To: Members of the Administration, Faculty, Staff, School Advisory Board, and Parents
From: Fr. Louis J. Molinelli, SDB
Date: Tuesday, August 4, 2015
ARCHBISHOP SHAW HIGH SCHOOL STRATEGIC PLAN 2013-2018
EVALUATION AFTER ONE AND ONE-HALF YEARS
INTRODUCTION
In the fall of 2012, Archbishop Shaw High School began a formal process of strategic planning with Meitler Consultants. The strategic plan and planning process began in January 2013 and were built around several key factors in order to ensure that the plan was effective and successful. To achieve this goal, the plan was to be: visionary, mission-focused, comprehensive, realistic, achievable, and integrated. Meitler Consultants was asked to help develop a plan which will enable the Catholic identity, Salesian charism, vitality, viability, academic excellence and financial stability of Archbishop Shaw High School to exist well inito the future.
After surveying a broad base of constituents using Focus Groups, the final version of the plan was presented to the Local Salesian Council of the school in September 2013 and was adopted as the school’s official strategic plan.
This report has the purpose of evaluating the plan in its various areas and looking at “the way ahead” for the next school year. This presentation is made to the current administration, faculty, and staff as well as the School Advisory Board. A similar report will be made to Archbishop Gregory Aymond and the Office of Catholic Schools of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, Fr. Steven Shafran, SDB and the Provincial Council of the Salesians of St. John Bosco (Eastern Province), the Parents Association,
Shaw Forever Alumni Association, and the local civil and parochial parish community.
PART I
MISSION AND CATHOLIC IDENTITY
GOAL 1: Formation in the charism of the Salesians of St. John Bosco will serve as the foundation for leadership, teaching, and learning throughout Archbishop Shaw High School
· 1.1 Continue the emphasis on the Pastoral Plan and faculty formation as provided by the Director.
o The Director meets twice a year with all administrators, faculty, and staff to discuss how each one will implement the pastoral plan in his/her respective area.
o A written plan is given to the Director during the first meeting and an evaluation is given at the end of the year during the second meeting. The Director keeps in mind each one’s plan as he conducts classroom and office visits.
o The Pastoral Plan is posted in each classroom and office and is used by the Director as the basis of his “Good morning” talks.
o The student body takes time at the beginning of the year to reflect on the pastoral plan and how they will implement it in their lives as members of the Archbishop Shaw family. There needs to be a follow up in the second semester for evaluation.
· 1.2 Continue to orient new faculty and staff members in the Salesian charism and prepare them to be leaders in this community.
o Up through 2013-2014 school year, meetings with new faculty and staff were held monthly on the Salesian charism. During the 2014-2015 school year, the new faculty memebers were either returning faculty members of Archbishop Shaw or had come from another Salesian environment. There needs to be a return to these monthly meetings for new administrators, faculty, and staff.
· 1.3 Identify potential lay staff leaders to carry on the Salesian traditions and charism and provide extensive training for them to learn the Salesian mission and to develop leadership skills.
o Mr. George Hebert was hired in 2013 to be the principal of Archbishop Shaw High School after an extensive interview process.
o A more formal plan needs to be developed.
· Encourage the Province to establish Archbishop Shaw High School as the center of the Salesian Youth Movement.
o Completed. There is an active team of young alumni who work with the Coordinator of Youth Ministry, Br. Jerry Meegan, in being a part of local and national events celebrateing Don Bosco’s charism.
· Initiate a mid-year retreat day for faculty and staff
o Not completed
GOAL 2: The connection between Archbishop Shaw High School and the Westbank parishes will be strengthened.
· 2.1 Invite local priests to become involved in the sacramental life of Archbishop Shaw High School through the celebration of Mass and participation in Reconciolliation during the Advent and Lenten seasons.
o Completed and Ongoing.
