SEOUL FOREIGN SCHOOL
2017 - 2022 Strategic Plan Creating communityofofexcellence excellence Creating aa community
Our Commitment On behalf of the Seoul Foreign School Board, it is with a great sense of excitement that I share with you the SFS Strategic Plan for 2017-22. I want to thank everyone who has been a part of this community-wide collaborative effort. Following many productive working sessions with students, parents, faculty, staff and governance team members and aided by internationally respected consultants, we are confident that this is a truly representative plan. Here we outline key objectives that build on the rich history and faith of Seoul Foreign School and create a clear way forward for progress and success in the years to come. In particular I must recognize the dedication, hard work, and commitment the SFS Board, our Head of School and our Senior Administration have given to this task. It is a great privilege to work with them for Seoul Foreign School’s future. We begin in faith and anticipation with the prayer from our SFS crest that is also a promise: Domine Dirige Nos - Lord, guide us. We look forward to communicating with you our progress over the next five years. Penelope Kim Board Chair
To Student Learning Dear Seoul Foreign School Community, I am pleased to share with you our new SFS Strategic Plan, the culmination of many months of work by so many dedicated members of our community. All of the Plan’s objectives share a fundamental, common purpose: to ensure Seoul Foreign School continues to advance as a center of teaching and learning excellence. We believe that every parent who entrusts their child to us should feel confident that throughout the school their child will find the excitement, rigor and support they need to flourish. With the aim of creating students who are engaged global citizens, we seek to offer an unparalleled educational program that fosters collaboration and encourages independent inquiry. Because the quality of teaching defines great schools the world over, the cornerstone of our educational strategy is to recruit, train and retain the best teachers. As an integral part of that commitment, we believe every teacher who joins Seoul Foreign School is entitled to professional development that encourages the very best practice in the classroom. This Strategic Plan provides a structure upon which we will work to further develop our School as a center of teaching and learning excellence. This is not a static document, created and then shelved to collect dust. Behind it are working plans that will guide and track our progress towards the successful completion of each objective, thereby creating the stability and security that allow us to fulfill our aspirations of educational excellence. We are enthusiastic about the work ahead, passionate about our direction and committed to a process that prepares Seoul Foreign School students for their futures as adults who make a positive impact on the world. Colm Flanagan Head of School
Mission Statement
Seoul Foreign School,Centered in Christ, inspires a passion for learning, pursues academic and creative excellence and is dedicated to the service of others.
INSPIRING EXCELLENCE, BUILDING CHARACTER - SINCE 1912
Our School Seoul Foreign School (SFS) offers a comprehensive universitypreparatory education renowned for its academic excellence and emphasis upon spiritual values. Founded by missionaries in 1912 as a single classroom, SFS has grown to become the leading international school in Korea and an educational leader in Asia and beyond. Today, SFS welcomes over 1400 students of diverse nationalities and faith backgrounds in grades pre-K through 12. These passionate learners are supported by a multicultural community of dedicated teachers, administrators, parents and alumni. SFS’s hilltop campus of 26 spacious acres provides a unique learning environment of great beauty and history. All of these elements combine to create a school culture unmatched in its strength and sense of community. Throughout decades of change on the Korean peninsula, SFS has remained true to its core spiritual values while embracing academic innovation. It was the first school in Korea to offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma, the International General Certificate of General Education (IGCSE) and the English National Curriculum. Today, SFS is an IB World School providing both an international curriculum and the English National Curriculum, culminating in the High School with the IB Diploma. We enter our school’s second century determined to keep our school at the forefront of educational innovation, so that our students are equipped to succeed and lead in the future. The new 2017-2022 Strategic Plan is an essential guide to achieving that goal.
Introduction to Our Strategic Plan Upon the conclusion of SFS’s 2011 Strategic Plan, we set out to create a new plan that would advance our school’s central vision: the cultivation of student excellence. Our new strategic plan for 20172022 is a result of a rigorous, thoughtful process designed to identify significant areas for strategic focus and development. The new plan is a true collaboration, written with input from all major SFS community stakeholders, including the SFS governing bodies, students, parents and faculty. Findings from our recent accreditation reviews (which included an 18-month self-study) and consultants also contributed to the final plan.
