C3+Narrative

C3 Narrativetoc

Narrative Introduction
Below you will find Draft 1.0 of the narrative that was created by the WCEA-WASC Core Team, temporarily formatted in this Wiki. All comments and edits should be included at the **bottom of the document** below the narrative. In order to allow for continuity of the document and clarity of revisions, all focus group members should write bulleted notes below the narrative.

Category C: Support for Student Spiritual Personal and Academic Growth

C3: Parent/Community Involvement Criterion

To What Extent... Does the school leadership employ a wide range of strategies to ensure that parental and community involvement is integral to the school’s established support system for students?


 * __Focus Group Findings__

Moreau Catholic High School views the relationship with parents and community as a partnership in helping students meet the school wide learning expectations. From the point of admission to the school, to graduation and beyond, parents are immersed in the legacy, culture and expectations of this partnership--academically, socially, spiritually, as well as philanthropically. Parental and community involvement in the areas of governance, communication, parent and community events and committees are all designed to ensure full parent and community support.


 * Governance **The Board of Trustees is composed of current and alumni parents, alumni, members of the local civic and business communities, representatives of the Oakland Diocese, and members of the Congregation of Holy Cross, Moreau province. The Board, with input from its committees, is responsible for governing the operations of Moreau Catholic High School as a 501c (3) non-profit organization.


 * Communication **The school employs a variety of communication tools and technology to empower parents (and students) with information. The core of the school’s communication strategy is rooted in building positive relationships and a sense of partnership between students, parents/family and staff. From PowerSchool, which provides real-time access to student grades and attendance, to Family Connection, which aids in the college search and application process, the school looks to parents as primary educators and decision-makers in their student’s development.

In 2010 the school also updated it’s website and community publications to share more information about the life of the school. In 2011, the school hired a full-time Director of Admissions and Communications to coordinate the school’s communication tools. The position works with the Communications Coordinator and Multimedia Coordinator to manage and organize the school website, marketing materials and all publications. Time sensitive information is relayed to parents and community members through an automated phone/email communication system through Blackboard Connect.

PowerSchool, a web-based software database which provides information about attendance, student demographics and discipline to administrators and counselors. Assignments, attendance, the daily school bulletin and real-time grades are available to students and parents. Parents also receive weekly bulletin announcements and student grade updates regarding missing assignments. The school also utilizes Google applications for e-mail communications between parents, students and school staff. School policy states that teachers respond to all communications within twenty-four hours.

In addition, the school’s publications are essential tools that continue to build parental and community involvement. The Vector, published three times a year, is sent to parents, alumni, alumni parents, faculty, staff and community members. It includes alumni news, articles on class activities, and current events within the school, Institutional Advancement appeals and reports. On Course, the monthly parent/community e-newsletter, informs current parents about school policies, academic departments, school activities and special events. Each year, every student receives a Student-Parent Handbook. It provides information regarding scheduling, school policies and school-wide events.

Our partnership, communication and outreach with our immediate neighbors, St. Clement School and Parish, and Holy Sepulcher Cemetery is vital in shared resources and and property.

