Strategic Plan

List of 3 items.

• Strategic Plan Announcement 5-6-2024

  Dear Monte Cassino Parents,

   

  As we approach our centennial school year in 2026-2027 and enter a re-accreditation year in 2024-2025, it is important for us to start thinking about the future. As an independent school, Monte Cassino has the privileged opportunity to create a new shared vision. To achieve this, the Board of Directors approved the hiring of a consultant in February to facilitate a new strategic planning process that will engage the many constituency groups in our community. As a current parent, your thoughts and ideas are highly valued. In the coming months, various opportunities will be established to gather your input, and everyone will be invited to participate in a community Visioning Day on Saturday, November 2, 2024. Your first opportunity to participate in this process is available now. Please complete this Current Parent Survey by Thursday, May 16.

   

  We will track our progress with established milestones throughout the project. A successful plan for schools should be inclusive, share responsibility, ensure accountability, evaluate progress and have ongoing planning. Our planning process will begin by reviewing our core values and mission statement. We will then examine data, including a comprehensive study of external factors, and gather input from as many current and past parents, faculty, staff, board of directors, current students, and graduates as possible. The issues that are identified will provide the framework for our planning as we aim to articulate a vision, create school goals, and develop strategies to achieve them.

   

  Board of Directors member, Missy Embry and ECLC Principal, Marci Jubelirer are Co-Chairs of the Strategic Planning Committee with me. The Strategic Planning Committee has been formed to oversee and complete major portions of the planning process. The Committee comprises members who represent various constituencies. Their work will be presented to the Board of Directors for review, with a final review and approval by the Monastic Council.

   

  To guide us through this process, we have engaged the services of Christina Drouin, a planning consultant, and the founder of the Center for Strategic Planning. Christina has over 35 years of experience in nonprofit planning and marketing. She previously worked as an independent school administrator and is the recipient of several national awards. She is also a frequent speaker at independent school annual conferences, including the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). Christina has co-authored NAIS's book on contemporary strategic planning and has helped many schools as a strategic planning consultant. She is known for her talent in designing and leading inclusive and effective processes.

   

  We have started our work, and we need you to take part. Once again, please complete the Current Parent Survey by Thursday, May 16.

   

  Please save the date - Saturday, November 2, 2024 - for our community Visioning Day. If you have any questions or thoughts, please feel free to give me a call or drop me an email.

   

  Faithfully in Mission,

  Chris Burke, Head of School

• Strategic Plan Update 6-30-24

  Dear Monte Cassino parents,
  
  Happy Fourth of July week! I hope you and your family have a wonderful week filled with red, white, and blue pride, fireworks, and the joy of celebrating our nation's independence. Please note that the Monte Cassino School campus will be closed from July 1st to July 5th for essential maintenance as we prepare to welcome back our Saints for the 2024-25 school year.

   

  As we reach the middle of summer break, I want to give you an update on our strategic planning process. Many thanks to everyone who participated in the strategic plan survey. We received over 340 responses from current parents and nearly 800 responses from all our constituency groups. A bow of gratitude to you for taking the time to share your valuable feedback.

   

  Our Strategic Planning Committee, comprised of four work groups (Writing, Research, Communications, and Visioning Day), is making progress. The Research Work Group is the most active this summer, currently researching the STEEP (Social, Technological, Economic, Environmental, Political) factors that impact independent school education. The aim of this research is to identify external factors and develop strategies to address potential threats and opportunities arising from these factors. The internal (constituency surveys) and external research findings will determine the strategic drivers for our Visioning Day on Nov. 2, 2024.

   

  I am excited to share more updates on our progress throughout the summer and the start of the school year as we journey into a promising future for our Saints!

   

  Please save the date - Saturday, November 2, 2024 - for our community Visioning Day. Registration for Visioning Day will open after our Back-to-School Nights in August. If you have any questions or thoughts, please feel free to give me a call or send an email.

   

  Faithfully in Mission,

   

  Chris Burke, Head of School

   

• Strategic Plan Update 9-1-24

  Happy Labor Day weekend!
  
  I wanted to follow up with you regarding our Strategic Plan. During all three Back-to-School Nights, I shared that Monte Cassino School is in an accreditation year with our accreditor, the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS). As part of the accreditation process, we are working on establishing our goals and vision for the next 5 years, known as Onward Saints: Inspired by Tradition, Building our Tomorrow . The linked landing page shows the most up-to-date information regarding the process and progress of our Strategic Plan.
  
  

  In the next two months, the Research, Writing, Communication, and Visioning Day work groups of the Strategic Planning Committee will complete their tasks in preparation for our community Visioning Day. I want to emphasize the importance of your participation in Visioning Day on Saturday, November 2. Registration and more details about Visioning Day will be available soon for all constituency groups: current parents, past parents, alumni, young alumni, faculty/staff, students, and friends of Monte Cassino School.
  
  

  This is a valuable opportunity to come together to contribute ideas and insights to shape the future of our school. Your participation in this event is not just vital; it's empowering. It ensures that your perspective is heard and considered as we work towards common goals and objectives, making you an integral part of our school's future.
  
  

  Please mark your calendars and join us on Saturday, November 2 for Visioning Day. Be on the lookout for more information about our Strategic Plan over the next two months.
  
  Many blessings to you and your families this weekend!
  
  

  Onward Saints,

  Chris Burke, Head of School