their hard work has resulted in this document, which is both timely and timeless. This vision for our future will shape our priorities, define how we approach issues we will face in the years ahead and remind us of the work we must always do to ensure that we remain true to our strong heritage as a Catholic, Holy Cross high school.
Saint Francis is blessed to have the support of so many who have given generously of their time and resources. We are emboldened by the promise of Moreau’s words that indeed “God will bless our educational program since God is giving us the means to realize it.” I hope this Strategic Plan will inspire you to continue to identify ways that you might participate in our educational ministry. With hope and zeal, and with your support, we look forward to realizing the mission of Saint Francis High School — now and in the future.
Simon PresidentChiu
VISION & MISSION of the School
Vision
Saint Francis High School students become Holy Cross men and women who are uniquely prepared for college, service and leadership. Holy Cross men and women are people of integrity who discover their God-given talents, respect the dignity of every person, celebrate family and bring hope to others.
In the tradition of the Catholic Church and the spirit of Holy Cross, Saint Francis High School is committed to providing the finest collegepreparatory program in an inclusive family environment, encouraging students to achieve their highest potential through: Spiritual development, which expresses their Christian values in the convictions of their heart and the actions of their hands; Intellectual development, which translates their knowledge and skills into independent and creative thinking; Social development, which transforms their activities and experiences into leadership in and service to the community.
Mission
CORE VALUES of Holy Cross Schools
HOLY CROSS inRooted
The roots of who we are begin with the strength of our hearts and our minds.
Blessed Basil Moreau founded the Congregation of Holy Cross as a religious teaching order in Le Mans, France in 1835. The cornerstone of a Holy Cross education is the belief that hearts and minds should be educated as one. Over the course of its history, Holy Cross schools have focused on teaching Gospel values alongside the core academic curriculum. A Holy Cross education is respectful and inclusive of all faiths. The order embraces the idea of a global community, and above all, is committed to providing all students a quality education exemplified by the highest standards.
Since our founding by the Brothers of Holy Cross over 60 years ago, the Saint Francis experience has been centered on the core beliefs of the Congregation of Holy Cross. These values are the BRIC of our Lancer family. Our school community embodies these values through our spiritual, intellectual and social programs. They are the cornerstone of all that we do at Saint Francis High School. Bring hope by changing the world through Christ’s love. Respect others by seeing the face of Christ in everyone. Celebrate family by building a loving Holy Cross community. Inspire integrity of the heart and mind by being true to the Gospel in word and action.
HOPE RESPECT INTEGRITY FAMILY B R I C
withLeading our Catholic identit y and ignite the hearts of our whole community through our inclusive Holy Cross values and uncompromising commitment to lives of service.
Ignite Hearts
Fully embrace
STRATEGIC Plan HOPE &ZEAL
Thrive Educate the whole person, heart and mind, preparing our students to thrive as balanced young adults and engaged global citizens. Steward Strengthen the school’s vital resources to achieve our strategic priorities and ensure our sustainability.long-term Unify Ensure that the Saint Francis environment reflects, serves and celebrates our local community’s rich diversity. Innovate Create a culture of innovation throughout our entire institution, leveraging our position in Silicon Valley. Suppor ting I nitiatives Admissions & PlanManagementEnrollment MasterCampusPlan CampaignCapital
Ignite Hearts
Make haste, therefore; take up this work of the resurrection, never forgetting that the particular goal of your institution is, above all, to sanctify youth. By this, you will contribute to preparing the world for better times than our own, for these children who today attend your school are the parents of the future and the parents of future generations. Basil Moreau, Christian Education; 1856 =
Blessed
We are emboldened by our Holy Cross heritage and tradition, which seeks to express our Catholic identity and our Holy Cross educational mission by reaching out to our entire community, welcoming and valuing all opportunities to deepen religious beliefs and ignite hearts in God’s service. PRIORITY 1
Ignite Hearts
Fully embrace our Catholic identity and ignite the hearts of our whole community through our inclusive Holy Cross values and uncompromising commitment to lives of service. EDUCATION: Communicate with clarity, fervor and pride our Catholic Holy Cross values and the teachings of our founder, Blessed Basil Moreau. FORMATION: Provide the guidance, support and practical tools to enable all members of our school’s community—faculty and staff, students, parents and alumni—to live fully the Holy Cross values in daily life. TRANSFORMATION: Serve as a proactive leader in our local Catholic community and across the national network of Holy Cross schools.
Thrive
We shall always place education side by side with instruction; the mind will not be cultivated at the expense of the heart. While we prepare useful citizens for society, we shall likewise do our utmost to prepare citizens for heaven. Blessed Basil Moreau, Circular Letter 36; 1849 =
PRIORITY
2 A
Holy Cross education will always be defined by its commitment to the development of the whole person, nurturing the spiritual, intellectual and personal formation of each of our students. We prepare them for life, supporting them as balanced, wellrounded individuals who will thrive in every dimension of life while challenging them to use their talents to become visionary scholars and ethical leaders to advance the common good.