“We enter our school’s second century determined to keep our school at the forefront of educational innovation, so that our students are equipped to succeed and lead in the future.”
2017 - 2022 Strategic Plan Areas of Key Focus
‘so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.’ Romans 12:5
1. Identity and Vision Goal: Develop a newly articulated set of guiding statements for our school. Context: All schools must answer the fundamental question, ‘Who are we?’ We recognize the need to clearly state the answer for SFS, so that our entire community has a shared understanding of our school’s identity and can easily communicate it to the wider world.
Objectives: Articulate an educational philosophy that clearly defines SFS’s teaching and learning. Create and adopt a new SFS mission statement, motto, and philosophy of education statement. Communicate the new guiding statements to the entire SFS community. Undertake a comprehensive review of SFS admissions policies, including learning support policies.
2. Financial Sustainability Goal: Ensure the continued, long-term, financial sustainability of SFS. Context: Fiscal stability is essential for SFS to maintain and advance its position as a local and regional educational leader. A strong financial foundation will allow SFS to further develop the school.
Objectives: Examine and optimize possibilities for non-tuition related income. Ensure that SFS can weather any future financial pressures. Develop new methods to ensure effective management of finances and transparently communicate these practices with stakeholders. Develop an Annual Fund that reflects our educational mission, engages our community and grows our financial support.
3. Community Engagement Goal: Strengthen SFS spirit and overall engagement of the school community. Context: We want to foster and promote a vibrant community that inspires students, faculty, parents and alumni. The cultivation of school spirit, through authentic community engagement, helps all community members feel fully invested in our school. We seek to cultivate partnerships, improve community support and offer increased levels of pastoral care for SFS and the wider community.
Objectives: Develop more effective lines of communication with our constituents. Explore ways of uniting the various sections of SFS into one school. Improve the integration of new members into the SFS community. Increase authentic and creative alumni engagement. Increase community service in the curriculum and co-curricular activities.
4. Marketing and Branding Objectives: Goal: Research, design and implement an identity and vision-focused marketing strategy for Seoul Foreign School, that includes the development and advertising of a unique SFS ‘brand.’ Context: As Korea’s international school marketplace continues to diversify and expand, it is critical that we examine our marketing and branding. Our goal is to continue to be the first choice school for the international community of Seoul. We need to undertake thoughtful research, design and implementation of the SFS ‘brand’, as well as marketing structures and implementation.
Build a marketing and communications infrastructure to deliver the brand message in the context of Seoul’s competitive educational landscape. Inspire our SFS community to invest time, talent and resources in SFS. Promote SFS’s service to our host community and country.
5. Facilities Master Plan Goal: Ensure the ongoing development and implementation of a comprehensive SFS Facilities Master Plan. Context: As stewards of SFS, we must plan for the ongoing development of our world-class campus and facilities to attract faculty and meet our students’ aspirations. We must also ensure return on our investment by maximizing the use of our current and future facilities.
Objectives: Create facilities that support the aspirations of our student body. Maintain and create innovative learning environments to attract and retain the very best faculty. Explore the best use of campus facilities and potential alternative revenue streams for the school. Explore ‘value added’ opportunities such as student dormitories, satellite campuses and after-school academic offerings.
6. Governance Structure Goal: Optimize the current SFS governance structure.
Objectives: To develop a highly effective, transparent governance structure that will be empowered to guide the future of SFS.
Context: Members of our SFS community, visiting accreditation teams and consultants who are expert in matters of governance have all identified the complexities of SFS’s governance structure. We want to increase the effectiveness and communication between all governing bodies of SFS.
“Throughout decades of change on the Korean peninsula, SFS has remained true to its core spiritual values while embracing academic innovation.”
TRULY INTERNATIONAL IN EVERY WAY
SEOUL FOREIGN SCHOOL Rooted in our history with a passion for change
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