St. Thomas More Catholic School Strategic Plan 2015-22

(Objective 1) St. Thomas More School will achieve and maintain academic excellence

(Strategy 1) St. Thomas More School will implement Northwest Education Association’s (NWEA) Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) testing and evaluation to better understand each student’s educational skill level

Timeline / Responsibility / Progress Report
(Action Step 1) Administer NWEA MAP tests twice yearly for K-8 Students / September & February each year / Principal & Faculty
(Action Step 2) Evaluate and use the data to form differentiated instruction and intervention / October and March each year / Principal & Faculty
(Action Step 3) Conduct Parent Information Nights to discuss test results and how to interpret reports / November 2015
Ongoing / Principal & Faculty
(Action Step 4) Analyze and display data in parent-friendly terms / November
2015 ongoing / Faculty
(Action Step 5) Measure improvement following 2nd test and post results for families / Every April / Principal
Action Step 6) Apply assessment data to assist in curriculum review process / Spring 2016 and
every year / Principal & Faculty
(Action Step 7) Define and enhance resources for students who struggle academically / 2015-16 / Resource Teachers & Principal
(Action Step 8) Define and enhance resources for students who require academic enrichment / 2016-17 / Resource Teachers & Principal
(Strategy 2) St. Thomas More Catholic School will conduct a curriculum review cycle semi-annually
Timeline / Responsibility / Progress Report
(Action Step 1) Develop teacher curriculum review team, goals and monthly schedule / January each year / Teachers from the Area of Discipline
(Action Step 2) Coordinate and implement school-wide interdisciplinary activities for students / August 2016 / Principal & Faculty
(Action Step 3) Overlay MAP tests, student grades, other comparable school’s results, and curriculum feedback and analyze results / March
each year / Principal & Faculty
(Action Step 4) Recommend curriculum changes to the principal and grade level leaders and purchase appropriate curriculum / March
each year / Team Members
(Action Step 5) Provide professional development opportunities around the new curriculum / Ongoing / Principal &
CSCOE
(Strategy 3) St. Thomas More Catholic School will acquire electronic resources for students and teachers, that will improve
learning opportunities, communication and engagement
Timeline / Responsibility / Progress Report
(Action Step 1) Develop an online resources team comprised of students, teachers and parents / Fall 2016 /

Faculty Team Leader

(Action Step 2) Develop goals, timeline, meeting schedule / Fall 2016 /

Faculty Team Leader

(Action Step 3) Develop a multi-year resource acquisition plan and begin execution / Spring 2017 /

Resources Team

(Action Step 4) Map new curriculum in ATLAS / Every Spring /

Faculty

(Strategy 4) St. Thomas More Catholic School will use standards-based grading and reporting to demonstrate student mastery of academic skill
Timeline / Responsibility / Progress Report
(Action Step 1) Provide in-service training for K-4 teachers on standards-based grading / Ongoing / Principal & Outside Resources
(Action Step 2) Introduce parents to K-4 standards-based grading with visual displays at a parent information night / Fall 2015 / Principal & Faculty
(Action Step 3) Provide continuing parent education on the reasons for and function of report cards / 2015-22 / Principal & Faculty
(Action Step 4) Improve function and implementation of Cornerstone grading program / 2015-16 / Cornerstone Building Reps
(Action Step 5) Provide comprehensive reports to parents and students at grading time / 2016 / Faculty
(Action Step 6) Conduct pulse surveys with parents to gauge acceptance and comprehension / 2016-17 / Faculty
(Action Step 7) Align standards mastery to high schools in the area, both private and public / 2015-17 / Teacher Leadership team
(Action Step 8) Provide impetus and introduce standards-based grading and reporting to grades 5-8 parents / Fall 2017 / Principal & Faculty
(Action Step 9) Use standards-based grading practices in the middle school and grade 5 / September 2017 / Faculty
(Action Step 10) Use standards-based report cards for grades 5-8 / First grading period 2017-18 / Faculty
(Strategy 5) St. Thomas More Catholic School will improve Math comprehension and mastery for K-5 students by implementing th the Singapore method and Math in Focus curriculum
Timeline / Responsibility / Progress Report
(Action Step 1) Train teachers in the Singapore method of instruction / 2014-Ongoing / Principal & Outside Resources
(Action Step 2) Adopt Math in Focus curriculum / 2015-17 / Faculty
(Action Step 3) Meet monthly to discuss effectiveness of curricular and online resources / Ongoing / All Faculty
(Action Step 4) Install Singapore applications on iPads and other tablets in the school / 2016 / Technologist & Principal
(Action Step 5) Map new curriculum in ATLAS / Spring of each year / Faculty