Thrive Educate the whole person, heart and mind, preparing our students to thrive as balanced young adults and engaged global citizens. Establish an enduring guiding philosophy that reflects a “whole school” commitment to the healthy development of our students. Ensure that our graduation outcomes and requirements best prepare our students to be Holy Cross leaders in a rapidly changing, dynamic world. Revisit regularly the school schedule and calendar in support of the healthy development of our students. Strengthen and maintain a robust network of programs, staff, alumni and other resources to support the well-being and resiliency of our students. Partner with families to ensure that students access the broad range of support and resources available.
Innovate
Even though we base our philosophy course on the data of faith, no one need fear that we shall confine our teaching within narrow and unscientific boundaries. No, we wish to accept science without prejudice and in a manner adapted to the needs of our times. We do not want our students to be ignorant of anything they should know. To this end, we shall shrink from no sacrifice. Blessed Basil Moreau, Circular Letter 36; 1849 =
PRIORITY 3 Founded 60 years ago among the historic orchards of Mountain View, Saint Francis has experienced a parallel transformation with Silicon Valley. We remain true to our history, but are committed to the integration of traditional education with progressive scholarship and instruction, providing students and faculty unique opportunities to become immersed in the rich culture of academic excellence, creativity and innovation of our Valley. Underscoring our firm belief that innovation must be broadly defined and pursued, our mission is to blend rigorous teaching and learning with direct engagement in the worlds of professional work, higher education and cultural expression.
Innovate a culture of innovation throughout our entire institution, leveraging our unique position in Silicon Valley. Serve as a leader in innovative teaching and learning practices to prepare our students for an ever-changing future. Launch a comprehensive science, technology, engineering and math program to position Saint Francis graduates for success in the global economy. Provide time and physical space for collaboration, exploration and creativity among staff and students. Forge partnerships with corporations, universities and other leading institutions to provide students and staff hands-on exposure to the entrepreneurial culture of Silicon Valley. Model a spirit of innovation and risk-taking across all departments and roles at Saint Francis.
Create
Unify
Let us be ‘one,’ just as our Lord Jesus Christ asked this unity for us of His Father. It is only on this condition that God will give us His own strength; this strength which flows from charity, mutual harmony, oneness of wills, and the mild bonds of the heart. Blessed Basil Moreau, Circular letter 153; 1862 =
PRIORITY 4 As an inclusive Holy Cross school, we embrace our diverse family of students, faculty, staff and alumni. We are enriched by our unified community of people from different backgrounds and cultures who share our commitment to respect the dignity of all God’s children and who are prepared to act with justice and compassion towards others. We are committed to making our Saint Francis education affordable to all who believe in our Holy Cross mission.
Ensure
Unify that the school’s environment reflects, serves and celebrates our local community’s rich diversity. Create a dynamic community of students and families who feel welcomed, engaged and interconnected. Expand funding for tuition assistance and related programs that support access to a Saint Francis education. the programs, services and resources available to support the diverse learning, socialization and spiritual needs of our student body. Provide faculty and staff with the tools and training to expand our collective cultural competency as a school.
Improve
Steward
What is true of the palace whose foundations have been laid and which is rising gradually until completion is verified, likewise, is a great work of charity. It is not one alone who builds; nor is it one stone, or one single beam of wood, that forms it. Each worker contributes something from his own trade…Union, then, is a powerful lever with which we could move, direct, and sanctify the whole world.
Blessed Basil Moreau, Circular Letter 14; 1841 =
With hope and zeal for the future, the Saint Francis community continues to steward the promise of the school’s educational mission by strengthening the quality of our programs and engaging our students, faculty and staff, parents and alumni to realize the school’s vision. We are committed to providing the resources, support and structures necessary to inspire and sustain advanced teaching and learning across all programs.
PRIORITY 5
Steward
Strengthen the school’s vital resources to achieve our strategic priorities and steward our long-term sustainability. Ensure a professional, supportive work environment in which faculty and staff have the resources and growth opportunities to conduct their work at the highest standards, while living balanced lives. Offer parents a variety of opportunities to develop broader, more meaningful involvement with our school. Create mutually beneficial opportunities for alumni involvement, fostering a lifelong relationship between our graduates and Saint Francis High School. Expand fundraising revenue by promoting a culture of giving across all segments of our Saint Francis community. Optimize the school’s governance, leadership and advisory structures to advance our strategic priorities.
InitiativesSUPPORTING To succeed in the important undertaking entrusted to us, we must be, first of all, so closely united in charity as to form but one mind and one soul. Blessed Basil Moreau, Circular Letter 1; 1835 =
Admissions & Enrollment Management Plan
he supporting initiatives represent important operational threads that weave through the five strategic priorities. The initiatives will be advanced in parallel with the priorities, and separate sub-plans will be developed as a roadmap for staff leadership and the Board of Directors.
Create an annual admissions and enrollment management plan that supports the strategic priorities of the school and reflects the impact of enrollment on the optimal Holy Cross high school experience. Campus Master Plan
Capital Campaign
Develop a capital campaign to support the successful implementation of the Strategic Plan and related campus master plan, evaluating the feasibility of and required resources needed for each strategic priority.
