IMMACULATE HEART CENTRAL SCHOOLS

1316 IVES STREET, WATERTOWN, NEW YORK 13601 WWW.IHCSCHOOLS.ORG, (315) 788-4670
SINCE 1881

April 22, 2013

For Immediate Release

Contact: Phone: E-mail: Chris Hornbarger, Executive System Administrator (ESA), IHC Schools (or) Stacy Uliano, Administrative Assistant to the ESA, IHC Schools (315) 221-3785 Chris.Hornbarger@ihcschools.org (or) Stacy.Uliano@ihcschools.org

IHC Releases Five-Year Strategic Plan

Immaculate Heart Central Schools released its first five-year strategic plan today. The strategy focuses on enriching educational value as the cornerstone to ensure the school retains its strong reputation for scholastic excellence. Watertown, NY, April 22, 2013 Today, Immaculate Heart Central Schools released its first five-year strategic plan. Entitled Strategic Plan 2013-2018: A Vision for the Future, the strategy focuses on enriching educational value as the cornerstone to ensure the school retains its strong reputation for scholastic excellence, while ensuring a viable and sustainable future. The Strategic Plan also represents IHCs concerted effort over the last several years to proactively confront the challenges that have threatened many Catholic schools throughout New York. Those challenges include smaller family sizes, a slow economic recovery, the rapidly rising cost of healthcare insurance for faculty and staff, and an overall decline in the school-age population in Jefferson County. The Strategic Plan outlines a number of initiatives in IHCs Junior/Senior High School, Element ary School, and Pre-School. Some initiatives are new, with implementation beginning this coming school year, while others represent a continuation of recent efforts. For example, Elementary School initiatives include: The increased integration of technology, including smart boards in every classroom; The introduction next year of a pilot Spanish program in Kindergarten and first grade; 1

A strengthened math and English program; and The expansion of the St. John Bosco Pre-School, to include the introduction of a Junior Kindergarten next year for young five-year olds and mature four-year olds.

At the Junior/Senior High School, initiatives include: Enhancement of the schools literacy and fine arts programs; The continued integration of technology, paired with professional development; The building of a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) program of excellence over the next several years, leveraging strides in integrating technology and introducing new courses in recent years; and An entrepreneurial program to develop students 21st century skills in the areas of business and economics.

IHC has already begun implementing much of the Strategic Plan, initiating efforts as it identified priorities and needs throughout the planning process. The Strategic Plan, an executive summary, and a one-page quick glance can be downloaded from the schools website at www.ihcschools.org.