TOWARDS 20/20
STRATEGIC PLAN UPDATE MARCH 2015
TABLE OF CONTENTS Overview
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8 Directions
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Implementation Structure
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Process for Progress Review Year One Progress To Date Direction 1: Personalized Authentic Learning
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Direction 2: Global and Local Connectedness
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Direction 3: Entrepreneurial Spirit
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Direction 4: Resilience and Wellness
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Direction 5: Community Connections and Engagement
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Direction 6: Strategic Partnerships and Collaboration
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Direction 7: Collaborative and Innovative Faculty and Staff Direction 8: Financial Sustainability and Accessibility
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OVERVIEW HSC’s Strategic Plan Towards 20/20, defines eight strategic DIRECTIONS for our community. Each direction includes specific STRATEGIES for annual implementation over the next six years. ACTIVITIES are developed with both short and long term implementation plans for each strategy. It is important that the processes, activities and workflow of these implementation plans are both manageable and meaningful over this timeframe. Decisions for actions are well-informed through effective research and professional development.
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8 DIRECTIONS
Global & Local Connectedness
Entrepreneurial Spirit
Joyful and Engaged Students
Personalized Authentic Learning
Resilience & Wellness
All supported by... Strong HSC Community Connections & Engagement
Strategic Partnerships and Collaboration
Collaborative and Innovative Faculty and Staff
Financial Sustainability and Accessibility
STRATEGIES
ANNUAL OVER SIX YEARS
ACTIVITIES ON-GOING
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IMPLEMENTATION STRUCTURE In 2014 HSC developed a committee structure guided by two co-chairs from the College’s Leadership Team and Management for each of the eight directions. Faculty and staff participate on a committee of their choosing to undertake the research and development of activities, and to submit proposals for consideration by the Leadership and Academic teams. Sub-committees also exist for some of the larger committees.
PROCESS FOR PROGRESS REVIEW COMMITTEES Committees meet in November, December, January, April and May. In June, the committees will meet jointly in a culmination of the year’s work. Each committee hosts a shared electronic repository for research materials, meeting minutes, and other supporting documentation and/or resources. LEADERSHIP TEAM The Leadership Team holds monthly review meetings to summarize the activities of each direction committee and to discuss considerations requiring additional input. HSC uses Envisio strategic planning software to track progress. This tool maintains records of all three levels of strategic work (Directions, Strategies and Activities), acts as a project manager for tracking timelines and monitors progress using advanced metrics. The Leadership Team participates in software training throughout the process to maximize usage. HEAD OF COLLEGE The Head of College provides on-going updates to the Board of Governors, and recently shared updates for each direction at our annual faculty and staff meeting in February.
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YEAR ONE PROGRESS TO DATE
DIRECTION 1 PERSONALIZED AUTHENTIC LEARNING STRATEGIES FOR 2014
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• Review our approach to the delivery of learning to enable more flexibility and customization (e.g. timetable, scheduling, technology resources) • Develop alternate pathways for students to support their unique talents, challenges and opportunities • Develop a progressive approach to assess student learning, student engagement and recognition of achievement
ACTIVITIES FOR 2014 • Six subcommittees meet to review existing programs, brainstorm other options and summarize potential changes in the following areas: timetable and scheduling; Individual Learning Plans for all students; recognition programs; the reporting process; problem-based and inquiry methodologies; cross school integration • A review of cooperative education has been allocated to the work of 2015-16 • The GOAL program will operate under the direction of the School Principals
Video produced by HSC Grade 11 student Scott Gingrich, entered into the Young Entrepreneurs, Make Your Pitch competition
DIRECTION 2 GLOBAL AND LOCAL CONNECTEDNESS STRATEGIES FOR 2014
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• Develop a strategy to honour, celebrate and engage diverse cultures
ACTIVITIES FOR 2014 • Examined and created an inventory of current programs in all four schools • Identified the need for an over-arching structure and/or guiding principles for strategic decisions related to service learning, exchanges, global travel and international partnerships • Identified the need for an integrated strategy to weave globalism through the curriculum across the College • Explore ways to diversify our international student population for 2016-17
HSC Students involved with English Conversation Circle - ECC created a video focused on the participants in this amazing program.
