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Click here for print-friendly version of 2008-2013 Strategic Plan Christ Episcopal School Strategic Plan 2008-2013 “Building on a Solid Foundation”
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Strategic Vision
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Mission of Christ Episcopal School The philosophy of Christ Episcopal School reflects the reasons for its origin: to provide a superior academic opportunity within the framework of a warm and nurturing Christian environment. Each child is special, an individual. Therefore, at the heart of Christ Episcopal School is the belief that the development of the intellectual, emotional, physical, and spiritual needs of each child must be tailored, to the greatest extent possible, to the individual child. We seek to give our children awareness of God's love and, through such an awareness, to foster those ideals - self esteem, independence, and self-motivation - which will prepare each child for the continuing educational process. Our goal is to prepare our children for living in God's world, with all their rights and privileges, duties and responsibilities. Operating Principles of Christ Episcopal School Act Justly and Call Others to Do So - Imitate ChristInstill Peace. Encourage and Model Acceptance of Self as a Unique Divinely Appointed Creation. Marry a Strong Work Ethic with Intellectual Curiosity to Create a Superior Academic Environment. Strategic Vision of Christ Episcopal School Christ Episcopal School is a Christian educational community that believes that a loving God calls us daily into relationship, and promises love divine to all who open their hearts. We strive to share our joy in this promise, trying always to live lives worthy of our faith. This faith infuses the core Operating Principles of the School and forms the framework for all we do: to intrinsically value each student as a unique creation of God, to foster intellectual curiosity and a productive work ethic, and to have a genuine and immediate response to each student's development. "Building on a Solid Foundation" anticipates that we continue to improve upon the 24 year tradition of excellence in early childhood, elementary and middle school education as we expand it through the 12th grade. The learning environment will continue to develop in our students the skills and character needed by our students to thrive in our rapidly changing world. This plan addresses continual improvement and growth of our educational program and extracurricular opportunities as well as ways to strengthen the school financially. Christ Episcopal School will use this Strategic Plan as our compass toward growing a more vibrant Christian learning community during the next five years. |
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Background
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As Christ Episcopal School looks forward to celebrating 25 years of service beginning with the 2009-2010 academic year, the Board of Trustees of Christ Episcopal School has approved this Strategic Plan to further our mission and vision and focus our resources on continuing the tradition of excellence that the school embodies. The last Strategic Plan covered the time period of 2002-2007. It was the second Strategic Plan that had been developed for the school. The initial one was written and enacted in 1994. The first plan served as the blueprint for our expansion to the Christwood Blvd. Campus and beginning of our pre-kindergarten program. The second plan helped us mature as an institution by expanding and improving the Christwood Blvd.Campus, making important changes to our delivery of instruction, improving faculty compensation packages, solidifying our financial position and improving our communications with our constituents. The Strategic Plan for 2008-2013 will provide a roadmap to implementing the plans for the future of Christ Episcopal School. These are to: - Offer an Upper School program.
- Expand /Improve our facilities to accommodate the upper grades and expanded offerings in the creative arts, to insure the safety and well-being of our students, and to improve operating efficiencies.
- Refine and enhance our instructional program for continual improvement.
- Continue to improve our faculty compensation package.
- Maintain affordability and encourage cultural diversity.
- Strengthen governance and organizational structure.
- Create a culture of giving that will support our efforts and maintain financial health and stability.
This document is the final result of a process that spanned 18 months and represents the inputs of all of our stakeholders. Its genesis was a series of facilitated Board meetings which identified goals, a school-wide survey in which we had a response rate of 95% (285 families), and a year of meetings by the Strategic Planning Committee of the Board. The plan is ambitious but with the support of the entire Christ Episcopal community, achievable. |
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Goal 1: Refine/Enhance the Educational Program
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Goal 1 : Refine and enhance the educational program ensuring it reflects the mission, principles and values of CES. Implementation Steps: - Revise and assess the curriculum by identifying underlying essential questions and implementing the Understanding by Design framework to ensure students are being challenged, taught salient material and reaching growth goals as well as alignment with MAP/State Standards.
- Continue to tailor, to the extent possible, individual student learning by incorporating differentiated instruction techniques and additional resource teachers/aides to challenge all children and help them reach their potential.
- Continue to seek additional opportunities to incorporate technology into classroom instruction.
- Nurture spirituality by making the Christian Education components challenging and rewarding for students and go beyond the classroom walls so that "Imitate Christ" is a vibrant element and readily discernable in all aspects of campus life.
- Further develop the athletic program organization and instruction for grades 4 and up.
- Create a culture of healthy living for students through appropriate food choices, healthy lunch offerings, consumer education and physical fitness.
- Continue to ensure students have a daily opportunity to connect with nature through experiential learning and wilderness education field trips, and the allocation of physical space for nature education.
- Continue to provide a comprehensive curriculum with a balance between arts, sciences and humanities to ensure a strong academic foundation and well rounded students.
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Goal 2: Attract, recruit, retain and develop faculty/staff
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Goal 2: Continue to attract, recruit, retain and develop faculty and staff who embrace and emulate the mission and values of CES. Implementation Steps: - Create a five year plan with annual benchmarks to ensure a competitive compensation package that rewards faculty and staff dedication and performance.
