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Strategic Plan Overview

The Woods Academy's new strategic plan, Tradition Meets Innovation, is our vision for the next five years.

Tradition Meets Innovation is a living plan that belongs to the entire Woods community, with the goal of ensuring our children are prepared for the future. The strategic plan outlines the measurable goals and actions we will achieve in alignment with the school’s mission. As The Woods Academy approaches its 50th anniversary, this plan is meant to transform our collective vision for the school’s future, with milestones identified and tracked for accountability and progression. 

Our Vision 

Our vision is for The Woods Academy to stay true to its essential identity as an inclusive Catholic community that nurtures the whole child through academic excellence, Catholic identity, character development, and community engagement. The goal of the Tradition Meets Innovation strategic plan is to build upon the foundation of each of these key areas and further define our commitment to preparing our students and community for the evolving world around us. At the center of this commitment is our mission: The Woods Academy is an inclusive Catholic community preparing boys and girls to lead lives of significance.
 

Our Process

The Board of Trustees collaboratively created a Strategic Planning Committee who were charged with creating a framework to guide the drafting of the strategic plan in November 2023. The committee wanted the strategic planning to be a dynamic process that involved opportunities for stakeholder input and perspective. Therefore, they began their initial brainstorming by looking at a variety of stakeholder voice data, including the Head of School search, a website development survey, and 1:1 meetings with families and staff. As they looked at the data, four main categories or pillars emerged: 

  • Academic Excellence

  • Catholic Identity

  • Character Development

  • Community Engagement

They have engaged in workshops throughout the winter and spring of 2024 with a variety of stakeholders, including Board of Trustees, the school leadership team, parent ambassadors, Grade 7 and 8 students, and faculty and staff. Their goal during these workshops was to develop a better understanding of what each pillar means, what The Woods Academy does well, and where The Woods could continue to grow and improve. 

Academic Excellence

Academic Excellence

Academic Excellence encompasses the development of foundational skills and a love for learning that will serve as the basis for future academic success. It involves a holistic approach that goes beyond grades and nurtures a well-rounded and enthusiastic learner. It is centered on creating a supporting, welcoming, and encouraging environment, tailored to the developmental stages of our children, and prepares them confidently to navigate and succeed in an ever evolving future.

Catholic Identity

Catholic Identity

Catholic Identity is the process of enhancing and nurturing one's spiritual well-being, growth, and understanding. It involves seeking a deeper connection with oneself and with God, and exploring the meaning and purpose of life. Overall spiritual enrichment is a personal journey, and students are helped along the way by teachers and mentors at The Woods Academy among other individuals in a child's life.

Character Development

Character Development

Character Development for The Woods Academy involves fostering positive traits, values, and social skills that contribute to their overall well-being and success. It goes beyond academic excellence and focuses on nurturing qualities that help students become responsible, respectful, and caring individuals - students that ultimately lead a life of significance.

Community Engagement

Community Engagement

The Woods Academy is not just a school, it's a community that includes students, parents, alumni, teachers, and staff. As a unified group, our goal is to work together to develop educated, strong in faith, strong in mind, precocious children who will go on to do great things. We want to foster an inclusive environment where everyone in the community feels welcomed and engaged in helping shape our school experiences.

In Conclusion 

The Woods Academy’s Tradition Meets Innovation Strategic Plan seeks to build upon the foundation of each of our four pillars - Academic Excellence, Catholic Identity, Character Development, and Community Engagement - and further define our commitment to preparing our students to lead lives of significance. This is a plan that assumes a constant process of re-examination and re-invigoration, and we will continue to update our community throughout the academic year over the next five years (2024 - 2028) on our progress.