T
Develop a campus master plan that responds to the school’s immediate needs, aligns with our strategic priorities and demonstrates a commitment to environmental sustainability.
PLANNINGProcess
Phase 2 Frame opportunitiesthe 3 Launch planning goals and Planning Phases
Phase
teams Phase 4 Develop
objectives Phase 5 Finalize plan and prepare implementationfor Phase 1 Assess environmentthe
Our Strategic Plan, Leading with Hope and Zeal, is the product of an intensive and highly inclusive strategic planning process. Spanning nine months, beginning in November 2015, the effort consisted of five distinct phases and was facilitated by an independent consulting firm that worked in close partnership with Saint Francis staff and board leadership. The work was driven and monitored by a cross-functional Strategic Planning Committee, composed of faculty, staff, parents, alumni and board members. Involving well over 1,200 members of the Saint Francis community, planning activities were designed to be inclusive and accessible to anyone interested in contributing to the effort. This expansive approach yielded a comprehensive, inspired strategic plan that will chart the course for Saint Francis for years to come. Each year, the school will develop and implement detailed action plans to ensure adherence to the plan’s vision and priorities.
People-hours spent in alumni, parent and focusstudentgroups Month effortParentscompletedsurveysphasesPlanning bysubmittedComments studentsandparentsStudents participated in the process 95 INCLUSIVE 6423251629702620 surveyscompletedEmployees 1Boldplanforthefuture
Simon Chiu President, Board of Directors Member
Holly Elkins ’93 Executive Director of Institutional Advancement
Maureen Chenette Former Academic Office Assistant, Current Parent, Parent of Alumni
Vincent Prietto Religious Studies Teacher
Rob Dean Chairman of the Endowment Management Committee, Current Parent, Parent of Alumni
PLANNINGLeaders
Tim Houlihan Director of Planning & Facilities, Parent of Alumni
Justin Dooley Chairman of the Board of Directors, Parent of Alumni
Michael Reedy Board of Directors Member, Parent of Alumni Kelley Surdey ’85 President of the St. Nicholas Catholic School Advisory Council
Strategic Planning Committee
Dan Quinn ’87 English Teacher, College Counselor, Current Parent
Fr. Steve Kim Director of Campus Ministry, Religious Studies Teacher
Vidhu Joshi Board of Directors Member, Former Women’s Club President, Current Parent, Parent of Alumni
Rich Haughey ’68 Former Chairman of the Board of Directors, Parent of Alumni
Patricia Tennant Principal, English Teacher, Board of Directors Member, Parent of Alumni
Todd Meulman Director of Activities, Math Teacher, Parent of Alumni
Claire Lachance Strategic Planning Consultant & Facilitator
Focus Group Co-Chairs
Joy Anderson English Teacher
Maggi Knochenhauer Director of Academics, Social Studies Teacher, Parent of Alumni
Todd Meulman Director of Activities, Math Teacher, Parent of Alumni
Chihiro Ikezi Science Teacher
Michael Pilawski Director of Athletics, Religious Studies Teacher, Current Parent
Meighan Friedsam ’97 Dean of Faculty, English Teacher
Holly Elkins ’93 Executive Director of Institutional Advancement
Margaret Miller Dean of Students, Foreign Language Teacher
Chris Volta Assistant Athletic Director, Math Teacher, Parent of Alumni
Baron Cannon Summer School Principal, Social Studies Teacher
Mike Kemp English Teacher, Parent of Alumni
LEADERSHIP Board of Directors Justin Dooley, Chairman Simon Chiu, President Cathy Avon Helen Benedetti Msgr. Patrick Browne Joe Cassin Bob Franceschini ’75 Chris Gomo Rob Jensen ’80 Maria Jones Vidhu Joshi Betsy Br.PatriciaCassSaeedAprilTaraBillMichaelMarjorieMcKiernanMuldowneyReedyRingRolle’00Sakara-GilleyShakeriTaylor’86Tennant,PrincipalMichaelWinslow,C.S.C.
LEADERSHIPAdministration INSTITUTIONAL OPERATIONALPatriciaTennant Principal Hector Camacho Guidance & Counseling Director Meighan Friedsam ’97 Dean of Faculty Fr. Steve Kim Director of Campus Ministry Maggi Knochenhauer Director of Academics Todd Meulman Director of Activities Margaret Miller Dean of Students Michael Pilawski Director of Athletics Simon Raines Director of Admissions Simon Chiu President Greg Calcagno ’83 Alumni Director Holly Elkins ’93 Executive Director of Institutional Advancement Tim Houlihan Director of Planning & Facilities Myron Nessan Director of Finance Mike Speckman Director of Endowment & Tuition Assistance Larry Steinke Technology Director
Lord ,make me an instrument Where there is hatred, let me sow Love; Where there is injury, Pardon; Where there is doubt, Faith; Where there is despair, Hope; Where there is darkness, Light; Where there is sadness, Joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to Console, to be understood as to Understand, to be loved as to Love; For it is in Giving that we receive; in Pardoning that we are pardoned; and in Dying that we are born to Eternal Life. of thy Peace,
Saint Francis of PatronAssisi,Saint
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