(Objective 2) St Thomas More Catholic School will increase enrollment PK-8

(Strategy 1) St. Thomas More School will recruit new students and retain enrolled students

Timeline / Responsibility / Progress Report
(Action Step 1) Collaborate with CSCOE (Catholic Schools Center of Excellence) to build a robust plan using their expertise / Spring 2016 / Pastor, Principal, Finance Council and SEAC Marketing team
(Action Step 2) Create and implement incentives for Pre-K students and their families / Summer 2016 / Principal, SEAC and Business Administrator
(Action Step 4) Brainstorm and implement creative ways to offer tuition assistance to families in need / Spring 2016 / Pastor, Principal, Finance Council and SEAC Marketing Team
(Action Step 5) Conduct Middle School Forum for parents of 4th and 5th grade students (retention) / November & February each year / Faculty grades 4-8
(Action Step 6) Create more opportunities for grades or groups of grades to have social events and gatherings / Ongoing / SEAC/ Room Parents/ PTO
(Action Step 7) Create opportunities to speak at Mass and promote the school / 2016-17 ongoing / Principal and SEAC Members
(Strategy 2) St Thomas More School will market appropriately to the community
Timeline / Responsibility / Progress Report
(Action Step 1) Develop a community based marketing team through requests with other commissions /
Winter 2016 / CSCOE, Principal, SEAC
(Action Step 2) Create a branding strategy with input from the community / Spring 2016 / CSCOE, Principal, SEAC
(Action Step 3) Design a yearly calendar of all events and tasks for the marketing team / Spring 2016 / Marketing Team & Principal
(Action Step 4) Attend all local learning and school choice fairs PK-8 / Ongoing / Marketing Team & Principal
(Action Step 5) Promote and educate people about our Jesuit relationship and other things that make us different from surrounding schools / 2016-17 / New Pastor & Faculty
(Action Step 6) Submit photos and news blurbs to Pioneer Press and Star Tribune after every event / 2015-2022 / Marketing Team
(Action Step 7) Update and maintain the school’s Facebook and Twitter presence and refresh the website / 2015- ongoing / Teacher Leaders
(Action Step 8) Foster relationships with PK parents through fun family activities quarterly / 2015- ongoing / Marketing Team
(Action Step 9) Place items and information about school events in local papers and magazines / 2015- ongoing / Marketing Team

(Objective 3) St. Thomas More Catholic School will work to enhance its financial resources to ensure sustainability and growth

(Strategy 1) St. Thomas More School will increase revenue raised through fundraising

Timeline / Responsibility / Progress Report
(Action Step 1) Establish a comprehensive, community based fundraising committee / Fall 2016 / Principal, SEAC,
PTO
(Action Step 2) Work in partnership with the larger parish community to foster stewardship (time, talent, treasure) in order to improve the financial health of all the ministries of the parish and school / Winter 2016 / Principal
Committee Chairs
Commission Chairs
(Action Step 3) Establish an endowment for tuition assistance and scholarship / 2017 / Principal, Finance Committee & Donors
(Action Step 4) Reach out to alumni of the school with specific events and communications after updating the alumni data base / 2016-17 / SEAC Alumni Committee
(Strategy 2) St. Thomas More Catholic School will improve budget setting process, timeframe and reporting
Timeline / Responsibility / Progress Report
(Action Step 1) Work with the parish finance council to establish improvement process / 2015-18 / Principal, Business Administrator & Finance Council
(Action Step 2) Examine discretionary spending across the budget lines / 2016 Spring and every year thereafter / Principal, Administrative Assistant & Business administrator
(Action Step 3) Combine parish and school budgets and records / 2016-18 / Principal & Church Administrator
(Strategy 3) St. Thomas More School will explore new sources of revenue
Timeline / Responsibility / Progress Report
(Action Step 1) Work with CSCOE to determine available grants / 2015-ongoing /

