Igniting Hope Strategic Plan
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In
1548, the Jesuits opened their first school in
Messina, Sicily. Since then, the Jesuits have worked together and with many other people to help their students find God in the world by understanding that world and its wonders. In 1971, the Jesuits opened the first “Nativity School� in New York City. This school was devoted to bringing Jesuit education exclusively to low-income middle school students. Today, over 60 Nativity Schools are in operation with new schools opening every year. In 2012, the Jesuits of the Western United States agreed to endorse Seattle Nativity School in Central Seattle. Jesuit schools are renowned for their care of individual students and for their pursuit of academic excellence. Nativity students, faculty, and families are challenged and encouraged to pursue the highest standards in academics, culture, morality and service to others. Given Seattle’s influence as a world-wide technological, economic and cultural leader, the Nativity model is especially valued as it strives to empower low-income students to develop their gifts and place them in the service of the Greater Seattle Community, the Pacific Northwest and ultimately, the world.
Mission
Seattle Nativity School is a Catholic, Jesuit-endorsed Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) middle school seeking
to break the cycle of poverty through an education that nourishes souls and ignites leaders for love and service.
2012 Incorporated as a non-profit, middle school.
2013 First class of 6th Grade students began the program.
2014 Students begin demonstraiting 2 years of academic growth in 1 school year.
2015 All grades enrolled. Students filled the 6th, 7th & 8th Grade classrooms.
2016 2017 Inaugural Board of Directors Graduation, with 100% and school leadership acceptance to private, initiate a formal college strategic planning preparatory high process. schools.
2018 100% of graduates are enrolled in high school with 83% in private, collegepreparatory high schools.
History
Beginning in 2012, and for the next five years, Seattle Nativity School experienced tremendous growth. By the Fall of 2018, 78 students were trailblazing examples of the mission and vision of Seattle Nativity School. Nativity supporters desired to strengthen this foundation and expand the impact the school can have on the families served by the Nativity mission. The Seattle Nativity School Board of Directors and school leadership initiated a formal strategic planning process in the Summer of 2017 to identify the optimal way to expand the reach of the Seattle Nativity School mission. This plan is the result of an extensive community-wide engagement of assessing and responding to the challenges and opportunities facing the school. In all, over 200 parents, employees and benefactors participated in some aspect of the planning process. Topic Teams reviewed academic programming, character development, community awareness and school facilities. Recommendations from the Topic Teams were presented to a Steering Committee, from which six strategic goals emerged.
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Strategic Vision
When the goals of the Strategic Plan are accomplished, Seattle Nativity School will achieve its full potential as a vital, faith-based, STEM-focused learning community serving low-income students of all faiths. It will form young “men and women for others�1 empowered for the mission of nourishing souls and igniting leaders for love and service for their generation and generations to come. A new state-of-the-art campus will provide a dynamic educational environment which inspires learning and moves students to offer service born out of compassionate reflection on our world.
S t r a t e g i c A c ade m ic Prog ram Create a continuouslyimproving, leading-edge curriculum with measurable outcomes. E duc ational E xc e l l e nc e Hire, develop and retain a mission-driven faculty and staff who serve students as both role-models and educators. Charac te r De ve l opm e nt Foster in students a greatness built on service and hearts full of grace.
1Father Pedro Arrupe, S.J., Men and Women for Others, Address to the Tenth International Congress of Jesuit Alumni of Europe, 1973 Valencia, Spain.
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P l a n
G o a l s
G raduat i o n & B e y o n d Build relationships which provide a path for students from pre-admission through high school and college graduation and several years into their initial career opportunities. I nspiri n g Fa c i l i t i e s Design and build a campus which ignites hope and inspires minds. E xpand e d Fu n d i n g Develop and implement a collaborative funding plan for future sustainability and growth.
GOAL ONE Aca demic Progra m
Students at Seattle Nativity School, on average, demonstrate two years of academic growth in one year of instruction. As technology continues to advance, so must the Seattle Nativity School curriculum. To ensure student success, Seattle Nativity School staff will identify and implement best practices for its curriculum improvement and student assessment programs. Beyond its formal curriculum, enrichment opportunities will be added along with business and institution partnerships to prepare our students for an increasingly innovative and dynamic world.
Create a continuouslyimproving, leading-edge curriculum with measurable outcomes. M eas u rab le Targe t s A curriculum document will feature a system of review followed by an action plan for the implementation of regular improvements. Fa ll 2019 100% of our graduates will be admitted to institutions of higher education. Fa ll 2024
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GOAL TWO Educational Excellence Hire, develop and retain a mission-driven faculty and sta who serve students as both role-models and educators. M easurable Target The average tenure of faculty will grow to five years of meaningful service in alignment with the best practices and benchmarks of Nativity Model schools and the Jesuit Network of Schools. Fall 2024
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Well-trained educators are an essential component of nourishing souls and igniting leaders for love and service. Justice requires the sustainable support of quality mission-driven teachers and staff. A just compensation program will lengthen tenures and add stability to the life of the school community for staff and students alike. Conducting a survey of both current employees and area schools will determine sustainability needs and expectations. School administration will formulate a funding plan which provides both professional development and formation for mission. Administration will also develop strategies for promoting employment at Seattle Nativity School for what it is: a highly-desired and deeply meaningful vocational opportunity.
