Archdiocese of Omaha Ms. Susan Toohey 7400 Military Avenue Omaha, NE 68134 Document Generated On October 15, 2012
TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction 1 Description of the School 2 School's Purpose 4 Notable Achievements and Areas of Improvement 6 Additional Information 8
Introduction Every school has its own story to tell. The context in which teaching and learning takes place influences the processes and procedures by which the school makes decisions around curriculum, instruction, and assessment. The context also impacts the way a school stays faithful to its vision. Many factors contribute to the overall narrative such as an identification of stakeholders, a description of stakeholder engagement, the trends and issues affecting the school, and the kinds of programs and services that a school implements to support student learning. The purpose of the Executive Summary (ES) is to provide a school with an opportunity to describe in narrative form the strengths and challenges it encounters. By doing so, the public and members of the school community will have a more complete picture of how the school perceives itself and the process of self-reflection for continuous improvement. This summary is structured for the school to reflect on how it provides teaching and learning on a day to day basis. Page 1
Description of the School Describe the school's size, community/communities, location, and changes it has experienced in the last three years. Include demographic information about the students, staff, and community at large. What unique features and challenges are associated with the community/communities the school serves? Marian is an all-girls Catholic high school with an enrollment of approximately 700 students in the northwest sector of Omaha, Nebraska. Omaha, including the surrounding community, has approximately 750,000 residents and has been named one of the best locations to raise a family. Average tenure of faculty members is 20.4 years. Marian provides tuition assistance to 50% of students through scholarships, a work-study program and tuition assistance programs. The total amount provided is approximately 15% of the total operating budget of $7.5 million. The typical class at Marian has 175 girls from over 40 different zip codes and over 50 elementary/middle schools. 12% of students are non-catholic and 11% of students come from minority populations. Marian believes that diversity is not just reflected in skin color, but also in economic conditions, family dynamics, geography and religious affiliation. Therefore, the school continues to reach out, not just to young women of color, but to all diverse groups within the Omaha community. Over the past three years, Marian has reviewed data and determined a need for more concentrated efforts in recruiting and enrolling young women from the public school sector. This is necessary because current enrollment in Catholic schools in Omaha is beginning to drop off significantly. In the past, Marian has registered 33% of all students from Catholic grade schools that decide to attend a Catholic high school, but there is now a decreased number of girls both attending Catholic grade schools and choosing Catholic high schools. This challenge has provided new opportunities for market research and recruitment that is directed to a specific target group. Marian has recently undergone an extensive branding review and revision. School leadership met with many constituent groups and defined the unique characteristics of Marian. The tag line, "Marian empowers young women to be confident, independent, thinking leaders," has resonated with alumnae, faculty, parents, students and the Omaha community. This extensive branding effort now includes all print and media materials, logo design, stationery, public relations messaging and color/design templates. The school's look and messaging is now streamlined to be more consistent, and Marian is able to communicate messages appropriately to all constituents. A challenge of the last three years has been keeping current with technology. One significant improvement was moving away from 11 independent database systems that could not communicate with each other to three database systems that have fluid communication. This update also gave Marian the ability to send messages out to specific groups of students or parents. Instituting a new student information system was a great priority and has made an impact on the delivery of information to both students and teachers. Another change in technology occurred when Marian moved away from using servers housed at a local university to using Google platforms for teachers and students. The move to Google allowed Marian to shift the time and resources devoted to the former technology system to improving the school website. The website is the primary tool for disseminating information and communicating with all constituents, so it is important to keep it current, accurate and engaging. Efforts to improve the website have been successful in attracting more people to the school. In addition, Marian has used electronic tools, including eblasts, enewsletters and email, to communicate timely information in a consistent manner. The Advancement Department has benefited from the ability to receive online donations; online giving has significantly increased revenue generation. A unique challenge for Marian stems from the fact that students come from a vast array of schools, school districts and cultures. Many freshmen struggle during their first weeks as they adjust to wearing a uniform, meeting eight new teachers, negotiating a rotating class period schedule, and engaging in a college preparatory curriculum. Public school students appear to struggle more often than students coming Page 2
from Catholic grade schools. It is also challenging for teachers, especially those who teach freshman courses, to meet the needs of all learners during the first month of school. Having such a wide range of ability levels and experiences makes teaching more challenging. Although most students adjust by the second semester of their sophomore year, addressing the needs of new students and their teachers will continue to be a focus in the coming years. A final challenge in Marian's future will be to recruit or train competent, confident, creative educators who are ready to teach the advanced courses, such as Advanced Placement (AP) and dual enrollment, when current teachers retire. This training needs to begin before the veteran educators depart. Page 3
