STRATEGIC PLAN
FOR THE ACADEMY OF THE HOLY CROSS
INSPIRED BY OUR MISSION… The Academy of the Holy Cross, a Catholic college preparatory school sponsored by the Sisters of the Holy Cross since 1868, is dedicated to educating young women in a Christcentered community which values diversity. The Academy is committed to developing women of courage, compassion and scholarship who responsibly embrace the social, spiritual and intellectual challenges of the world. In 1843 Blessed Basil Moreau, founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross, sent four Sisters to assist the Priests and Brothers at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana. Twenty-five years later the Sisters traveled from Notre Dame to Washington, DC to serve as educators and nurses. Today we are proud to be the only high school in the United States sponsored by the Sisters of the Holy Cross. For more than 150 years, The Academy of the Holy Cross has embraced the mission envisioned by Father Moreau and has continued to inspire girls through exceptional academics and spiritual guidance.
“Even though we base our philosophy on faith, no one need fear that we
will confine our teaching within narrow and unscientific boundaries. We will
accept the discoveries of science without prejudice, and in a manner adapted to the needs of our times. We do not want our students to be ignorant of
anything they should know.”
~Blessed Basil Anthony Moreau, founder of the Holy Cross congregations, Circular Letter 36, 1849 1
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FROM THE PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES CHAIR As we prepare to celebrate our 150th anniversary in the fall of 2017, we can look back on Holy Cross’ history with pride. We can also look confidently toward The Academy’s future. Our school has gone through many transformations that have enhanced its mission and furthered its growth as an educational institution of excellence. The Academy moved in 1956 from its Upton Street location to its current location in Kensington. The teaching and administration of the school, which for so many decades was led almost exclusively by a vibrant community of Holy Cross Sisters, now consists of a dynamic group of lay leaders in various roles as administrators, faculty, and staff. Included in the changes that have occurred to the Kensington campus is the construction of new facilities for academics, the arts, and athletics. These changes have led to great success. This success is nurtured by the growth of a network of financial support from The Sisters of the Holy Cross, alumnae, alumnae parents, current parents, and friends of the Academy. It is through the Holy Cross mission statement that we are able to understand the essence of why our school has become what it is today, as it informs us as to what our school is to become in the future. It is the vision of Basil Moreau which commits Holy Cross to excellence in education and the development of young women. Strategic Planning calls us to examine who we are and then to define what we want to become. This is not an easy process. Defining excellence is very difficult in today’s rapidly changing world. We need to ensure that our endeavors are reflective of our mission. We strongly believe that by being part of a learning and faith community guided by the Sisters of the Holy Cross, and with God’s help, we can achieve excellence in every endeavor.
We seek to excel in educating young women to be loving leaders and agents of change who, as Blessed Basil Moreau directed, “contribute to preparing the world for better times than ours.” We seek for our teachers and administrators to be pedagogical leaders. Basil Moreau was passionate about the fact that “our students are destined to live in the business and problems of the world. So they should not be made to live a type of life that they would have to abandon when they leave our institution. They should be trained in such a way that they may be everywhere what they were in school. We must never lose sight of this principle. “ This strategic plan has been developed to help engage, re-focus, and inspire our community to think and act strategically. It lays a foundation of broad goals upon which the school will grow. We would like to thank all who have participated in the process of forming this plan. We hope that you will read this plan carefully, and that you will continue to be committed to helping Holy Cross reach these goals. It is an exciting time for Holy Cross and we welcome the great work and opportunities that lie ahead. We are confident that with your support, we will grow with renewed purpose and vision. We are immeasurably blessed by your prayers, service, and philanthropy, which are essential to our mission. Sincerely,
Helen Stanislav Dankos ’75 Chair, Board of Trustees
Kathleen R. Prebble President and CEO
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VA L U E S I N
ACTION We believe that a Holy Cross education prepares girls to be
ALL-GIRLS
COURAGE
COMPASSION
who make a positive
To maximize girls’ intellectual,
To persevere in what is right
To be compelled by another’s
impact on the world.
physical, emotional, spiritual,
with firmness of conviction even
experience to actions with
and social growth. Girls are
while encountering challenges.
loving kindness.
responsive citizens
empowered to take risks, work collaboratively, ask questions, and pursue their dreams.
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SCHOLARSHIP
FAITH
PRAYER
COMMUNITY
To engage in the pursuit
To provide an environment
To seek the personal
To provide an environment
of truth from a variety of
in which all can live out their
experience of God’s
where each member is
critical perspectives, through
spiritual lives as they grow in
unconditional love, stirring
valued and where all are
research and creative
their faith.
us to build a society of justice
bound by our common
and love.
purpose to live our mission.
projects, to reach a positive transformation.
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P O RT R A I T O F A
GRADUATE
A H O LY C R O S S
GRADUATE is a woman of courage, compassion and scholarship.
