I S S U E O N E

Faith inspiring ExcEllEncED I O C E S E O F PA L M B E A C H C AT H O L I C S C H O O L S

9995 North Military TrailP.O. Box 109650

Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410

The following is a brief summary of the activities of the Office of Catholic Schools (OCS) and individual Catholic schools in relation to the implementation of the Strategic Vision 2020 that was promulgated in September 2013. Strategic Vision 2020: Charting a Course for Excellence is available at: http://www.diocesepb.org/StrategicVision.

School Advisory Councils are being formed or reformulated using a standard set of by-laws and committee structures that coordinate with the work schools have done on strategic planning with Catholic School Management.

Training was provided for Pastors and Principals regarding the implementation of the School Advisory Councils by Regina Haney, Executive Director for Councils and Boards at NCEA.

Training was provided for all new Council members on the Roles and Responsibilities of School Advisory Councils by Regina Haney, Executive Director for Councils and Boards at NCEA.

Planned for the Fall of 2014, Catholic School Management will provide an additional training for all School Advisory Council members on Committee Structure and Responsibilities.

Two teachers were identified as future administrators in the diocese and nominated for the Mary Ann Remick Leadership Program at the University of Notre Dame and both were accepted into this Masters level program for Summer 2014.

Working in collaboration with the Archdiocese of Miami OCS, the OCS is providing professional development and mentorship programs for first year principals and aspiring principals. Four sessions were held and addressed topics including Catholic identity, school law, finance and budgeting, school culture, hiring procedures and leadership.

First year principals attended a summer workshop for new principals sponsored by the Province of Florida/Florida Catholic Conference.

Strategic Vision 2020Charting a Course for Excellence – Status Report - June 2014

Curriculum Standards for English/Language Arts and Math are currently being reviewed that incorporate a Catholic worldview and Catholic intellectual thought, particularly as related to Catholic social teaching.

All teachers in the diocese have been encouraged to attend the NCEA National Convention in Orlando in Spring 2015. This would be in lieu of a diocesan religion in-service day for the coming school year.

Catechetical leaders/religion coordinators have been appointed by principals within each school to review, evaluate and implement religious educational school-wide goals to strengthen faith formation and Catholic identity.

OCS and the Office for Catechetical Leadership met with catechetical leaders/religion coordinators from the schools and discussed the following:

n Catechetical training for teachers through Echoes of Faith and the Searchlight programs, as well as alternatives to these programs, such as distance learning and matriculated course work.

n Implementation of the ACRE (Assessment of Catechesis/Religious Education) through NCEA to identify, measure and strengthen religious knowledge, standards and expectations for faith formation.

n Assessment of the middle school and high school retreat programs.

n Christology – integrating Christ into all aspects of Catholic schools, providing focus for Catholic identity in each school.

n Retreat opportunities for parents will be made available.

n Retreat opportunities for Catholic school educators will be available beginning in August 2014 and then annually thereafter.

n Seeking more clergy involvement and contact with students (in many schools this is beginning to occur with increased involvement of pastors/priests from sending parishes that do not have schools).

n Additional training on Catholic teachings for teachers who are not Catholic.

n Religion curriculum guidelines will be evaluated and developed in comparison to national standards and best practices.

Governance and Leadership

Mission and Catholic Identity

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Academic Excellence

A Diocesan End-of-Course test has been designed for Algebra I and additional assessments are under consideration for Geometry and Spanish.

Through meetings with the Assistant Superintendent, curriculum coordinators from each school have been invited to evaluate curriculum, standards and best practices. This year, special focus has been on English/Language Arts and Math with both groups developing ways for teachers from across the diocese to share resources via the internet. Coordinators have also met on Science, Guidance, Religion, Social Studies and Technology.

Ongoing professional development is being provided at the local schools, at the diocesan level and through cooperation with public schools in the counties within the diocese.

Partnerships are being formed at the university level with the following examples:

n STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Visioning with the University of Notre Dame.

n Grant Writing with St. Thomas University.

n Clinical Education training with Indian River State College.

n STEM Professional Development and field trips with Palm Beach State College.

n The ACE Academy designation through the University of Notre Dame is being pursued for St. Luke School and a second school, possibly Hope Rural School, for 2015-16.

n Dual enrollment classes at FAU, Lynn University and others.

n The University of Notre Dame sponsored a Robotic Camp at St. Luke School (in conjunction with Cardinal Newman High School).

