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In the ongoing process of school renewal a Strategic Plan is like a roadmap.
It will chart our directions for several years. Just as roadmaps are only good
for a certain time and need to be redrafted to take account of new suburbs, new
highways etc. a Strategic Plan is only good for a limited time period. In 2002
the members of College Council reviewed the existing Strategic Plan and
requested that it be renewed.
The process began with a gathering of data including a review of the previous
round of strategic planning, focus groups which sought input from various groups
within the College community including staff, parents, and past students. A
small group of Council members, staff, parents and members of the College
Leadership Team composed a draft Plan. This plan was presented to various groups
for feedback: the Parents and Friends Association, the College Council, Staff,
the Student Council and the College Leadership Team. The amended draft plan was
then formally presented to the College Council who, after some changes, endorsed
the Plan and the directions it proposes for the next five years, 2003 ~ 2007.
The Plan identifies
six focus areas for this period:
Each focus area includes an introduction, our broader aspirations
and our current goals that we intend focussing on over the next
few years. The key projects are the means by which we intend to
achieve these goals. Each year we will develop more concrete action plans. While
not an outline for all initiatives it will be a backdrop for most. The plan is a
challenge to all in our community to devise specific
ways to achieve the outcomes it sets before us.
[To download a pdf file of the Strategic Plan, right click
here and select 'save target as'.]
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Faith, Community and
Participation |
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Augustinian tradition commands
a search for truth discovered both within oneself and through building
community with others. Faith and spirituality, therefore, are the subject of
study and learning at all levels of the College and the nurturing of
community life is central to our mission.
Following our Augustinian
tradition, we espouse a shared approach to decision making. In this we
recall Augustine’s ideal of ‘being of one mind and heart on our way towards
God’ (Rule of St Augustine). Our governance and operational approaches
strive to reflect the collaborative
and participative traditions of the Augustinian Order.
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Aspirations
1.A.1. Villanova will be
recognised as a joyful community
(i) where its Augustinian
Catholic heritage interacts with all aspects of College life in an dynamic,
creative and visible way,
(ii) where members know God’s
presence and proclaim it through word and action, and
(iii) where all members choose to
be involved in the life and mission of the College.
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Current
Goals
1.C.1. An increased understanding
by all community members of our Augustinian Catholic heritage.
1.C.2. Greater involvement of
younger students in Ministry groups.
1.C.3. Involvement of parents in
roles of leadership within existing structures.
1.C.4. Enhanced parent/teacher
partnership through exploring with the P&F ways of involving parents in
decision making processes.
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Key
Projects
1.K.1. Parent and Staff
Induction into an Augustinian Catholic School
This project involves the
preparation of material to be used to inform parents and staff of the nature
of an Augustinian education and the values that underpin an Augustinian
community. The aim is to develop and present to parents and staff resources
that support learning about our Augustinian ethos / tradition.
1.K.2. Development and
promotion of Junior Ministry Program
This project will develop a
junior ministry program that invites and encourages younger boys to find out about Augustinian Youth
Ministry in the College and to make a commitment to participation. The aim
is to develop opportunities for leadership in the context of service amongst
the junior grades.
1.K. 3. Parent Participation
Commitment Plan
This project aims to invite all
families to make a commitment to participation in school life according to
their ability. P&F structures will provide support to families as they
strive to fulfill their commitment
to the community.
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Teaching and Learning |
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In the Augustinian tradition
we value striving for knowledge and understanding so that our lives will be
based on truth. This striving succeeds best through the development of a
love of learning. The College, therefore, seeks to promote and develop
skills of life-long learning in its students and staff, so as to fulfill
its mission to promote their development.
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Aspirations
2.A.1. Villanova will be
recognised as a leading Australian school in the provision of the highest
quality education for its students, where students and staff
(i) set for themselves, and then
strive to achieve, high personal standards in their learning,
(ii) recognise and appreciate
their achievements and those of others,
(iii) are committed to
facilitating and supporting their own and others’ learning, and
(iv) bring a joy to the process
of learning.
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Current
Goals
2.C.1. Development of programs
that respond and adapt to the particular needs of students at the various
levels of development:
(i) curriculum redevelopment at
specific levels (5-6, 7-9 and
10-12); and
(ii) specific,
directed pedagogical and assessment approaches.
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Key
Projects
2-3.K.1. Primary, Middle and
Senior Schooling Projects
The parallel projects aim to put
in place structures, curriculum and pedagogies and pastoral care
specifically designed to cater for the needs of students at different stages
of their development, while ensuring a smooth transition from one to the
other. While the focus of the projects is the renewal of curriculum and
teaching and learning approaches in order to encourage greater student
engagement with and success in the learning process, the separate projects
recognise the different purposes of schooling and the differing needs of
students at each stage.
2.K.2. Teacher Professional
Development in Teaching adolescents, Information Technology etc
To support, and complete, the
work of the renewal project in teaching and learning, the targeted and
structured professional development program aims to more than adequately
resource the teaching staff to make the transition to the new approaches.