- Encourage a culture in which all teachers aspire to "imitate Christ."
- Fundraise for an endowment to ensure long-term faculty benefits, pay increases, and continued professional development
- Maintain open and transparent communication channels and ensure two-way communication between the faculty and administration.
- Develop a mentoring program for new teachers and career paths for long-standing employees.
- Broaden and publicly recognize faculty and staff for their accomplishments.
- Build the faculty to effectively staff all grades (including Upper School) to ensure breadth, cross training, and attainment of differentiated learning goals.
- Develop a succession plan for key administrators including Lower School, Middle School, Upper School, ECC, and Headmaster positions.
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Goal 3: Ensure ethnic diversity
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Goal 3: Ensure ethnic diversity. Implementation Steps: - Address issues of affordability by managing tuition levels, funding of scholarships and financial aid policies.
- Develop alternative revenue sources through appropriate fundraising to insure affordability.
- Recruit and retain an ethnically diverse faculty.
- Ensure accessibility to promote socio-economic diversity.
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Goal 4: Add an Upper School Program
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Goal 4: Create an Upper School Program, adding grades 9 through 12. Implementation Steps: - Develop a strong college preparatory program that challenges students to be accountable ethically, spiritually and intellectually.
- Embrace the personal needs and differences of students to ensure each child reaches his or her maximum potential.
- Recruit, train and hire faculty and the Upper School Head.
- Develop extracurricular programs for sports, drama, music, language and other areas which engage students in personal interests.
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Goal 5: Improve Physical Environment and Plant
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Goal 5: Continue to improve the physical environment and plant to enhance student learning, strengthen Christian identity, embrace our extended community, maximize safety and reflect our mission and vision. Implementation Steps: - Build additional classroom space to accommodate short-term needs of the Upper School opening in 2009.
- Finalize plan for infrastructure and property development at Christwood Blvd. site.
- Build additional administrative office space by the end of 2008.
- Develop building plans and funding plans for the Upper School facility need for its third and fourth year in operation.
- Assess long-term needs and functional status of the ECC and consider relocation to the Christwood Blvd. campus.
- Develop long-term plans for the physical space needs of the Upper School beginning in 2013, including the financial and space allocation for a second gym, an Upper School/Middle school library and additional parking.
- Develop funding and building plans for the Performing Arts Center.
- Identify and mitigate any safety issues on both campuses, especially in light of shifting societal landscape.
- Develop onsite school lunch kitchen at CBC.
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Goal 6: Develop a Culture of Philanthropy
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Goal 6: Raise funds to ensure the short and long-term viability of CES by developing a "culture of philanthropy." Implementation Steps: - Continue focus on parent participation and growth of total giving for the Annual Fund.
- Assess tuition levels in the 5 year financial plan and annually to balance affordability and strategic planning goals.
- Identify and solicit donors for the Endowment and major gifts for the Performing Arts Center.
- Identify and plan for short and long-term funding for the Upper School program.
- Hire a full-time Development professional to execute and coordinate fundraising goals and objectives.
- Develop a comprehensive fundraising plan with a clear direction, line-itemed priorities, and accountability ensuring a clear fundraising platform that parallels the strategic plan and short and long-term school budgets.
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Goal 7: Develop Board Leadership
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Goal 7: Further develop the Board of Trustees to ensure effective planning and leadership. Implementation Steps: - Improve Board orientation training program for new board members.
- Train each Board member to be an effective spokesperson with regard to Annual Giving, the Strategic Plan, mission and values.
- Require each Board member to take an active role on at least one subcommittee, participate in the Annual Fund and play one or more fundraising roles (Advocate, Ambassador and/or Asker).
- Establish Board structure to ensure appropriate review process for the consideration of new items/revisions to the strategic plan to document decision making in terms of alignment to the mission, costs, and balance with other school programs prior to recommendation to the full board, and if appropriate Vestry, for approval.
- Review strategic direction of the school at the onset of each school year, establish priorities for current year and incorporate strategic priorities into the annual update of the 5 year financial plan to ensure alignment with strategic initiatives.
- Conduct an annual Board self-evaluation, using feedback to plan for future functioning of the Board.
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Strategic Plan Committee Membership
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2007-2008 Board of Trustees Charlotte Bradford, CESPA Representative William Colomb Johnny Despeaux Melissa Elliott Lisa Geary, Secretary Jill Giberga Chandra Gordon Greg Homer, Headmaster Colin McComiskey , Vice-Chair John Murphy, Treasurer Steve Neal, Board Chair Billy Preau Puddy Robinson Lain St. Paul Michael Willis, Vestry Representative
2007-2008 Strategic Plan Committee Lisa Geary Jill Giberga Chandra Gordon Greg Homer Colin McComiskey Steve Neal Sue Zaunbrecher 2008-2009 Board of Trustees Anne Bailey Rev. Tom Blackmon, Rector Erika Briggs, CESPA Representative William Colomb Johnny Despeaux John Dubreuil Melissa Elliott, Secretary Lisa Geary, Vestry Representative Jill Giberga Chandra Gordon, Vice-Chair Greg Homer, Headmaster Colin McComiskey, Board Chair John Murphy, Treasurer Billy Preau Puddy Robinson Lain St. Paul
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