State College Friends School
November & December 2009 Highlights
- At the November and December board meetings, trustees began to discuss the creation of a strategic plan, which the school intends to work on over the next year. An ad-hoc committee, consisting of Mardi Frye, Bruce Knox, Dan Hendey and Laura Kemper (faculty representative), is working to recommend a strategic planning process that fits the school’s needs and resources. During the December meeting, Dan led the trustees through an exercise to help define the School’s vision, which is a critical piece needed to help in the strategic planning process. Once the process is defined, a future step will be collecting input from faculty, staff, parents and the larger community concerning ideas and issues to incorporate into the planning process.
- Development Director Beth Giles reported that the 1st annual fund appeal letter was mailed, and the initial response has been positive. Our goal for the annual fund is to raise $60,000, which is critical to supporting our program. Every single donation helps us reach this goal, and early gifts help us keep our costs down, so please consider a gift or pledge. In other development-related discussions, we learned about the first set of presentations made by a PSU marketing class that studied our school this fall with the intention of proposing a marketing campaign.
- Trustees and staff members made plans to view two more webinars in January. Sponsored by Friends Council on Education, this ongoing series focuses on issues of advancement and sustainability in small Friends schools. Anyone interested in viewing the webinars should contact Dan Hendey or Bruce Knox.
- We reviewed a budget proposal for 2010/2011 that was prepared by Dan with input and support from the finance and executive committees. Given our conservative enrollment estimate, developing a budget is a challenge as the school also faces significant increases in costs for utilities (40%) and healthcare (20%). In reviewing different scenarios, trustees were mindful, as always, of keeping tuition increases at a minimum.
- We discussed reports from the head of school as well as finance and development committees. The head of school evaluation committee provided an update on the annual evaluation process. Trustees reviewed the summary of responses from staff, teachers and board.
- The Quaker Life committee reported on an exciting “Collaborative Arts Exchange’ project led by Rebecca Rohloff, a Meeting member. The hope is to bring attention to the bonds that connect Meeting families with school students and families by “exchanging” pieces of artwork accompanied by personal statements about Quakerism. Look for more information when the project begins at the end of January.
- Teacher Kelly Corradini attended part of the December meeting to tell board members about some of the exciting activities occurring in her 2/3 classroom: penny timelines, the Great Mail Race and several author studies, to mention a few.
- We looked forward to our upcoming pre-winter break thank-you reception for teachers and staff on Friday, December 18th at the Hendey home.
Please send comments or feedback to board clerk Bruce Knox (bknox4@verizon.net). |
We provide an academically vigorous education in a nurturing environment that inspires a love of learning and prepares students to meet challenges with confidence and compassion. Guided by the Quaker testimonies of simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality and stewardship, we support the social, emotional, physical, and intellectual development of each child.
Mission Statement, State College Friends School |
