5 minute read
VISION 2020: Global Pathways
Strategic Plan 2016 - 2022
Top 20 Achievements
BY CHRISTOPHER SHANNON (PRE-U ’76), HEAD OF SCHOOL
In September 2016, we launched our Vision 20/20: Global Pathways Strategic Plan. The three distinct pillars— diversity and accessibility, sustainable future, and teaching and learning in a new paradigm—were based on our desire to remain forward-thinking and ensure that our students are fully prepared to be active members of the world in which they live.
Our strength as a school is fueled by our philosophy that students are at the centre of our decision-making, the pride we have in our community, and our commitment to continuous improvement. Over the last six years, we have remained focused on the vision of this plan and have worked together to achieve the goals and measure our progress along the way. The evidence of our efforts is reflected in the changes to our program offerings, evolution in our approaches to teaching and learning, growth in the diversity of our student body, and increased community commitment to philanthropy.
The unexpected changes in the global landscape, which include the pandemic, stretched this strategic plan by an additional year.
We are proud of what we have achieved together. To follow are the top 20 achievements of Vision 20/20.
1
Raised over $10M for the Power of Possibilities Bursary Campaign and created 28 named endowed bursaries ranging from $100K to $2.5M, including a Class Gift program (e.g., Classes 2018– 2022 bursaries of $100K each)
Chris Shannon & the Power of Possibilities Campaign
2
Increased the total number of students receiving bursaries that represent 81% of tuition or more from 4 to 38, and that represent 51% to 80% of tuition from 20 to 36
3
Grew international student enrolment to 20% of the school's population (prepandemic) through strategic partnerships and creative marketing initiatives, developed international family onboarding and integration programs, formalized an international parent representative position on the LCCPA executive, created two student leadership positions dedicated to internationalism, and developed an international student transition program overseen by one of the school counsellors
A few of our international and out-of-province parents
4
Developed a community outreach program to attract students of potential to apply to the school and implemented a program to help their transition to the community
5
Formalized a Certificate of Sustainable Global Leadership, which includes numerous facets of LCC student programming, such as IB, service, Duke of Edinburgh Awards, international travel, seminars, and environmental initiatives
6
Created the We Are LCC podcast to allow members of the LCC community to share expertise and viewpoints on topical issues and provide learning opportunities to a broad audience
We Are LCC Podcast
7
Strengthened the culture of philanthropy by developing a participatory strategy with meaningful projects and grew parent annual giving participation from 9% to 49%, faculty and staff from 26% to 80%, alumni from 6.5% to 7%, and maintained 100% participation among the leadership team and Board
8
Bolstered alumni engagement by launching the networking and mentorship platform lowercanadaconnect.ca (currently over 1,200 members), creating the Ask an Alum virtual monthly speakers series and profiling alumni to showcase their diverse backgrounds, experiences and expertise, and supporting the LCC Alumni Executive to operate virtually and expand its reach to include participants living abroad
Ask the Alum Speakers series
Lower Canada Connect alumni network
9
Developed and shared a series of videos on the value of the bursary program as well as on LCC students, parents and faculty and staff
10
Expanded Board membership to support fundraising and augmented Board involvement
11
Received IB MYP certification (making LCC the only English high school in Montreal offering both the Middle Years and Diploma Programmes) and provided ongoing professional development for all MYP teachers
IB Learner Profile
12
Successfully completed the fiveyear re-evaluation of the two-year International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP)
13
Applied for NEASC (New England Association of Schools and Colleges) membership as a first step in pursuing co-accreditation with CAIS and NEASC (confirmed summer 2022)
14
Acquired an additional teaching space to expand our design and innovation program, to be renamed the Centre for Discovery, and added personnel to support the program
Expanded our design and innovation program
15
Reinforced balance and wellness by restructuring the school timetable in all divisions, appointing a school counsellor solely dedicated to the Junior School, and further developing programs and approaches to support student emotional well-being (e.g., Positive Education in the high school, Social- Emotional Learning in Junior School)
Positive Education
16
Augmented afterhours student curricular support (e.g., math, student athletes) and modified the faculty intern program to improve release time for faculty to concentrate on curricular and co-curricular program development
17
Developed a virtual school program, as well as associated policies, involving the Google suite of tools and various other digital applications
18
Focused on diversity, equity and inclusion to develop intercultural sensitivity and competencies and ensure a more inclusive community (e.g., professional development for faculty, staff and Board members, including SEED training, discussions for parents, development of affinity and ally student programs, curricular and administrative practice reviews)
19
Implemented a structured literacy program and response to intervention in kindergarten through grade 2, focused on projectbased learning in Junior School, and restructured the LEAD program administration
Kindergarten to Grade 2 literacy Program
20
Modernized the dining hall to augment capacity and improve traffic flow, renovated the fitness centre and replaced equipment, and added an outdoor refrigerated ice surface, thereby doubling our capacity to offer ice activity programs to students
Renovated Fitness centre
