Did You Know?

It has been about two months since our last post. Anyone who has been in my office (not everyone who comes to my office is in trouble- most are not) has seen my white board with all the items we have “going on” as it relates to our strategic plan. The fun has just begun as we now live and do the work of the plan, thinking strategically and being nimble along the way. Much of the work is happening before your eyes, but, Did you know?

• Two faculty committees have been formed to examine and plan for growth with Professional Development and Compensation and Benefits. Both committees will meet throughout the winter and spring to gather data and make recommendations to stay on the front end of the curve as it relates to these two vital areas.
• All after school activities have been streamlined to provide greater consistency and an expanded offering of classes. The classes are filling up.
• The Woods has a brand and we just completed a marketing/messaging study. Thanks to the feedback of many alums, parents, faculty and board members for their input into this process. We are working on our marketing plan and our Message Map will be a key component as we advance our visibility in the area.
• The Montessori Program and Extended Care, together, have been to Montessori training sessions to better align both programs.
• The Board and Business Office are working with a 5 year financial model that will manage tuition increases responsibly, purposely fund student-centered programs and faculty growth and seek additional revenue through a variety of opportunities like expanded camps and leasing of space.
• The second grade is adding robotics to its curriculum as we further promote STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) learning and the 5^th grade is taking an Investment Class to learn and then apply their knowledge of investing to their lives and a diversified stock portfolio. We definitely have future engineers and investors at The Woods.

These are just a few snapshots of the great work that ties back to our plan to “grow” The Woods and promote a life of significance for our children. Check back for more in the coming months or stop by school to see the work happening daily.

Significant

I want to thank all that were able to attend the Strategic Plan Launch party on November 2 and the entire community for their interest in the Plan and the effort to put it together. I could not be more excited about the work in front of and ahead of us. As I discussed the new mission statement at the event (an inclusive Catholic community preparing boys and girls to lead lives of significance), I shared one of our goals is to bring this statement "fully" alive in all aspects of the school. So, as I was walking down to Montessori yesterday Mrs. Iyer pointed me to the Wonderful Words chart and sure enough, there was the word "significant".  This "50 cent" word came directly from the mouths of our Montessori girls and boys. They get it. Leading a life of significance starts in Montessori. The proof is in the experience (and the picture below).

Save the Date

Please join us on Friday, November 2 from 6:30-8:00 PM for the 2012 Five Year Strategic Plan Launch Event.

Learn more about the core themes of the plan and enjoy wine and cheese with parents, board members, and administrators.

Taking Root

In the Fall of 2011, the Board of Trustees and Administration assessed The

Woods Academy’s mission, history, current standing and needs. The previous

Strategic Plan had come to completion and with new leadership in place, the

Board was eager to create a road map to guide the school over the next five

and even ten years.

We all are very proud of our school, students, and faculty. We have great

confidence in our new Administration and are excited by the new ideas it

brings. But the hallmark of any successful institution is its ability to review its

progress objectively and without bias. Our strategic planning

process included feedback from parents and faculty, a thorough competitive

analysis, and extensive research on marketplace trends and best practices used

in schools across the nation.

The result: a strategic plan that builds on The Woods Academy’s

tradition of excellence and lays the foundation for a thriving 21st

Century school.

The comprehensive plan will be detailed on the website and our progress will be communicated routinely through this blog.

Although the strategic plan represents a fresh look at The Woods Academy,

our priority remains unchanged: to prepare boys and girls to lead lives of

significance each and every day. For nearly four decades, we have been

doing just that. And with this plan and continued support from The Woods

community, our graduates of the future will be prepared better than ever

before. That is significant!