Sacred Heart Greenwich Strategic Plan

EDUCATING PRINCIPLED LEADERS AND INNOVATORS FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES OF TOMORROW

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S T R AT E G I C AC T I O N P L A N

2017

DEAR SACRED HEART COMMUNITY,

N

ow in our 168th academic year, we look forward to a future that

us through several surveys and interviews. We conducted focus group studies,

builds upon the successful state of our School. We are in the strongest

completed a competitive analysis of our neighbor schools and undertook several

financial condition in our history. Over the past five years, we have

system audits.

purchased 118 acres of land from the Society of the Sacred Heart, built a state of the art athletic facility, and made numerous campus improvements and renovations.

The four pillars of the plan are to emphasize and enhance our:

Through the generosity of our community, we have significantly increased our

• MISSION AND CULTURE

physical assets while incurring only a small amount of debt, which we can pay

• GLOBAL EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

from operating cash flow over time. Our most precious intangible assets are also at

• COMMUNICATION AND OUTREACH

their highest value ever. The Sacred Heart Network continues to thrive and become

• TRANSFORMATIVE STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES AND OUTCOMES.

closer with programs like “SophieConnect” as technology lowers the barriers to global connectivity. Our Goals and Criteria have become even more important as a framework to instill ethics and grounding in our students. Our community has steadfastly supported us with financial gifts and gifts of volunteerism as well as by

We invite all members of the Sacred Heart community to join with us as we build upon our strengths to educate for tomorrow.

Sincerely,

sharing our fundamental principles.

Sacred Heart Greenwich is one of over 200 Sacred Heart schools on six continents.

All of our schools share a common vision nuanced by different cultures and

Christopher R. Ryan

customs. As part of our global network, we can offer our students a safe global

Chair of the Board of Trustees

Pamela Juan Hayes ’64 Head of School

educational experience that is differentiated from other Fairfield/Westchester schools. Most importantly, our network shares a set of values, which transcend geography and politics.

Our mission has always been to educate the whole child, and to address issues of ethics and morality actively and openly with the Goals and Criteria as our

STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN Sacred Heart Greenwich is part of a global network of over 200 schools

guideposts. Our entire community of students, alumnae, faculty, staff, and

entering its third century. We educate young women to have independence

parents, as well as the communities of our global network schools, are unified by a

of judgment, strength of character and personal freedom, so that they may

transparent and unambiguous set of principles.

become leaders with broad intellectual and spiritual foundations. Sacred

“Educating Principled Leaders and Innovators for the Opportunities and

Heart Greenwich presents an academic curriculum, athletic program,

Challenges of Tomorrow” is the result of nearly two years of research, input

extracurricular activities, campus, and facilities that rival or exceed those

and analysis. We wrote a comprehensive self-evaluation of our entire program.

Numerous members of our community shared their thoughts and visions with

of our peer independent schools.

MISSION AND CULTURE

Schools of the Sacred Heart educate to a personal and active faith in God and a deep respect for intellectual values.

1. A ffirm ourselves as a school grounded in the Catholic faith while welcoming students from all faith traditions.

2. Emphasize ethics, integrity and character development.

3. Foster a culture of giving throughout our community.

4. E ducate young women to have independence of judgment, personal freedom, dignity, strength of character, courage, and confidence.

5. P rovide a positive counterbalance to the impact of contemporary media and social pressures on our students.

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GLOBAL EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Schools of the Sacred Heart educate to a social awareness which impels to action.

1. C ontinue to promote participation in our Network Exchange and Community Service Programs and enhance access to and flexibility of these programs.

2. O ffer extensive opportunities for faculty exchange among network schools to increase professional development.

3. H arness the skills and expertise of Sacred Heart faculty worldwide for our students in Greenwich.

4. Expand and promote SophieConnect to all divisions of the School.

5. D eepen each student’s understanding of her place and purpose in this interconnected world as a Sacred Heart global citizen.

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COMMUNICATION AND OUTREACH

Schools of the Sacred Heart build community as a Christian value.

1. H ighlight the success of our students and alumnae to articulate the distinctive programs and opportunities at Sacred Heart Greenwich.

2. Refine and promote parent opportunities to strengthen community.

3. E nhance healthy student social engagement through activities, community service and cultural events.

4. Expand the alumnae experience in the life of the School.

5. B uild upon the strongest financial position in our history through the implementation of a comprehensive Institutional Advancement plan.

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TRANSFORMATIVE STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES AND OUTCOMES

Schools of the Sacred Heart offer our students the opportunity for personal growth in an atmosphere of wise freedom.

1. S upport our ongoing curriculum design and development through the Center for Research, Teaching and Learning.

2. I nculcate passion for and commitment to critical thinking and problem solving.

3. C hampion a culture of collaboration through innovative, cross-disciplinary curricula.

4. C ontinue to develop confident young women with differentiated communication and public speaking skills through award winning programs including Broadcast Journalism, Speech and Debate, Model UN, Science Research, COLT (Connecticut Council of Language Teachers) Poetry Competition for World Languages, Chapel Services, and Drama.

5. E xpand our commitment to championship level interscholastic athletics as well as comprehensive intramural, recreational and wellness programs across all divisions.

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MISSION Sacred Heart Greenwich, founded in 1848, is an independent Catholic, college preparatory school for young women from kindergarten through grade 12, with a coed early childhood education program.

Sacred Heart, steeped in a solid academic tradition, educates women to have independence of judgment, personal freedom, and strength of character so that they can become leaders with broad intellectual and spiritual horizons.

The School welcomes students of all races, socioeconomic backgrounds, and religious beliefs. True to its international heritage, the School provides students with experiences of diversity.

Cultivating prophetic leaders is a compelling commitment of our education, and the entire school community, as a member of the Sacred Heart Network of Schools, is dedicated to the Goals and Criteria: • A PERSONAL AND ACTIVE FAITH IN GOD • A DEEP RESPECT FOR INTELLECTUAL VALUES • A SOCIAL AWARENESS WHICH IMPELS TO ACTION • THE BUILDING OF COMMUNIT Y AS A CHRISTIAN VALUE • PERSONAL GROWTH IN AN ATMOSPHERE OF WISE FREEDOM.

1177 King Street | Greenwich, CT 06831 | 203.531.6500 | cshgreenwich.org