· 2.2 Encourage student service projects in feeder parishes. Examples would include Eucharistic minister, lector and cantor training, students serving as teacher aides in parish religious education classes, tutoring in elementary schools, creating and supporting an online tutoring program, offer age appropriate retreat experiences for school children and youth groups, etc.
o Ongoing as Religion Department, Youth Ministry Office and Student Service Coordinator work together to provide a variety of experiences.
o An initiative was begun in the 2014-2015 school year to link the student retreat day with a community service project for those not on retreat. Further discovery and evaluation is needed to find the best service opportunities which will prmote the growth of the students in their Catholic Christian and Salesian identity.
· 2.3 Invite local parishes to participate in Archbishop Shaw’s annual food drive.
o Not completed.
· 2.4 Set up a special gathering for priests newly assigned to the enrollment area to welcome them and introduce them to Archbishop Shaw High School. Have periodic gatherings for all pastors in the enrollment area to maintain lines of communication.
o Not completed.
· 2.5 Consider occasional pre or post event receptions for pastors, associates, deacons, and directors of religious education at school plays, special award events, etc., to bring them on campus and have them see and meet the people of Archbishop Shaw High School
o Not completed
GOAL 3: Parents and guardians will be actively involved in the education, the faith and the spiritual formation of their sons.
· 3.1 Invite families of students to become part of the Archbishop Shaw faith community. Provide appropriate seating for parents at liturgical celebrations. Have parents participate as chaperones for student retreats.
o For the 2014-2015 school year, parents were invited to be a part of student Masses that had award ceremonies following. In one case, special seating was set up for parents.
o Opportunites for parents and families to gather for Mass with their sons occur off school hours such as the Mother/Son Dinner and Mass.
o Further development of programs is needed.
· 3.2 Provide varied opportunities for members of the parent community to deepen their own faith and share their faith with other community members: speakers; local, national, and international trips; service activities; prayer and retreat opportunities; liturgical experiences.
o Not completed
· 3.3 Plan and implement an evening of recollection and faith sharing for parents led by the Peer Ministers and parents. Consider offering those opportunities by grade level for all parents.
o Not completed
GOAL 4: Archbishop Shaw High School will serve as a Catholic/Christian witness to the evangelizing mission of the Church.
· 4.1 Educate students on how their service and outreach enhances the community’s knowledge and understanding of Archbishop Shaw High School and the Catholic Church on the Westbank.
o Students are provided with an opportunity to reflect on their service projects with their religion teachers and to discuss the impact their service had on them through discussions in class.
· 4.2 Youth Ministry and the Religion Department will meet regularly in order to strengthen the interdiscipliniary connection between intellectual study and Christian action.
o This happens occasionally but needs more development.
· 4.3 Written reflection will be a component of the Religion curriculum: identity the skills desired for the reflection component of the Christian Service program; for the freshman and sophomore years, scope and sequence the skills needed for quality written and oral theological reflection and insert into the respective curricula; include reflection as a fundamental component of the junior and senior service experiences.
o Ar ubric has been provied for students as they complete their written reflection on their service component.
o Reflections are discussed in greater detail in the junior and senior years.
o The development of a comprehensive grades 8 – 12 rubric which leads to greater growth in theological reflection needs to be developed and implemented.
· 4.4 Conduct a survey of second semester seniors related to their service activities during their four years. Have the seniors identify areas of growth and needs that were not met.
o A part of this is completed with the senior Religion classes in their “exit” reflections with their teacher.
o A more formalized program needs to be developed.
· 4.5 Review the necessity of compiling hours to fulfill the service requirement. Consider replacing hours with age appropriate obligations that increase in complexity and commitment as the students grow older.
o This has been completed in part through the class service projects that were instituted last year along with the class retreats.
o This area continues to need reflection and further development.
· 4.6 On a school-wide basis, recognize and celebrate the various service experiences in which students participate.
o Not completed.
· 4.7 Require each senior to prepare and present a summary of his years of involvement serving others: what has been done, what has been learned, and how the student has changed.
o Not completed.
