Villa Academy Annual Update 2008
Dear Villa Academy Families and Staff,
We would like to take this opportunity to share some of the successes of the current year and to look ahead as we prepare to launch the 2008-2009 school year in the fall.
Accomplishments of the Current Year:
We are pleased to report that the Cabrinian tradition of education is alive, well, and strong at Villa Academy. There is much to celebrate as evidenced by the indicators we use to measure our progress and success as a school. These include multiple and varied student performance assessments, high school admission rates, and constituency feedback. Additionally, we use what we call “dashboard” indicators that tell us how the institution is doing specific to admission rates, funding programs and staff salaries, and maintaining our facilities and campus. Here are some realities that illustrate Villa Academy’s forward momentum and ongoing commitment to continued improvement of our programs, people, place, and finances.
- The purchase of the buildings and campus from the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart in December 2007 culminated a 30-year dream of owning the school, controlling our future, and clearing the way for long range planning.
- We secured funds through the bonding process to address much needed capital improvements to our buildings and have initiated plans to replace the Main Building and the Convent roofs this summer.
- This year’s Annual Fund was tremendously successful, with our highest current family participation rate to date, and the auction broke all previous records including an unprecedented $150,000 raised for the leap! for the gym fund-a-need.
- The Board of Trustees recently approved a new Wellness Policy that complements the school’s educational mission to educate the whole child. There will be hard copies of the new policy available in the Main Office and there is a link to the policy on the school website. We think you will agree that the Wellness Policy addresses critical areas of importance to our students’ personal health and well-being.
- Grade Eight high school acceptance rates are outstanding – 87% of our applicants were accepted at the Catholic high schools and 79% were accepted at PNAIS Independent high schools, our highest acceptance rates ever.
- Enrollment for 2008-2009 looks strong and healthy which can be credited to our program and our community, as well as very successful recruitment and retention efforts on the part of our Admission staff.
Looking Ahead to Next Year:
As we prepare for 2008-2009 and anticipate the promise of a new academic year, there are several exciting projects awaiting us. As you may know from the 2007 PNAIS Accreditation Visiting Team Report, we received two major recommendations and next year we will focus significant time and energy on addressing both of them.
- Major recommendation: Initiate a new strategic planning process and integrate individual plans in the areas of finance, facilities, human resources, admission and development.
In the fall we will initiate a new long range Strategic Planning process. We have contracted the services of Ian Symmonds and Associates, Inc. of Portland, OR to help guide our work. Mr. Symmonds has successfully consulted with independent schools in the Northwest and nationally specific to strategic planning, branding, and marketing planning. He has also worked with non-profits, colleges, and universities nationally. We will seek an inclusive planning process that engages members of the internal and external constituencies of the school.
- Major recommendation: Refine the school’s diversity statement through the governing body and further delineate the meaning of diversity and its impact upon the school community.
The Board of Trustees has appointed an ad hoc diversity committee to guide the Board and Administration
through the initial phases of what diversity means at Villa Academy. In the fall this conversation will continue, undoubtedly becoming part of the strategic planning process. Ultimately, the community will have an opportunity to become part of this very important process as well.
Update on the Covered Play Area: Villa Academy was given $500,000 by the Norcliffe Foundation during our Capital Campaign to help with the construction of a new covered play area. Additional funds were added to make this project a reality. Waiting for the City of Seattle to issue construction permits took twice as long as anticipated and to date the bids that we have received for the project have come in higher than anticipated. The Building and Grounds Committee of the Board of Trustees and the Board of Trustees are working to get past this log jam, so please stay tuned for an update.
General planning for the 2008-2009 academic year continues apace. Between now and the end of the school year the teachers and academic administrators will finalize program planning and target professional growth opportunities for teachers at all levels. Building programs and training our people ensure that classroom instruction is effective in addressing the varied needs of our students. Please look for updates in the weekly Monday Memo specific to staffing and teaching assignments.
We are poised for a strong finish to a fine school year with many significant accomplishments. It is with no small amount of pride that we will be graduating a wonderful Grade Eight class. We invite you to join us at the Graduation Ceremony on Friday, June 6, 2008, at 7pm at St. Bridget Church. Should you have questions for either of us, please feel free to contact Sarah at sarah@slhfamilylaw.com or Polly at pskinner@thevilla.org. Thank you for your wonderful support of the school!
Sincerely,
Polly Skinner
Head of School
Sarah Hunter
Chair, Villa Academy Board of Trustees