School's Purpose Provide the school's purpose statement and ancillary content such as mission, vision, values, and/or beliefs. Describe how the school embodies its purpose through its program offerings and expectations for students. is a Catholic college preparatory school for young women founded by the Servants of Mary and dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God. Marian teaches the beliefs of the Roman Catholic faith in a caring and loving community atmosphere. The mission of Marian is to commit all its resources to the college preparatory education of young women, teaching them to be leaders and life-long learners in a society where their talents and faith will give hope to the world. Marian will prepare young women to be well-educated with the leadership potential to become a significant and empowered woman of faith who reflects the gentleness and strength of Mary and who is a compassionate presence in her ministry of service. With well-defined spirituality, she gives hope to others by her faithfulness to God. She uses her exemplary education to influence family and society to include Christian values in decision-making on all levels, keeping the teachings of Jesus and the sacredness of life a part of these decisions. The Marian graduate leads by example and is actively engaged in her civic and religious communities. The embodiment of the school's purpose is evidenced in three ways. First, Marian's identity as a Servite school is obvious. The core values (community, compassion, service, spirituality, Marian identity and empowerment) are ever-present and relevant to each faculty member and student. The core values are displayed throughout the school, discussed in parent newsletters and other publications, and concentrated on during Mission Week. Marian girls are expected to live the core values, and faculty and staff are evaluated based on how they live and model the values. In 2012, the faculty, Board of Directors and Servants of Mary all worked to identify the key traits and behaviors that would be evident in someone living the core values. These characteristics became the school's cultural norms. The core values are integral to Marian's ability to carry on the charism of the Servants of Mary. Second, the attention to academic preparation for college is under constant review and discussion. In recent years, the school has added additional AP and dual enrollment courses and has created more formal relationships with a variety of higher education institutions. Alumnae are regularly surveyed, and the results are used to help create a curriculum that meets the needs of tomorrow's university students. New courses are offered to fill gaps in the curriculum; for example, in recent years, Marian added Anatomy and Physiology, Creative Writing, and Entrepreneurship. A Student Success Coordinator was hired to help students in need of extra support and study skills and to help implement student success plans. Since the Student Success Coordinator was hired, Marian's academic attrition rate has declined significantly, from 17% to 13%. Finally, preparing young women to be engaged leaders has been of great focus over the past three years. A Leadership Institute takes place each summer and offers leadership training to 7th and 8th grade girls. Alumnae return to Marian and give presentations at Lunch with a Leader events. This successful program is offered quarterly; approximately 200 students attend each presentation. Students learn about career choices and interact with an established leader. Another facet of leadership training has been the Leadership Training Workshops. This series of workshops is offered to current students throughout the school year and focuses on organization, communication, decisionmaking, interpersonal relations and group dynamics. Seniors are trained to lead small group discussions and share their experience and expertise with younger students. Marian also contracted with a research team to assist the faculty in bringing more leadership skills into the academic realm. A full year was devoted to classroom leadership and confidence. Each faculty member completed a certificate program from Bellevue University in "Engaging and Empowering Female Leaders." Marian is the only high school in Nebraska to hold such a Page 4
designation. Page 5
Notable Achievements and Areas of Improvement Describe the school's notable achievements and areas of improvement in the last three years. Additionally, describe areas for improvement that the school is striving to achieve in the next three years. Academics Marian has seen great success as an academic institution. Marian's key strengths are the high academic standards expected of each student and an exceptionally talented faculty. 57% of Marian's faculty holds a Master's degree, and the average tenure for teachers is 20.4 years. This commitment to academic excellence and the mission of Marian has contributed to student success. Marian has a proud history of National Merit Scholars among its graduates. For each of the past four years, 100% of Marian graduates have been accepted to 4-year colleges or universities. In 2012, the class of 165 graduates earned an outstanding $15.7 million in scholarships and awards. Alumnae consistently report in surveys that Marian offered excellent preparation for college. In addition, many students, teachers and departments have been recognized at the local, state and national levels for their exemplary work in the classroom. Three Marian teachers have been named the Archdiocese of Omaha Educator of the Year, most recently in 2012. The National Council of Teachers of English has recognized Marian's English Department for its Outstanding Writing Program. Marian will maintain its reputation as one of the best high schools for young women. The academic priority will continue to be a rigorous college preparatory curriculum that will equip students with the necessary tools to succeed in higher education and as active citizens. Through a combination of curricular offerings and college counseling services, students will be well-prepared for college entrance exams and will be encouraged to pursue the most challenging educational opportunities available to them. In addition, enrollment management will continue to be an important focus; in this way, Marian will see increased enrollment and a more diverse student body. Athletics and Activities There have also been outstanding accomplishments in athletics and activities. Since 2009, Marian has earned Class A state championships in volleyball (2009), tennis (2009, 2010, 2011), golf (2009, 2010) and soccer (2010, 