SEAC, Principal & Parents

(Action Step 2) Engage stakeholders who are not currently supporting the school / Focused 2016-17 /

SEAC, Principal & New Pastor

(Action Step 3) Utilize website, Facebook and school publications for year-round giving / Focused 2016-22 /

Principal & Website Coordinator

(Objective 1) St. Thomas More School will foster an environment of achievement, appreciation and recognition of students, faculty and staff

(Strategy 1) St. Thomas More School will encourage leadership among students in grades 6-8

Timeline / Responsibility / Progress Report
(Action Step 1) Appoint Middle School liaison and review responsibilities / Summer 2015 / Principal
(Action Step 2) Develop team building activities for middle school faculty / 2015-16 / Principal & Middle school Coordinator
(Action Step 3) Promote discipline program with parents and students at a parent information night / 2015-ongoing / Principal & Middle School Coordinator
(Action Step 4) Design and develop a Student Council in the middle school / 2016 / Middle School Coordinator
(Action Step 5) Begin years 2-5 of Discipline With Purpose (DWP) implementation / 2016-21 / Principal,
All Faculty & Staff
(Action Step 6) Provide ongoing professional development for all staff in the DWP program / 2015-21 / Principal
(Action Step 7) Implement monthly Peacemakers program / 2015-22 / Principal & Homeroom Teachers
(Action Step 8) Reward middle school students with MorePride tickets to celebrate exemplary behavior and kindness / 2015-16 / All School Staff & Faculty
(Strategy 2) St. Thomas More School will encourage leadership among students in grades PK-5
Timeline / Responsibility / Progress Report
(Action Step 1) Continue to implement the Peacemakers program / 2015-22 / Principal & Homeroom Teachers
(Action Step 2) Use “Saintly Recognition” tickets to celebrate exemplary behavior and kindness / 2016-22 / All School Staff & Faculty
(Action Step 3) Teach DWP lessons in every homeroom / 2015-22 / Principal and Homeroom Teachers
(Action Step 4) Model and discuss expectations with students at all-school meetings / 2015-22 / Principal, Faculty & Staff
(Strategy 3) St. Thomas More School will work to provide a supportive and caring environment for students, faculty and staff
Timeline / Responsibility / Progress Report
(Action Step 1) Faculty and staff will use DWP language and model appropriate behavior with students and each other / 2015-Ongoing /

Principal, Faculty & Staff

(Action Step 2) Individual staff and faculty accomplishment will be recognized and celebrated / 2015-Ongoing /

Principal, Faculty, Students & Staff

(Action Step 3) Each member of the faculty and staff will be given time at faculty meetings to demonstrate their areas of expertise and build leadership / 2016- Ongoing /

Principal, Faculty & Staff

(Objective 5) St. Thomas More School will enhance its Catholic Identity

(Strategy 1) St. Thomas More School will integrate and infuse all school curriculum with Catholic Social Teachings

Timeline / Responsibility / Progress Report
(Action Step 1) Design and implement a “House” system for multi-age learning / 2015-16 / Teachers and Students
(Action Step 2) Each homeroom will implement their own service learning experience / Yearly / Teachers and Students
(Action Step 3) Religion classes in all grades will explore our Jesuit tradition / 2016-17 / New Pastor, Principal, Teachers & Students
(Action Step 4) 5th and 8th graders will take the IFG assessments annually / 2016 / Principal, Teachers& Students
(Action Step 5) Teachers and staff will take the ACRE tests annually / 2016-17 / Principal, Faculty & Staff
(Action Step 6) Results from the ACRE and IFG will be used to develop formation opportunities for faculty, staff and students / 2016-17 / New Pastor & Principal