WASC/WCEA Visit

We had a wonderful visit from the WCEA/WASC Evaluation Committee last week, and received an extremely positive report from them. They presented this report at a meeting on Friday afternoon. Before they read their written report, each of the eight members spoke about their experiences at SJC. I told them afterward that I wish we had it on videotape. They truly caught the “heart and soul” of our school, not just the “nuts and bolts.”

They were overwhelmed by the teachers’, clergies’, students’, and families’ love for our school. The chairperson described the committee’s meeting with the children in such glowing terms. He said that when he conducts these student interviews at other schools, it is often just a question and answer session. But, he said, our students came with such enthusiasm, energy, and strong communication skills. He described them as filled with life and having a sense of openness.

Over and over again, the team spoke of our SPARCCLS and our buddy classes. You could tell that they had never expected to see a school that had so fully integrated and internalized their Student Learning Expectations (the formal name for our SPARCCLS).

They further stated that they had seen buddy classes in other schools, but never leading to the nurturing and loving relationship that exists between our buddy classes (especially Grs. K and 8, but also Grs. 1/7 and 2/6). They said that the parent representatives even mentioned that the buddy system adds to their sense of safety and security for their little ones. Another comment involved the deep sense of respect they found here. One member said that if she had to use one word to describe daily life here it would be peacefulness. She was so struck by the genuine peacefulness and respect that exist everywhere - in the classrooms, in the courtyards, out in the play areas. Another member said that it was apparent from speaking to students, teachers, priests, and parents, that we do not just teach religion, we strive to live our faith.

Further, they were so impressed with the quality of our curriculum and the scope of our special programs. We were commended for our efforts to provide as much small group instruction as possible within our large classes, through the use of aides and other support staff members, intervention and tutoring programs, and advanced programs. They described our math program as stellar (this, along with Religion, was a special area of in-depth study for us; schools have to choose Religion and one other subject for in-depth study, but they also must address all the other subjects, as well).

Our financial planning and stability received the highest of commendations. They met with Fr. Greg, Msgr. Milani, and Msgr. Mitchell on their first day here and were amazed at their support and involvement (the chairperson told me that the presence of priests at the school is normally an area of growth for most schools, but it was an area of strength for us).

Finally, the committee said that the only recommendations they had for us were the ones we enumerated in our own report. When a school writes a report in advance, the school community must determine areas of growth on which they wish to focus during the coming six years. Usually, a Visiting Committee will add some growth areas to these. However, we received no additional recommendations.

As a matter of fact, the committee commented that we have shown an especially strong commitment to ongoing goal-setting, growth, and progress. (The three major goals we set for ourselves focus on expanding curricular and extracurricular opportunities for our students; upgrading our school plant in large and small ways; and ensuring the future financial health of our school through many means, especially through development and stable enrollment.)

Most importantly, they recognized that it is the people of our community who make this such a special school. They were impressed with the teaching staff, the clergy, the students, the School Board, and the parent representatives they met. All members of the Visiting Committee agreed - we have something special going on here at SJC.