GOAL THREE Character Development
Seattle Nativity School, while respecting the religious traditions brought by our students, will draw on the universal values found in Catholic Social Teaching to formulate a character development program specific to each educational year. As students strive to embrace the virtues of open to growth, intellectually competent, religious, loving, committed to doing justice and grateful, they will be engaged in a service program which is also grade-specific: Service at school — grade six Service at home — grade seven Service to the community — grade eight Seattle Nativity School will draw on the strong spiritual tradition of the Jesuits to create a retreat program which allows students to reflect intentionally and deeply on their relationships with themselves, with others and with God.
Foster in students a greatness built on service and hearts full of grace. M eas u rab le Targe t s Programs will be created for the following areas: Character Development, Service-Learning, Retreats, Daily Age-appropriate Spiritual Exercises. Fa ll 2023 100% of students will have engaged in the service activity prescribed for their class. Fa ll 2024 100% of students will have participated in service and spiritual formation activities at the high school level. Fa ll 2025
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GOAL FOUR Graduation & Beyond Build relationships which provide a path for students from pre-admission through high school and college graduation plus several years into their initial career opportunities. M easurable Targets Enrollment for the entering 6th grade is 100%.. Fall 2019 100% of graduates will have earned a degree of higher learning. Fall 2024 100% of graduates will receive career guidance toward meaningful employment. Fall 2024
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To fulfill the mission to break the cycle of poverty, Seattle Nativity School will broaden its support beyond middle school. Enrollment will increase through community outreach and partnering with community organizations will expand students’ horizons. A Graduate Support Program will be further developed while working with area high schools and colleges to ensure that academic, personal, and scholarship support is available to students as they earn academic degrees of higher learning and seek out meaningful employment.
GOAL FIVE Inspiring Facilities
This is the central goal for this Strategic Plan: to align all the stakeholders and decision-makers around finding the ideal campus solution for students and faculty who have out-grown their current space. As this goal is realized, a campus location will be determined, a campus master plan will be developed, fundraising will begin in order to support construction, and a new campus will be ready to welcome students by 2024.
Design and build a campus which ignites hope and inspires minds. M eas u rab le Targe t A new or completely renovated campus for 120 students. Fa ll 2024
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GOAL SIX Expanded Funding Develop and implement a collaborative funding plan for future sustainability and growth. M ea surable Targets Grow the endowment to $1 million over the next ďŹ ve years. 2023 Raise $20 million over the next seven years. 2025
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Accomplishing the goals of this Strategic Plan will require a thoughtful process for engaging all who benefit directly and indirectly from Seattle Nativity School’s success. A Development Plan will be formulated which charts a path to funding the goals of this Strategic Plan. A part of the Development Plan will be to expand the donor base through marketing, events and relationship building.
Future Generations
As the city of Seattle continues to lead the way in the world-wide technological, economic, and cultural arenas, Seattle Nativity School desires to partner with the individuals, businesses and institutions who are shaping this community. By strengthening Academic Programming, Instructional Excellence, Character Development, Graduate Support, Facilities and Funding, Seattle Nativity School has determined a plan for action. As the goals of this Strategic Plan are accomplished, Seattle Nativity School will continue its mission to provide a vital, faith-based, STEM-focused education to low-income students of all faiths. In turn, Nativity students and graduates will be of loving service to the community as they strive to be young “men and women for others”1 for future generations.
Strategic Plan Steering Committee
Diane Kocer, Steering Committee Chairperson Caroline Corsones, Faculty Michele Godvin, Board Member Natalie Johnson, Parent Ramata Martinez, Parent Fr. Jeff McDougall, S.J., President Michael Mott, Board Chairperson
2018-19 Board of Directors
Michael Mott, Chairperson Mike O’Brien, Treasurer Tom Herche, Secretary Rich Barth Janet Chess Michele Godvin Sonya Johnston Diane Kocer Jim Mallahan Fr. Jeff McDougall, S.J., President John McKay Shawn McWashington Mark Russo Fr. Stephen Sundborg, S.J.
De d i cati on Founding Board Member, Mr. Gene J. Colin (May 16, 1941-June 6, 2017) was fond of saying, “Onward and Upward!” Gene was a generous benefactor to so many good causes in the Northwest. The students, faculty, and staff of Seattle Nativity School were beneficiaries of his generosity and blessed to know him.
Edward Nelson, Faculty Jack Peterson, Consultant, Managing for Mission Fr. Bryan Pham, S.J., Canon Lawyer Marilupe Watanabe, Parent
1Father Pedro Arrupe, S.J., Men and Women for Others, Address to the Tenth International Congress of Jesuit Alumni of Europe, 1973 Valencia, Spain.
Emeriti Board of Directors
Fr. Joseph Carver, S.J. Gene Colin Fr. Peter Ely, S.J. George Hofbauer Fr. Paul Magnano David Matter Shannon McCambridge Samir Mehta Mike Prato Renee Willette
IGNITING HOPE
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INSPIRING MINDS
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CHANGING LIVES
2 8 0 0 S. M a ssachuse tts, S eattle , WA 98144 w ww.seattle nativity.o rg