Faith Inspiring Excellence Office of Catholic Schools, Diocese of Palm Beach
Strategic Vision 2020
Charting a Course of Excellence – Status Report 2019 - Issue Six -
The following is a brief summary of the 2018-19 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.diocesepbschools.org/vision
MISSION AND CATHOLIC IDENTITY Dr. Bob McCarty conducted a day of reflection for principals and administrators. “Recalibration: Creating Balance in a Chaotic World” was the theme for day. The retreat was held at St. Jude Catholic Church in Tequesta and Fr. David Carr, President of Cardinal Newman High School, celebrated the Mass. (2.1) All teachers from the diocese attended a professional day at Cardinal Newman High School with Sr. Carol Cimino, SSJ, EdD entitled “Dancing to the Beat of Hope.” Bishop Barbarito led a prayer service and presented awards to teachers for their years of service to the diocese. (17.2) The Sophia Institute provided a workshop for Religion teachers and catechists in the diocese entitled “Proclaiming the Kingdom,” presented by Professor Douglas Bushman. (2.1)
Faith formation sessions for teachers on documents related to Catholic education were provided by the “Going Deeper” series through weekly videos – the sessions also included reflection and discussion topics. The session was conducted at St. Edward Parish in Palm Beach and Fr. Brian King celebrated Mass for the group. (2.1) Religion Coordinators from all schools meet twice a year to collaborate on the implementation of Diocesan Religion Curriculum Guidelines and to make revisions as needed. (2.3)
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE The Catholic Province of Miami, which is compromised of the seven dioceses in the state, agreed that, commencing with the 2018-19 school year, elementary schools would administer the Terra Nova Assessment to students in the spring of each year. (5.1)
2018 ACT SCORES BY SUBJECT AREA
2019 Terra Nova Assessment 8th Grade National Percentile Scores of Mean NCE
23.8
23.3 72
75
74
75
50
73
75
50
ENGLISH/LA
Province
20.8
50
MATH Diocese
21.9
CORE COMP National
19.2
19.3
22.6
21.1 19.5
19.9
English
Mathematics
Reading
Science
Composite
Diocese
23.3
20.8
23.8
21.9
22.6
State
19.2
19.3
21.1
19.5
19.9
Last February, administrators from the diocese attended the Florida Catholic School Administrators Conference, “New Dimensions in Learning” in Orlando. More than 50 breakout sessions were offered to administrators. (10.2) Local Apple educational consultants conducted workshops for principals and technology staff in the diocese. (10.2) The rollout of the new diocesan English/Language Arts standards was completed. As a “living document” the standards are reviewed and evaluated on an annual basis. (6.3) Science coordinators from each school began Curriculum Mapping, which is the process for collecting and recording curriculum-related data that identifies core skills and content taught, processes employed, and assessments used for each subject area and grade level. (6.1) Twenty-eight breakout sessions were held at the November diocesan teacher professional day, allowing teachers to meet according to subject and grade-specific levels. The groups included not only all academic teachers, but also Media Specialists, Early Childhood coordinators, guidance counselors and resource teachers, among others. Best practices, curriculum review, and other ideas were shared by each group member, and a twenty-page summary report of all breakout sessions was provided to all school principals. (6.5)
Curriculum coordinators continue to meet twice yearly to evaluate academic programs and discuss new initiatives. This year, diocesan meetings were added to include the coordinators of guidance, resource and student services, and foreign-student admissions. (5.3) Extensive professional development took place in the area of educational technology, with teachers from many diocesan schools attending the annual Florida Educators Technology Conference (FETC) in Orlando. (4.1) GOVERNANCE AND LEADERSHIP A workshop for School Advisory Council Members entitled, “Driven by the Mission� was postponed due to snow in the northeast which created travel difficulties for the presenter. It was rescheduled for the Fall of 2019. (9.2) Throughout the 2018-19 school year, the diocese engaged the ONEHUNDRED Agency to conduct market research for our schools for enrollment and development purposes. In addition, the Agency assisted us in donor analysis, relationship mapping and strategic discussion with key stakeholders. As a result of the work, the diocese launched a marketing campaign on behalf of all the schools. Schools were provided with information to assist with local marketing initiatives as well. Pastors and principals were engaged throughout the process and helped make the final determination on messaging for the campaign. (16.1, 12.1) The diocese continues to remain connected to the University of Notre Dame and the Mary Ann Remick Leadership Program. Congratulations to Mindy Miller, Assistant Principal at John Carroll High School, and Scott Powell, IB Coordinator and History Department Chairperson, who received their Master of Arts Degrees in Educational Leadership in July. Kristopher Takahashi, Director of Information Services at St. Anastasia School, is expected to complete the program in July 2020. (11.1)