PART II
ENROLLMENT AND MARKETING PLAN
GOAL 1: A comprehensive enrollment management plan will be developed, including all recruitment, admissions, and retention efforts.
· 1.1 Develop a comprehensive enrollment management plan that addresses enrollment, marketing, recruitment, admissions, and retention. Anticipate the need to develop unique marketing strategies for different area of the Westbank and specific strategies for attracting Catholic students in public elementart schools.
o There are elements of a plan in place but not a fully developed plan.
o This specific strategy is left to the Office of Advancement to organize.
· 1.2 Target an optimal enrollment of 100 8th graders each year for a total enrollment of approxmitely 500 students. Create a waiting likst after the optimal number of accepted students has submitted a nonrefundable tuition deposit. Consider increasing the optimum enrollment number of waiting lists have been established.
o Due to the Archdiocese of New Orleans Strategic Plan for Catholic Schools, all eighth grades have bveen moved to the high schools. Thus, Archbishop Shaw’s eighth gradd enrollment is approaching 100 students with enrollment currently at 94.
o No waiting lists are needed at this point.
· 1.3 Set up a data/tracking system that captures information from first contace with a potential family or student through actual enrollment and attendance at Archbishop Shaw. Use this data to study long term recruitment, admissions, and attendance trends.
o There has been more of an effort the past two years, thanks to the Admissions Office, for better tracking of data.
o There is not enough data yet to use for study of enrollment trends.
· 1.4 Develop and utilize satisfaction surveys on a regular basis with parents, students, and alumni. In addition to current students, solicit opinions on the recruiting experience from incoming students and the reasons for enrolling in a different school from those students who indicated an interest in Archbishop Shaw High School but enrolled elsewhere
o The Office of Admissions does this on an informal basis.
o The application form for Archbishop Shaw High School asks potential students to indicate why they are choosing the school.
o The Admissions Director and other administrators ask students through personal interviews and phone conversations why they are choosing other schools over Archbishop Shaw. The data shows that only a few choose to not come because of dissatisfaction with the school. Finances are a major reason as well as families moving to other areas.
o Formal satisfaction surveys still need to be developed.
· 1.5 Develop recruiting and retention strategies with faculty, staff, administration, and coaches to ensure all are aware of their role in student recruiting/retention process. Provide training opportunities so all can effectively implement the strategies. First: They must be able to clearly and succinctly articulate the mission and purpose of Archbishop Shaw High School. Second: They must be aware of their role as ambassadors whenever they are in public places. Third: They must encourage people they meet toconsider Archbishop Shaw High School and to personally provide them with appropriate and correct information. Fourth: They must refer students who appear unhappy or dissatisfied with their educational experience to the Guidance Office or other appropriate staff member.
o Most of this action step is done informally by all administrators, faculty, and staff. For the most part, adults in the school community have a unified vision and talk about their role in the recruitment/retention process.
o The Director of Admissions speaks with the administrative team and the faculty monthly about the various recruitment efforts and, in general, has the support of most everyone in attending and encouraging the various efforts that are made.
o There is no formal written plan.
o There are a few memebers of the adult community who not only do not encourage recriuitment and retention but discourage students from coming to Archbishop Shaw High School and speak negatively about the school to the wider community.
GOAL 2: A marketing/branding plan will be developed to strengthen the school’s position in the marketplace.
· 2.1 Create a marketing team. Staff the team with appropriate staff members and parents, alumni (when appropriate), and Board/community persons with expertise in marketing. Develop the roles and responsibilities of the Marketing Teamwith specific tasks and goals.
o This is in process through the Office of Advancement through one of the teams set up by the Directo of Advancement.
o This process needs to continue to develop.
· 2.2 Review the school’s website with an eye toward marketing and recruiting. Consider having a professional create the website and give the Archbishop Shaw High School Computer Club the responsibility to maintain it.