Building on the current expertise and experience of the staff, this program
will serve to update their skills through access to both internal and
external programs. While the major focus of the program will be the further
development of knowledge and skills in effectively working with boys at the
various stages of their development, a necessary secondary focus will be on
the increased use of information and communication technologies in the
provision of quality teaching.
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Pastoral Care/Discipline |
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In the Augustinian tradition
we recognise that being a student is a lifelong task for all. The
fundamental task of the student is to learn about oneself and what one is
intended to become. Ultimately, being a student is about discovering those
things about self, the world and the transcendent that are necessary for
happiness in both this life and the next.
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Aspirations
3.A.1. Villanova will be a
community
(i) where practices respect and
celebrate each person,
(ii) that enhances the growth of
personal discipline,
(iii) that promotes acceptance of
responsibility for one’s actions, and
(iv) where positive, harmonious
relations exist between all members of the community.
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Current
Goals
3.C.1. Behaviour Management
practices which respond and adapt to the needs of students at the various
levels of development.
3.C.2. Enhanced systematic,
positive feedback for students.
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Key
Projects
2-3.K.1. Primary, Middle and
Senior Schooling Projects
The parallel projects aim to put
in place structures, curriculum and pedagogies and pastoral care
specifically designed to cater for the needs of students at different stages
of their development, while ensuring a smooth transition from one to the
other. While the focus of the projects is the renewal of curriculum and
teaching and learning approaches in order to encourage greater student
engagement with and success in the learning process, the separate projects
recognise the different purposes of schooling and the differing needs of
students at each stage.
3.K.2. Behaviour Management
Renewal
This renewal will involve
reviewing current practices and implementing renewed approaches to behaviour
management that are suitably differentiated for the primary, middle and
senior levels. This will begin in 2003 and be implemented progressively from
2004. The aim is to adopt approaches that promote boys’ growth in
responsibility and learning. Current research challenges us to rethink our
approaches so that they are an integral part of learning and are more than a
prerequisite, providing the good order required for teaching and learning.
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Co-curricular |
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Our search for learning,
understanding and the development of personal, social and spiritual
dimensions of our students’ lives proceeds not only in the classroom but
also through the ministry, cultural, sporting and other activities of the
co-curricular program.
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Aspirations
4.A.1. Villanova will have a
structured co-curricular program which
(i) develops personal talents in
an atmosphere that promotes enjoyment, friendship, community participation
and spiritual growth,
(ii) enhances the community’s
sense of identity, and
(iii) realises outcomes such as
co-operation, teamwork, sportsmanship and the development of pride in
achieving to one’s potential.
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Current
Goals
4.C.1. Monitoring and management
of appropriate involvement of students in the co-curricular program.
4.C.2. Comprehensive development
program for all AIC & CIC sports.
4.C.3. Adequate support for those
delivering the co-curricular program.
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Key
Projects
4.K.1. System for managing and
reporting on co-curricular involvement of students
This system will allow the
monitoring of appropriate involvement of all students in the co-curricular
program.
4.K.2. Complete developmental
programs for all AIC & CIC sports
These programs are to ensure
activities have formal aims and objectives in line with the aspirations of
this plan that all participants strive to achieve. Thus they will outline a
process of skill development and pay attention to the higher ideals of
promoting cooperation, teamwork, friendship and hospitality. Such programs
have already been completed for Rugby and Cricket and initiated for Soccer.
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Learning Organisation and Communication |
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Current
Goals
5.C.1. Decision making sequences
which encourage and utilise organisational learning.
5.C.2. Information management
that generates good communication and supports people in the fulfillment of
their roles.
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Key
Projects
5.K.1. Document Management
System
This project is to implement a
document management system that facilitates the retention of learnings in
the organisation, supports ongoing improvement, facilitates collaboration
and enhances communication.
5.K.2. Community Web Project
The aim of this project is to
enhance communication in our community through the development of a
sophisticated website that allows students, teachers and parents to access
resources provided by the College and to participate in various areas of
College life. For example, parents could gain details about their sons’
courses, boys could get materials provided by teachers or the library.
Teachers could upload information for students in their courses. Parent
groups such as the P&F could access planning documents developed over the
years for various functions or roles. Parents could access resources about
Augustinian Education or download resources about various topics relevant to
their role as parents. Various documents produced with the assistance of the
Document Management System would be published automatically on the website.
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Environment and
Facilities |
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Current
Goals
6.C.1. Enhanced environmental
facilities which serve all dimensions of College life.
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Key
Projects
6.K.1. Augustine Centre
This facility will incorporate
the Hanrahan Theatre and lecture theatres that will accommodate full Year
Level and House groups, and classrooms for music and drama teaching as well
as rehearsals. It will also be an appropriate venue for parent and school
community functions.
6.K.2. Villanova Park Pavilion
The Pavilion will be built on the
site of the present ‘hill’ overlooking the main oval at the Park. It will
provide a place for hospitality during AIC and CIC competitions as well as
seating for the community to view games. More importantly, it will provide a
facility for the boys and the community for seminars, training days and
celebrations.
6.K.3. Master Plan for
Coorparoo and Tingalpa
Continue developing Master Plans
for both sites so that we can make strategic decisions for facilities, land
purchases, renovations etc.
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