2012), in addition to several Metro tournament championships and state runner-up trophies. Marian received the Class A U.S. Cellular Cup three years in a row (2009-11) in recognition of having the most successful girls' athletics and activities program in Nebraska. In addition, Marian fans earned the Class A Sportsmanship Award for the 2012 state soccer tournament. Marian's athletic program is successful due to the outstanding coaching staff. The head volleyball coach has received multiple awards, including the 2009-10 Lincoln Journal Star Girls Coach of the Year. Furthermore, the head soccer coach was named the 2012 Omaha World-Herald Girls Coach of the Year. Beyond athletics, Marian's activities program is quite strong. The Nebraska Association of Student Councils consistently recognizes Marian's Student Board for its outstanding program. The competitive speech team earned the 2011 Class B state championship, and numerous students qualify for national speech tournaments every year. Marian's journalism program has won the Class A2 state championship for the last three years in a row (2010-12), and the journalism adviser frequently gives presentations at state and national conferences. Marian will continue to instill Servite traditions and core values into the athletics and activities programs by providing additional training for coaches and advisers. The athletics department, in particular, will implement a formal evaluation system for head and assistant coaches; build an active, productive Booster Club; and develop a coaches' handbook with policies and procedures. The arts Page 6
Marian's fine arts program has also been quite successful. Several students have received recognition at the Nebraska district music competition in both vocal and instrumental music. The Select Women's Choir performs at a national competition every year. Marian produces an annual musical and play. Students consistently receive awards and recognition for their visual artwork and sculpture. In the future, the Marian fine arts program will enlist student directors for special productions in the new performing arts center; host regular art shows; invite alumnae to participate in an annual concert; and increase the number of students enrolled in instrumental music classes. Page 7
Additional Information Provide any additional information you would like to share with the public and community that were not prompted in the previous sections. Many of Marian's most notable achievements of the last three years happened in the Advancement Department. Marian would not be in the strong financial position it is in without the work and success of this department. The alumnae program in particular has been revitalized under the leadership of one alumnae director, rather than two part-time staff members. Several annual events were developed out of the Year of Leadership programming that have helped engage a broader alumnae base, including Lunch with a Leader, professional networking events, and the mpower mentoring program. Alumnae are recruited to serve on class reunion committees; to serve as city captains to allow for extended outreach outside of Omaha; and to serve on the Alumnae Board. Major alumnae awards are now presented at the annual reunion, which has boosted attendance at this event. The Marian Fund, Marian's annual giving program, has also continued to grow. Individual alumnae gift sizes have increased due to the "Movin' On Up Challenge." Electronic communications are used every month to inform donors of school activities and remind them why the Marian Fund is worth supporting. A liaison has been recruited to meet with members of the Marian Society, the school's planned giving program, to help them stay connected to the school. These important donors are also invited to the annual "State of the School" luncheon. Advancement fundraising events continue to be successful. MarianFEST, the annual dinner and auction, cut expenses in 2011. Attendance at this important event has remained stable. The number of golfers in the Lexus Champions for Golf tournament is nearly at capacity. Marian's Walk-a-Thon, a student-led fundraiser, broke all records in 2012 when it raised over $133,000. Marian's $12.1 million capital campaign has been in progress since 2001; in just the last three years, the school has raised approximately $4 million. The result of this massive fundraising effort is the completion of a new traffic flow/parking lot; central air conditioning and renovated HVAC system; a new roof; $1 million added to the endowment fund; and the groundbreaking of a 13-month construction project of a new performing arts center. The building of the performing arts center will not only create spaces conducive to specific courses - such as a dedicated dance studio and an acoustically correct room for instrumental music - but it will also free up three of the largest classrooms in the existing building for space that will be converted into STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) classrooms and a premier business course program setting. The Advancement Department will continue to meet the challenge of providing resources to ensure an exemplary educational experience in the midst of an unstable economy. In particular, the department will work to increase the endowment fund; implement a more effective grant proposal submission process; implement a comprehensive electronic communications plan; and continue to engage alumnae in social activities in order to strengthen their connection to the school. Finally, another significant accomplishment has been the increased attention given to Marian's identity as a Servite school. Becoming a more involved member of the International Servite Schools Network is one way that Marian can explore and share the Servite charism with other schools that share a common mission and values. Student exchanges take place between Marian and schools in Australia, France, Quebec, Italy and California. The Charism Committee has supported several initiatives, including Mission Week; lessons in religion classes that focus on Servite history; the commissioning and installation of artwork related to Servite history; the creation of a team prayer that is prayed before every athletic event; and welcoming Servite sisters to read the morning prayer several times throughout the school year. In Page 8
addition, Marian has hired a Servite sister to coordinate all adult faith formation activities; she provides spiritual development opportunities to faculty, staff and parents, in addition to assisting with some student events. Page 9