The Carey School Strategic Plan

2009-2014

Accomplishments of the 2006 Strategic Plan

The Carey Schools previous Strategic Plan, adopted by the Board of Trustees in September 2006, enabled the school to focus on a set of common goals. The school is tremendously proud of the communitys collective efforts as we accomplished virtually each action step we called out in the previous plan. Some of the accomplishments realized since that date include:

Mapped and reviewed the reading, writing, math, social studies and all specialist curricula, and published academic standards for each content area on the web site. Increased professional development budget and ongoing institutional education that supports differentiated instruction. Launched monthly classroom newsletters to better inform parents of their childs classroom experience. Instituted Professional Growth Groups tied to the Standards for Teaching at The Carey School to promote best practice and faculty development. Hired a part time learning specialist to support the work that faculty and families do with children with diagnosed learning differences. Increased enrollment to double classes in kindergarten through fifth grade, while keeping a single section of prekindergarten (a 24% enrollment increase). Completed facility improvements including the addition of three homeroom classrooms, a science center, refurbished foreign language classrooms, a synthetic turf field, and a new lower playground in support of the schools mission. Successfully completed the schools most ambitious capital campaign, Raise the Roof, that raised $2.2M to support facility improvement for increased enrollment. Instituted an annually updated five-year financial plan and increased operating, tuition assistance, endowment, and deferred maintenance reserves to help ensure the schools long-term financial sustainability. Enhanced campus security with added lighting, fencing, and an electronic entry system. Added landscaping, including 38 trees to the west side of the campus. Created full time positions for Advancement, Admission, and Facilities.

Strategic Plan 2009-2014

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE Actions:

Continue to develop and enhance the schools excellence in elementary education to provide a positive, creative, relevant, and challenging academic experience for all Carey students. Continue on-going curriculum review, focusing each year on one content area, with particular attention to scope and sequence, and educating for a global understanding and perspective. Review and enhance the use of technology in the Carey curriculum to ensure students have the appropriate skills to thrive and learn in a constantly evolving technological environment. Explore additional methods to advance our practice of differentiated instruction and the fostering of creative thinking. Develop and implement a formal student assessment system that supports the schools standards for learning and communicates effectively with parents.

EDUCATING THE WHOLE CHILD Actions:

Research, develop, and implement programs that foster growth and learning in key aspects of child development. Research and implement best practice in character education (e.g. service to community, social responsibility, leadership) for elementary school age children. Organize athletic opportunities to enhance student collaborative learning and a commitment to long-term health. Develop an after school program known for its excellence and value by offering a wide range of child-centered activities that promote student growth. Review and revise school wide and grade level community service opportunities to reflect the schools mission and core values.

FACULTY Actions:

Attract, retain, and develop outstanding elementary school educators to foster a dynamic and diverse learning community. Develop a competitive and equitable long-range compensation plan to attract and retain outstanding faculty and staff. Promote professional development in differentiated instruction, effective student assessment, leadership skills, classroom innovation and peer collaboration. Increase faculty use of relevant technology in the daily life of the classroom, including the use of multi-media, to meet student interests and learning styles. Further develop peer review and feedback systems to promote and practice direct communication and accountability among faculty, staff and administration.

SCHOOL COMMUNITY Actions:

Continue to nurture the strong, diverse, and inclusive community at The Carey School. Develop the schools goals for diversity to enhance cultural, ethnic, and economic diversity in all areas of the school in support of the schools mission. Develop a robust alumni relations program in support of the school. Identify and implement improvements to communications from home to school and from school to home. Ensure that the Board of Trustees represents the diversity of the school community and has the skill set to serve the schools mission. Forge connections with the local community as partners in the lives of the children.

LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY Actions:

Research and develop a plan that ensures the schools long-term financial viability and relevance to the local community it serves. Complete and regularly update a rolling five-year financial plan giving particular attention to balancing the budget annually, keeping faculty compensation competitive, being sensitive to tuition increases, and building reserves gradually. Assess and refine the goals of the tuition assistance program to better support economic diversity. Review The Carey Schools development strategies (e.g. annual and capital campaigns, fundraisers, major benefactors, alternative sources of revenue) to enhance the long-term financial strength of the school and support capital improvements. Conduct a demographic and marketing study to assess the schools strategic position as a mid-peninsula independent school that better reflects the local community. Create an ad-hoc committee to explore resumption of a Carey middle school.

FACILITIES Actions:

Provide facilities that support the schools educational mission and long term goals. Equip learning spaces with state-of-the-art technology. Implement next stage of the master plan with particular attention to an indoor assembly space, enhancement of classrooms and administrative offices, and a foreign language lab. Develop and implement a school-wide plan that promotes responsible use of natural resources, such as energy, water, paper, etc.
Photography by Veronica Riedel

A community where learning flourishes

Mission Statement and Commitments

Mission Statement The mission of The Carey School is to inspire in our students a life-long love of learning and the pursuit of excellence within a diverse community that nurtures a deep sense of kindness, respect for others, and personal responsibility. Our Commitments To offer a challenging core educational program based on the academic fundamentals of reading, language arts, and math To provide all students with an enriched and balanced education through special studies in music, art, Spanish, French, science, technology, physical education, and library studies To promote the values of kindness, integrity, tolerance, and respect for people To create an environment where childhood is celebrated and students are enthusiastic about learning To respect and celebrate the diversity of people that enriches both our strong Carey community and society at large

The Carey School One Carey School Lane, San Mateo, CA 94403-1299 TELEPHONE 650.345.8205 FAX 650.345.2528 WWW.CAREYSCHOOL.COM