OPERATIONAL VITALITY As the school year came to end, many schools were undergoing major renovations and construction during the summer to better serve their students. The new buildings at St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic School were available for the start of the 2019-20 school year. Construction is well underway at St. Jude Catholic School for their new facility, which will be known as the Frank and Vera Ferola Education Center and Gymnasium. Funds were raised at All Saints Catholic School for new playing fields, to be installed in Fall 2019. (15.1)
Elementary schools have developed communication, marketing, enrollment, development and technology plans as part of the accreditation process through the Florida Catholic Conference. Jennifer Trefelner, the Director of Communications, Marketing and Social Media for the diocese, presented workshops at national conferences on marketing and social media. (16.1) The Annual Second Collection for Catholic Schools, which is conducted in all parishes in the diocese each January, raised $144,804 to fund need-based scholarships in our Catholic schools. The funds are divided equally among the schools, resulting in approximately $8,500 per school. The collection is conducted each year just prior to Catholic Schools Week. (18.1) The 30th Annual Lumen Christi Scholarship Gala was held in December 2018 at The Breakers in Palm Beach. The gala supports Catholic school scholarships. The event honored 16 individuals or couples for their outstanding efforts, contributions and achievements on behalf of Catholic school education in the diocese. Each school selected one recipient for the Lumen Christi Award. This year $214,688 in need-based scholarships were granted, with each school awarding more than $13,416 to deserving students. During the gala the diocese also announced that the Norma T. Pace Foundation would be creating scholarships totaling $100,000 that would be awarded on annual basis to all schools in the diocese. In 2018-19 the Norma T. Pace Scholarship was awarded to 45 students. The scholarships honor the memory of Norma T. Pace, who was a successful economist and advised companies such as GM, Ford, Chrysler, and GE. In addition, Michael Gisewski, Grand Knight of Knights of Columbus Council 2075, presented Bishop Barbarito with a check for $300,000 to endow scholarships for one eighth grade student each year at St. Juliana and St. Ann Schools. (18.2)
In March, Mr. Louis V. Gerstner, Jr. visited with the Louis V. Gerstner, Jr. Distinguished Scholars who attend Cardinal Newman High School. Students shared information about the many opportunities they have within the academic program, as well as leadership and service activities they are engaged with during the year. Mr. Gerstner funds the Louis V. Gerstner, Jr. Distinguished Scholars program at all three high schools in the diocese and for the last five years he has provided scholarships at St. Luke Catholic School – A Notre Dame ACE Academy. (17.2)
The diocese is grateful to the donors who made $1,222,899 in funds available during the 2017-18 school year for scholarships and tuition assistance through applications at individual diocesan and parish schools. This reflects more than a 5% increase from the previous school year. (19.2)
2018-19 Diocese of Palm Beach Scholarship Funds - $1,226,942 Louis V. Gerstner, Jr. Distinguished Scholars - $429,000 Lumen Christi Scholarships - $214,688 Diocesan 2nd Collection Scholarships $144,804 Lester N. Stockard Scholarships $155,400 Helping Hands Scholarships $110,500 Norma T. Pace Scholarships - $97,250 Louis V. Gerstner, Jr. Junior Scholars $50,000 Skaff Family Foundation - $4,000
The Honorable Lesly S. Smith and the Mary Alice Fortin Foundation have renewed their commitment to the Lester N. Stockard Scholarships by pledging $1 Million over the next five years. The scholarship currently assists 27 students who attend Catholic schools in Palm Beach County. (17.2) Schools in the diocese received more than $8.2 million in state scholarships through the Florida Tax Credit, McKay, Gardiner, and Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten scholarship programs. These state scholarships assist more than 25% of students enrolled in the Diocese of Palm Beach. (17.6, 19.4) The Diocesan Offices for Finance and Insurance and Employee Services have provided periodic workshops and webinars on topics related to finance and human resources that are shared with pastors, presidents, principals, finance directors, business managers and bookkeepers. (13.1) Annual reviews of budgets and financial statements continue to be conducted by the Diocesan Finance Office and the Office of Catholic Schools, with most school reviews conducted in the spring. (13.3) LifeSafety Solutions provides safety and security services to the Catholic schools in the diocese. Teachers and staff received on-going training which included medical emergencies, fire/tornado drills, lock down and evacuation procedures. Staff from LifeSafety Solutions also conducted a professional day for all teachers entitled, “Creating a School Culture of Safety and Security.� Annual facility reviews are conducted by our schools in conjunction with the diocesan Office of Building and Construction and the Office of Risk Management. (15.1)