Strategic Plans, as well as Marketing/Communication and Enrollment Plans, have been developed at the elementary and high school levels with guidance provided by Catholic School Management. In addition, the high schools and some elementary schools have created Institutional Advancement/Development Plans.

Budget reviews are conducted annually for the three high schools and six selected elementary schools. School accounts are monitored regularly on the cloud by the Diocesan Finance Office.

Florida Catholic Conference Superintendents have developed a state-wide contract for all Catholic Schools in Florida to use FACTS Tuition Management Services for tuition collection and assessment of families in need of financial assistance.

Technology Directors and Principals met with representatives from Apple to discuss management and deployment of 1:1 iPad programs in schools.

OCS worked with administrators at St. Thomas University, who provided a workshop for principals and development directors on grant writing and accessing public funds for education.

A consultant from Catholic School Management provided a seminar on Major Gift Solicitation and the Annual Fund Drive for principals and development directors.

OCS will continue to increase the number

Operational Vitality

of schools within the diocese AND the number of individuals enrolled through state-funded scholarship programs such as Step Up for Students and McKay Scholarships. In two years, schools have increased revenue from these sources from $500,000 to $2,500,000.

Schools continue to seek funds through galas, auctions, carnivals, and annual fund drives to provide additional sources of revenue. This work has been enhanced through consultative services provided by Catholic School Management.

In order to assess the impact of increased funding from development/advancement efforts and state scholarships, further discussion on funding for Catholic schools from parishes that do not have schools has been put on hold by OCS during the 2013-14 school year. Renewed discussions and action on this topic can be anticipated in 2014-15.

Principals, working with the OCS, are examining ways to enhance the annual January Second Collection for Catholic Schools. Suggestions have included personal testimonials from students, parents or alumni at Masses across the diocese; video presentations; and/or printed materials to be distributed prior to the collection weekend. With heartfelt appreciation to the parishioners across the diocese; the 2014 Second Collection

The OCS in the Diocese of Palm Beach is not adopting the Common Core State Standards for Math and English/Language Arts. As it has been done in the past, the OCS will work with subject area Curriculum Coordinators from each of our Catholic schools to develop Diocesan Curriculum Guidelines. The purpose is to provide our students with an exemplary Catholic curriculum. The Diocesan Curriculum Guidelines will reflect current best practices from other Catholic dioceses, as well as other respected academic resources. Initial draft guidelines for Math and English/Language Arts were developed in 2013-14. Revisions will be made over the course of the 2014-15 school year. A final draft should be available for implementation by 2015-16.

Parent Satisfaction Surveys have been implemented in all schools. One result in many of the schools has been expanding the offering of co-curricular activities and support services after school.

Attorneys have reviewed Acceptable Use Policies for Technology.

A Diocesan lease agreement with Apple has been negotiated for the lease of 1:1 iPad programs in the schools. Apple training for administrators has been designed to assist in the management and implementation of technology curriculum through best practices.

Representatives from Iowa Assessment are working with school administrators on analyzing student test scores to impact student achievement by strengthening teaching and learning strategies in the classroom.

Technology coordinators are partnering to buy, share and review the use of apps to support student learning.

FA I T H I N S P I R I N G E X C E L L E N C E FA I T H I N S P I R I N G E X C E L L E N C E

With grateful appreciation to the donors and sponsors of the 2013-14 Lumen Christi Gala; the diocese raised $262,000 or $16,375 per school for scholarship assistance.

The Gerstner Family Foundation committed $2,196,000 through 2020 to fund the Louis V. Gerstner, Jr. Distinguished Scholars program at the three diocesan high schools.

The Fortin Foundation of Florida committed $1,000,000 over the next five years to fund the Lester N. Stockard Scholarships for new students in the Palm Beach County Catholic elementary schools.

The Helping Hands Scholarship Fund provided Catholic schools with $118,120 in tuition assistance in 2013-14. Funds were distributed by schools to families with financial need.

for Catholic Schools raised $142,910.00 or $8,931.00 per school.