NEWS RELEASE
NIAGARA CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
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Niagara Catholic has a new Mission Statement, Vision and Values.
They are the heart and soul of the Board’s Multi-Year Strategic Plan, approved by trustees at the November 23 Board Meeting. The new plan will cover a five-year term, from 2021 through 2026.
Niagara Catholic’s new Mission Statement places a sharper focus on our identity: “We are a Christ-centered Catholic faith community that celebrates diversity and fosters spiritual growth, inspiring all to reach their full potential in mind, body and spirit.”
Our Vision Statement, “Encountering souls and opening minds so that all students succeed,” clearly defines what we do.
And our seven key values focus on integrity, faithfulness, justice, compassion, stewardship, accountability, and community.
- We act in a manner that is consistent with Gospel values
- We are nourished by our Catholic faith through the Word, spirit, and prayer
- We practice forgiveness, generosity, kindness, humility, and service in our interactions with others
- We care and act respectfully and responsibly for all God’s creation
- We take ownership for the impact and consequences of actions and decisions
- We foster connections where all belong, and work collaboratively with our partners
Planning for the current Strategic Plan began in January and included input from more than 1,400 stakeholders who responded to surveys and took part in stakeholder meetings throughout the spring.
Among those who participated in meetings were Niagara Catholic’s Parent Involvement, Equity, Indigenous Education and Special Education Advisory Committees, principals, trustees, parish priests, student leaders, Catholic School Councils, union leaders and staff at the Catholic Education Centre. A strategic planning summit took place in October which brought together more than 50 people representing the voices of each of these groups and from there, Niagara Catholic’s Board of Trustees drafted the final plan.
“This document is a result of the breadth and depths of the folks who put all this together and reflects calm and understanding,” said Larry Huibers, Chair of Niagara Catholic’s Board of Trustees. “It was very hard work to do, not because of divergent thought, but to ensure that it set the bar high enough to continue the good work that has been done. I am very pleased and extremely proud of the work of the trustees, student trustees included. It was spirited conversation in the most positive way possible. It was very affirming, and that affirmation lives in this document.”
Director of Education Camillo Cipriano expressed how pleased he was with the 10-month collaboration process, which took place exclusively online due to COVID restrictions.
“It has been a tremendous honour to be able to lead Niagara Catholic into a new era through the creation of this strategic plan during my first full year as Director of Education,” said Mr. Cipriano. “Although it was occasionally challenging to bring together so many people together on virtual meetings, every single person who participated was engaged in the process and committed to being a part of the process to bring forward a new strategic plan for Niagara Catholic. This plan builds upon the foundation laid in the Board’s previous plan, Vision 2020, and gives us the tools to move forward as a school board in the third decade of the 21st century. I am extremely proud of all of the work that was put into this, and grateful to all those who took their time to share their voices with us on this very important document.”
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