She exhibits integrity in her work and life. She recognizes her strengths and shares her talents through service to the wider community. She embraces lifelong learning and has an inquiring mind.
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A H O LY C R O S S
A H O LY C R O S S
GRADUATE
GRADUATE
has mastered important academic skills.
values her Catholic education.
She thinks critically and creatively.
She has developed an appreciation and
She is technologically literate and can
understanding of the Catholic faith. She is
communicate clearly in a written and oral
respectful and accepting of differences. She
manner. She is prepared for the challenges
is guided by Catholic values of honor and
of college and life.
morality in all areas of her life.
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A VISION
FOR THE ACADEMY To be the school of choice for girls pursuing a spiritually-driven education in an innovative student-centered environment where each girl thrives in school and excels in life.
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NURTURE The Spirit of Sisterhood within each girl.
STRENGTHEN
PROVIDE
EMPHASIZE
SUPPORT
The concept of
A rich environment for a
The tenets of 21st
The virtues of simplicity.
Holy Cross Family.
transformative education.
Century Learning.
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STRATEGIC INITIATIVES
Strategic Governance Professional Excellence Progressive Academics Transformative Experiences Sustainable Future
The Academy of the Holy Cross is governed by a Board of Trustees who are the guardians of the Academy’s mission and responsible for its long-term strength and stability.
STRATEGIC GOVERNANCE
STRATEGIC PRIORITIES • • • •
Foster a dynamic board model with a strategic mindset. Create board and administrative agendas designed to advance the five-year strategic plan from spring 2017 to spring 2021. Ensure deliberate board succession by cultivating appropriate candidates who fill needed areas of expertise. Strengthen the Board Trusteeship Committee to provide comprehensive trustee orientation and education, and ensure strategic annual board self-evaluation.
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PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE The quality of a Holy Cross educational experience is measured in the purposeful direction and dedication of our faculty and staff. These diverse and devoted individuals model excellence for our girls and share a sense of pride and purpose. STRATEGIC PRIORITIES • • •
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Bolster comprehensive professional development opportunities fostering a community committed to growth. Develop a highly competitive compensation structure for faculty and staff. Institute a School Culture Team that works in partnership with school leadership.
PROGRESSIVE ACADEMICS
The Academy of the Holy Cross students have multifaceted interests and skills. By providing a dynamic program of studies, our girls are challenged to think and respond creatively and critically with an innovative approach. STRATEGIC PRIORITIES • • •
Expand the components of STEM within the Holy Cross educational and co-curricular structure, including the Project Lead the Way engineering curriculum and the FIRST Robotics team. Ensure the continued promotion and expansion of the Dual Credit/Dual Enrollment program as an important element of uniqueness. Support and sustain the Moreau Options program.
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TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCES By providing vibrant opportunities to augment classroom learning, Holy Cross girls are enabled to further expand their perspectives, take risks, hone skills, develop perseverance, and embrace beliefs. STRATEGIC PRIORITIES • • •
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Create an engaging community where every girl feels known, supported, and has a sense of belonging. Cultivate opportunities to instill our girls with confidence and competence to become strong, caring women. Foster spiritual growth through prayer, sacrament, service, and call to social justice.
SUSTAINABLE FUTURE The Academy of the Holy Cross is committed to ensuring the financial integrity of the school by the strategic use of resources which consider changing economic realities and educational practices. STRATEGIC PRIORITIES •
• • • •
Reinforce the belief of the Sisters of the Holy Cross that a strong financial assistance program embraces the teaching of Blessed Basil Moreau. Continue to target a total school enrollment that allows for growth ideal for our student experience. Complete and implement the Campus Master Plan to support and respond to the school’s changing needs. Promote a culture of philanthropy by expanding the Planned Giving program. Invest thoughtfully in our buildings and grounds by moving forward with the next phase of the Academy’s Capital Campaign.
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T H E A C A D E M Y O F T H E H O LY C R O S S
BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2016-2017
Douglas Arkin Joseph Aumiller Lou Caceres Joanne Carl ’76 Sister Adria Connors, CSC Sister Brenda Cousins, CSC Helen Stanislav Dankos ‘75 Shawn Hendon Catherine Hanrahan ’77 Patricia Davitt Long ’82 Sister Karla McKinnie, CSC Sister Sharon Mihm, CSC ’63 Father Stephen Planning, SJ Kathleen Ryan Prebble Karen Schaeffer Katharine Teitel ’69
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Photos on inside front and back covers were provided by the following students: Gabriela Guerrero ’17 Bridget Malone ’20 Rose Milano ’20 Nhi Nguyen ’17 Alexandra Pasta ’17 Sharvari Puri ’18 17
4920 Strathmore Avenue, Kensington, MD 20895
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