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DIRECTION 3 ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT STRATEGIES FOR 2014
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• Define key elements of, and measurement tools for entrepreneurial spirit • Establish partnerships to provide mentors in entrepreneurship for our students
ACTIVITIES FOR 2014 • Developed a draft definition of entrepreneurial spirit for all ages and stages with student input • Restructured the Grade 11 small business course and included alumni mentors as partners and consultants for each student team; the Alumni Manager provided direct support for alumni mentor recruitment and contacts • Feature current student initiatives and projects in Hektor’s Staff Chat • Develop metrics to assess entrepreneurial spirit – the LIKA pilot project is one tool for measuring key skills for entrepreneurial spirit • Create a publication to include the definition, metrics, research sources and practical examples of student activity for faculty reference • Expand the involvement of external business consultants/mentors in the Senior School E-Week Institute in 2015-16
Video produced by HSC Grade 11 student Scott Gingrich, entered into the Young Entrepreneurs, Make Your Pitch competition
DIRECTION 4 RESILIENCE AND WELLNESS
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STRATEGIES FOR 2014 • Improve support mechanisms so more faculty and staff know our students on a deeper level • Develop a comprehensive, integrated wellness program which may be personalized and internalized
ACTIVITIES FOR 2014 • Completed an inventory of wellness activities and initiatives across the College. This data will undergo a SWOT analysis in the spring term • Developed definition and philosophy of resiliency, and review both to ensure age and stage appropriateness • Implemented Wellness Committee events for HSC community, including sessions with internal and external health and wellness experts, Wellness Week events, Athletic Therapy, Mohawk Co-op students, and additional PE in Early Education classes • Re-evaluate the vision and structure of the Senior School tutorial system to focus on enhanced pastoral care for students
Video Slide Show of our 2015 Wellness Week Activities 8
DIRECTION 5 COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS AND ENGAGEMENT
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STRATEGIES FOR 2014 • Develop an integrated approach to promote philanthropy and charitable giving to HSC • Build awareness of the need for investment in the College
ACTIVITIES FOR 2014 • Engaged alumni and current parents to generate a list of mentors for the entrepreneurial studies class and E-Week • Distributed and completed an alumni survey • Established the Parents’ Guild (PG) community forum to increase engagement • Hosted alumni events in Ancaster, Montreal, Kingston, London, Toronto and Hamilton • Augmented the HSC Parent E-News to connect all four schools
DIRECTION 6 STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATION STRATEGIES FOR 2014 • Develop a partnership policy
2014 “Fund a Need” campaign, presented at the November 22 Reach for the Stars Gala
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ACTIVITIES FOR 2014 • Created a draft partnership policy with projected Board approval in June 2015 • Increased facility rentals with new athletic partnerships - Transway, HCC, Extreme Dodgeball • Provided additional scholarships/sponsorship for Bay Area Science and Engineering Fair (BASEF) as part of our admissions recruitment process • Meetings are underway with McMaster University and Mohawk College about academic, entrepreneurial, naturalization, co-ops, and athletic partnerships
11th Annual HSC Science Fair Video 9
DIRECTION 7 COLLABORATIVE AND INNOVATIVE FACULTY AND STAFF
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STRATEGIES FOR 2014 • Develop a renewed professional development strategy to support new strategic directions, including the exploration of further opportunities for professional and personal growth • Implement strategies to support enhanced collaboration and teamwork both within our four schools and College-wide
ACTIVITIES FOR 2014 • Included new questions on Professional Development (PD) options in the annual faculty culture survey • Senior Faculty undertook collaborative arts initiatives with both the Junior and Montessori schools • Developed Wellness Week programs in support of parents, students, faculty and staff • Implementing “Lunch & Learns” and Breakfast Learning sessions to augment job-embedded PD in support of IT integration (e.g. Surface Tablet training) • Included stories about PD and staff accomplishments in Hektor’s Staff Chat • The Centre for leadership in Learning is continuing the monthly book club meetings to discuss articles that are aligned with principles of Towards 20/20 and teaching practices • Undertake a pilot program of class visitations among teaching peers in the spring term
DIRECTION 8
Links to Learning and other Professional Development activities are hosted on campus throughout the academic year.
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FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY STRATEGIES FOR 2014 • Develop a communication plan to educate current and prospective families on the definition of an independent school • Renew our strategic financial plan and financial planning guidelines • Continue to refine our marketing strategy and market positioning
ACTIVITIES FOR 2014 • Focused on enrolment pipeline issues, as lower enrolment (post 2008) cohorts work their way through the school • Completed a review of marketing plans and an analysis of value proposition and market position • Update the HSC demographic study • Develop the framework for the strategic financial plan • Develop a high level endowment strategy
Visit the CAIS website for a definition of Independent Education, and details on the benefits of an independent school education.
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“The joyful learning process requires and builds on noncognitive skills as well as academic knowledge. Skills such as resilience, persistence, determination, and willingness to problem solve lay the foundation for joy in learning. Basically, when students are engaged learners, joy emanates from success in the learning process.� Rantala & Maatta, 2012; Tough, 2012 11
Hillfield Strathallan College | 299 Fennell Avenue West, Hamilton, ON L9C 1G3 | P. 905-389-1367 | F. 905-389-6366 | www.hsc.on.ca