ignite the mission
strategic plan
VILLA DUCHESNE AND OAK HILL SCHOOL
Dear Sacred Heart Family,
We are charged with the amazing gift and awesome responsibility of living out the Goals and Criteria of Sacred Heart Education at Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School.
Our students inspire us to be our best each and every day and to plan purposefully for a future of continued excellence. Our commitment to our mission and to our vision of excellence is strengthened today as we share our Strategic Plan, Ignite the Mission. This plan will energize us as we set the standard for independent education and shepherd the direction of Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School during the next five years.
Our goal is to be the premier independent, Catholic school in St. Louis and to support the success of our students while fostering and inspiring spiritual, academic, social, and emotional growth, consistent with the Goals and Criteria
Ignite the Mission represents great work, great passion, and a great commitment to the future of Sacred Heart education! We invite you to review this Plan and share in our joyful hope as we look forward.
We express our gratitude to all of those who participated in the evaluation, assessment, and development of the Strategic Plan. Our path to operational and financial excellence and sustainability is clear, and we go forward with confidence and strength as we prepare our students to change the world with courage and confidence!
Cor Unum,
Michael F. Baber
J. Spencer Finney Jr. Thomas J. Adamitis Head of School Board Chair Strategic Planning Committee Chair
our mission
Inspired by the vision of Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat , foundress of the Society of the Sacred Heart, Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School strives to educate the heart and mind of each child in a nurturing and challenging environment. We are dedicated to educating the whole child and preparing our students for lives of faith in God, integrity, leadership, and service to others.
Our mission is to transform the world, one child at a time.
The foundation of our mission and educational philosophy is the Goals and Criteria of Sacred Heart Education. The Goals and Criteria give meaning and purpose to our objectives and unite us with Sacred Heart schools around the world. The strength of Sacred Heart education lies in the building of relationships around our values. Serious in principles, strong in studies, and rich in the spirit of love and life, we are a Catholic school that takes great pride in living Saint Madeleine Sophie’s vision into the future and aligning our School with the best schools in the nation.
ignite THE MISSION
strength & sustainability
We will undertake initiatives to reinforce Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School’s position of strength in the market to grow enrollment, and we will safeguard the strategic and fiscal success of the School as we live our Sacred Heart mission to the fullest extent possible.
• Set a course for long-term sustainability and operational excellence through endowment growth and strategic financial planning;
• Align with best practices for boards in independent schools, including an ongoing commitment to strategic planning;
• Enhance the advancement functions of Development, Enrollment Management, and Marketing and Communications and undergo a comprehensive branding initiative and redesign of the public-facing website to drive the School’s brand in a fresh, compelling way;
• Foster a culture of feedback as we strengthen our Sacred Heart family;
• Engage Sacred Heart alumni in meaningful and valuable ways to deepen connections, grow support, and share the successes of our School;
• Continue to support the sustainability of Family Individualized Tuition to enhance socio-economic diversity;
• Commit to a review of the Strategic Plan with renewal every five years.
faculty excellence
Our Sacred Heart educators are the foundation of our student experience. We will attract and retain world-class educators and administrators:
• Identify, hire, and retain top-quality faculty for positions that enhance the student experience, meet the needs of all types of learners, and support growth and academic excellence;
• Set the standard for faculty mentoring, professional development, and innovation in independent schools.
inspirational learning
Outstanding curricular and co-curricular programs ensure success for every student and build enduring value for Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill. We will foster innovative and inspiring spiritual, academic, and social-emotional programs consistent with the Sacred Heart Goals and Criteria:
• Continue to raise awareness of Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School as a premier academic institution;
• Increase STEAM opportunities for students;
• Prioritize ongoing review of curriculum scope and sequence alignment to ensure the strength of our academic programs at every level;
• Enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in support of the Goals and Criteria of Sacred Heart Education and consistent with Catholic teaching. Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill strives to be a welcoming, respectful community where all students know that they belong and their voices will be heard.
campus spaces
We will “Future Ready” our campus by enhancing our buildings and facilities to support our program and to be a physical representation of our mission and excellence.
• Execute the donor-funded Schaefer Family Student Life Center project and integrate the new space into the daily lives of our students, creating the heart of our Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School and community.
• Conduct comprehensive facilities planning to ensure our campus spaces are student-centered and fulfill our commitment to building community and creating opportunities for our students.
2020-2021 BOARD OF TRUSTEES
J. Spencer Finney Jr. | Chair
Omar R. Qureshi | Vice Chair
Aukje Vestjens-Rijpkema | Secretary
Gregory A. Billhartz | Treasurer
Michael F. Baber | Head of School
Thomas J. Adamitis
Ann Caire, rscj
Richard A. Dioli
Laura Condie George ‘87
Maureen Glavin, rscj
Edward J. Griesedieck III
Mary Elizabeth Grimes
David Jones
Missy Rosenthal Leggat ‘89
Josie Gonzalez Littlepage ‘91
J.R. Mayer Jr.
Mimi Webster Murphy ‘64
Paul C. Schnoebelen III
Anthony J. Soukenik
Stephen J. Sweeny
J. Claire Danis Todorovich ‘94
STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE
Thomas J. Adamitis | Chair
Paul C. Schnoebelen III | Vice Chair
Margaret Sheehan Dolan ‘89
Joan Gregory
Mary Elizabeth Grimes
Edward B. Ignaczak
Michael Johnson Sr.
T. Joseph MacDonald III
Robert J. Ruddy
J. Spencer Finney Jr.
Michael F. Baber
An independent, Catholic school in the Sacred Heart tradition for boys and girls age 3 - grade 6 and young women grades 7-12
Sacred Heart Prayer
I am a child of the Sacred Heart. Each day, dear Lord, I will love as you love, study and learn, help those who need me, be a friend to all, and make wise choices.
Saint Madeleine Sophie, pray for us
Saint Rose Philippine, pray for us
Saint John Francis Regis, pray for us
VILLA DUCHESNE AND OAK HILL SCHOOL