Executive Summary of the Findings of the Visiting Committee
This page documents the many strengths of the school and the school’s critical areas of growth affirmed by the WCEA/WASC Visiting Committee. This summary is designed to be shared with the broader school community.
Schoolwide Areas of Strength as Identified by the Visiting Committee
Domain 1: Mission and Catholic Identity
● Collaborative Development of the Mission Statement
● Clear Student Profile Outcomes P .A.W.S.
● Strong Catholic Identity visible throughout the campus
● Commitment to Service
Domain 2: Governance and Leadership
● Pastor and principal have fostered collaborative team
● Pastor is visible and his vision is guiding the school
● Leadership creates effective two way communication with families
o State of the School
● St. Columba does not have a formal advisory board but the parent board of St. Columba fulfills many of the functions of an advisory board
● Strategic plan for faculty recruitment and professional development
Domain 3: Academic Excellence
● School-wide commitment to inclusion through Instruction that addresses the diverse needs and capabilities of each student
● A variety of co-curricular activities are offered to support the development of the whole child
● Standards-based grading supports a coherent sequence of course work through Grade 5
o Pivot to traditional grading in middle school grades provides clarity for parents and students
● Students across grades participate in technology and engineering classes focused on problem solving and creative thinking
Domain 4: Operational Vitality
● Budget consultation and training with the Diocesan Schools Business Manager
● Utilizes the Diocesan Human Resources portal and HR Department support in all decisions
● While the lack of a formalized long term plan, the school’s purchasing and improvements are aligned with the schools mission
● Implementation of FACTS to assist in data collection of enrollment and retention patterns as well as standardize and ensure equitable tuition assistance program
Critical Growth Areas as Identified by the School Self-Study
Domain 1: Standard 4 – An excellent Catholic school adhering to mission provides opportunities for adult faith formation and action in service of social justice.
Domain 2: Standard 5 – An excellent Catholic school has a governing body (person or persons) which recognizes and respects the role(s) of the appropriate and legitimate authorities, and exercises responsible decision making (authoritative, consultative, advisory) in collaboration with the leadership team for development and oversight of the school’s fidelity to mission, academic excellence, and operational vitality.
Domain 3: (All standards) Vertical Alignment of Curriculum and Restorative Justice Practices
Domain 4: Standard 10 – An excellent Catholic school provides a feasible three to five year financial plan that includes both current and projected budgets and is the result of a collaborative process, emphasizing faithful stewardship.
Additional Critical Growth Areas Identified by the Visiting Committee
None
Final Comments by the Visiting Committee
While St. Columba Catholic School is a new team of faculty and administration, there was an over emphasis on how the school was not meeting certain benchmarks rather than an objective view on what the school was accomplishing on a daily basis. The ratings in the school self-study were not reflective of the quality of the academic program as observed by the Visiting Committee. The school’s commitment to faith formation, data, inclusiveness, departmentalization, and co-curricular activities provide a quality Catholic education for the students of St. Columba Catholic School.
The Pastor and Principal are in full alignment with the school’s mission and vision. The school’s commitment to an inclusive environment that is authentically Catholic creates a learning environment that is to be commended.
The Visiting Committee is in agreement with the critical growth areas as identified by the school. The Educational Improvement Plan is appropriate and comprehensive and designed to meet the needs of the school. There is evidence that school leadership will be able to implement the plan successfully.
St. Columba Catholic School is a thriving community with broad support from parents, parish, and Pastor.
Students are engaged in the faith life of the parish and participate in a vibrant educational environment.