Parent and Community Events
The school involves parents and the community as active participants in services and activities for Moreau Catholic students. The Special Events and Volunteer coordinator solicits resources from parents and the larger community. Parents and the broader community are involved in such school sponsored social events as athletic contests, dances, musical concerts and performing arts productions. Parents support the spiritual life of the school through our Parish Ambassadors Program, immersion volunteers, Kairos participation and attendance at liturgies. Annually, many events designed to welcome, inform and educate parents are held on campus. These include Spring Welcome Night, Ninth Grade Parent Orientation program, Back to School Night, Open House, College Night and Senior Parent Graduation meeting. At the annual school-wide Awards Assembly, the most active parent volunteers are recognized with the Parent Volunteer Award.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Special events like the Crab Feed, sponsored by the Athletic Boosters, have been a popular and successful fundraisers for the school’s athletic programs for over thirty years, with consistent increases in revenue over the past three years. Many members of the local civic communities support this event, with annual attendance well over 700.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Partnership with the community has been an integral part of the school’s history and tradition. The school’s president has fostered close relationships with civic, business and educational community members through organizational memberships and board leadership positions. These relationships have allowed the school to participate in many community events, such as the Hayward Education Foundation, Hayward Rotary club speech contests, Oakland’s “Remember Them” Memorial Celebration and exchange programs with other schools. The school’s President and other members of the Leadership Team represent the school as members in community groups such as Rotary Club, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and scholarship organizations. This outreach facilitates a network among local professional organizations. Students benefit from these membership contacts via academic scholarships and other educational opportunities.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**Committees** <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Board of Trustees has an established committee structure that supports the school’s mission. These committees provide the opportunity for board member, parents, alumni, students, staff and community leaders to assist the school with oversight and governing recommendations. The Board of Trustees’ responsibility is to see that the school is conducted according to the policies of the Congregation of Holy Cross and the Diocese of Oakland. Committees of the Board of Trustees include: Board Matters, Executive, Facilities, Finance, Institutional Advancement and Mission Integration. These committees make recommendations to the Board of Trustees regarding school policies. The Parent Ambassadors, Band Parent Club, Drama Parent Club, Athletic Booster Club, Environmental Stewardship Committee and Parent Breakfast Club act as advisory committees to the administration. The composition of these committees reflects the integration of current parents, faculty/staff, alumni parents, alumni and subject matter experts.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Continuing through their four years of high school, parents are provided numerous opportunities to participate in various opportunities for partnership. Through evening meetings sponsored by the counseling department, parents are assisted through a variety of key topics: selecting courses, college search/application, college financial aid, substance abuse, and technology and parenting.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">In 2008, Parent Club Meetings moved to quarterly Parent Breakfast Club Meetings based on feedback gathered from parents. These meetings are around a single core topic and provide parents the opportunity to meet and talk about school issues: Mission Blvd. construction updates, orientation to the college search process, charting future course selection and learn more about what is happening within the school.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Through the school’s Special Events coordinator, Moreau Catholic hosts several community and fundraising events. In addition, the school has fostered connections with civic, business, and educational community members and regularly participate in community events.


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Conclusion **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The annual Senior Parent survey illustrates strong support by parents of the school’s mission, philosophy, ESLRs and student support services. Consistently over 85% of parents report that they “Agree/Strongly Agree” that the school is providing an education that reflects and supports the school’s Mission, Philosophy and student achievement of the ESLRs. Parents report that school communications and publications are informative and are used to keep track of events and important dates. The school has continued to find ways to invite and welcome more parents and community members to schoolwide functions and events. || <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">__Evidence__


 * Board of Trustees roster
 * Board bylaws
 * Board agendas and minutes


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">School Website


 * PowerSchool Records


 * Google Apps


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Vector Issues


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">On Course


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Handbook


 * St. Clement Board Meetings


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ambassador and Retreat Lists
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Spring Welcome Night Video
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ninth Grade Orientation Program
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Back to School Night Video
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Crab Feed Program


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Event Programs


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Committee Rosters


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Committee Meetings
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Sponsorship with Congregation of Holy Cross


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Counseling Dept.


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Parent Club Meetings


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Senior Parent Survery ||

**Focus Group Comments**
Please insert any comments or edits to the narrative in this space. These comments will be integrated into future versions of the narrative.

We currently email all weekly announcements to parents.

We are currently working on developing communication/support systems for students and parents. The Assistant Principal for Student Support is a new position; that position involves coordinating communication between students, teachers, parents, counselors, and administrators.

We also created a Director of Admissions & Communications position. That position involves organizing and leading the sharing of our mission with the greater community and with feeder schools. This position manages the school visits program and organizes visits to grammar schools. This person also works closely with the Communications Coordinator and the Multimedia Coordinator to manage the website, marketing materials, and publications such as the Vector and the On Course.

Part of our partnership with the community involves a connection with both Holy Sepulcher Cemetery and St. Clement Parish & Grammar School. We share land with our two neighbors and work in concert to share property.

The Administration also communicates information about our student population and calendar days with local businesses. This enhances student safety.