Non incautus futuri - Not unmindful of the future
Bishop Family –
It has been an eventful and successful year, and it is remarkable how much has changed over the past ten months. As we continue to grow, it is imperative that we share an inspirational vision for our future aligned with our mission. In pursuit of that vision, I have engaged Partners in Mission to assist us in the development of a five-year strategic plan for Bishop. Partners in Mission is the premier Catholic education consulting firm in the nation. Their process will help us to collaboratively define our objectives and, at the conclusion of the process, will position Bishop for transformational change.
Over the next seven months, we will examine eight critical domains and focus on where we have been, where we are, and where we want to be in the future. Please know that this process is a participative and collaborative effort, and we look forward to getting input from the Bishop community through surveys, round-table discussions, and candid conversations. This is your school, and the vision and objectives finalized in the Strategic Plan will drive our direction. You can expect climate surveys to be sent via email next week.
Over the past several months, I have been working with our consultant Kathleen Casey from Partners in Mission to discuss objectives, timelines, and process expectations. Internally, I have engaged the faculty and administration in a series of activities to affirm our mission and ultimately draft a new mission statement that will serve as a beacon for the work ahead. The next step is to organize the Strategic Planning Steering Committee composed of alumni, parents, administration, faculty, staff, and friends of Bishop. I am pleased to announce that Mrs. DeAnna Whalen has graciously agreed to serve as Chair of the Strategic Planning Steering Committee. Mrs. Whalen and I are looking for individuals willing to share their time and talents to serve as members of the Steering Committee. Opportunities are available to serve as Domain Chairs for the following eight domains or key areas:
- Academics/Technology
- Advancement
- Catholic Identity
- Enrollment
- Facilities/Technology
- Finances
- Governance
- Student Life
I encourage anyone interested in serving as a Domain Chair to contact me or Mrs. Whalen to discuss these roles in more detail:
principal@bmchs.com
deanna.whalen@gmail.com
On April 15th, the Strategic Planning Steering Committee will gather for a kick-off meeting for an overview of the process and to begin to review data. Each Domain Chair will be provided with data tables and charts containing historical information and key data points. Additional feedback and input will be gathered via surveys, interviews, and round-table discussions to assist in the development of a high-level overview narrative for each domain. The narrative provides a diagnostic overview of the key domain areas of the school. A Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT) analysis will also be part of the diagnostic process.
A strategic planning workshop is being planned for the Fall of 2025, when Vision and Objectives will be drafted – more information to follow in a future update.
The kick-off meeting will begin with a special prayer that reinforces that strategic planning is not merely for short-term results, but rather long-term success that drives transformational change. The prayer begins “It helps now and then to step back and take a long view”. We will be continuing to pray and ask the Holy Spirit to guide us through this process. May we not be unmindful of the future, but rather dedicated to a vision of what Bishop may become.
In His Peace,
Dr. Benjamin H. Moore, Ed.D.
Principal
