Strategic Direction
Adopted August 21, 2014
Process
•  Ten month process steered by a strategic planning committee
of board members, parents and school professionals
•  Stakeholder Engagement (Winter 2014):
–  10 Initial focus groups
–  5 community professional interviews
–  Parent survey
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Strategic planning retreat (Spring 2014)
Senior professionals strategy session (Spring 2014)
5 follow-up focus groups (Summer 2014)
Approval by Board of Trustees – August 21, 2014
Vision
Rooted in Jewish Values, Hebrew
Foundation School graduates will be
independent thinkers, problem solvers
and decision-makers, equipped with
the skills to respond to our rapidly
changing world. We envision a
community of individuals who are
motivated to live meaningful Jewish
lives.
Mission
Through a trilingual, progressive,
experiential and individualized
program, Hebrew Foundation
School aims to provide impactful
learning opportunities for our
students and their families.
We approach these learning
opportunities through a lens that
encompasses our three core
values of Student Centered,
Jewish Living and Forward
Thinking.
HFS Core Values
These guiding beliefs and principles are enduring and influence everything we do…
Student Centered
Jewish Living
Forward Thinking
HFS recognizes each student as
an individual. HFS provides for
the whole child through academic
services including remediation,
enrichment and our Vanguard
Program for students with
learning differences. In addition,
HFS provides extensive student
services, including pro-social
living and psycho-social
programs as well as an on-site
Counselor, Early Intervention
Specialist and Social
Development Educator.
Today’s Jewish families define
themselves in varying ways. HFS
provides an inclusive and
welcoming environment for all.
The school approaches Jewish
Living through meaningful
experiences and explorations
rooted in classical studies,
Tradition and the centrality of
Medinat Yisrael. HFS imparts
Jewish values, ethics and morals
to provide our children with a
strong sense of community,
identity and belonging and a solid
foundation through which to
navigate the challenges of life.
We have an open, innovative,
21st century philosophy to ignite
the minds and hearts of our
students. We believe innovative
and differentiated educational
techniques that respect individual
learning styles and various
stages of development will
provide all our children with the
ability to think critically. Through
technology integration, creative
and imaginative teaching and
learning, our students are
prepared to meet the demands of
the future.
Strategic Directions
2015 to 2020
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Progressive Teaching & Student-Centered Learning
Enriched Secular Program
Quality Facilities that Support Optimal Learning
An Engaged &
Welcoming Community
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Strong HFS Community Spirit and Passion for HFS
Positive External Image and Awareness
A Welcoming and Inclusive Community
A Centre for Jewish Life
Financial Strength &
Sustainability
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Advancement/Development
Financial Health
Academic Excellence
Academic Excellence
Strategic
Desired Outcomes
Focus Area by 2020
Progressive
Teaching
and StudentCentered
Learning
•  Highly engaged
students
•  Learning that is
student-based and
generated,
differentiated,
collaborative and
experiential
•  Increased availability
of stimulating and
effective learning
resources
•  Enhanced
understanding of how
children learn
Suggested Strategies
•  Renew our curriculum including:
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Comprehensive curriculum mapping and
development, with renewed attention to different
learning styles and needs, from support to
enrichment
Development of clear learning standards and
expectations
•  Develop and implement a professional growth
and development strategy which includes:
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Every teacher having a personal growth plan
Distributed learning leaders and mentors
identified and developed
•  Enhance the use of technology in learning,
including technological upgrades and consistent
IT application support
•  Acquire more hands-on learning materials
•  Develop partnerships to support experiential
learning
Academic Excellence
Strategic
Desired Outcomes by
Focus Area 2020
Enriched
Secular
Program
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Strong STEM (Science,
Technology, Engineering & Math)
Program
Strong French Program
Suggested Strategies
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Quality
Facilities
that Support
Optimal
Learning
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Enhanced environment that is
both inviting and supports
learning
Improved and flexible classroom
layouts, including furniture
Improved learning spaces that
may include:
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Discovery Centre (renovated
library)
Creativity Centre (multi-media,
robotics, Arts studio, etc.)
Outdoor Centre (improved yard)
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Conduct comprehensive curriculum mapping
Support STEM programs by building
professional learning communities and
targeted professional development
Enhance French fluency, including creating and
highlighting French activities and events
Develop a Facilities Master Plan (building on
recent work)
Conduct a fundraising campaign
Implement facility improvements as funds allow
An Engaged and
Welcoming Community
An Engaged and Welcoming Community
Strategic
Desired Outcomes
Focus Area by 2020
Strong HFS
Community
Spirit and
Passion for
HFS
•  A positive &
collaborative
community culture
•  Everyone at HFS
knows what the
School stands for
•  Engaged and
supportive parents,
students, alumni and
parent alumni
•  Faculty and staff
collaboration,
personal growth and
participation in school
community life
Suggested Strategies
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Continue to engage the different parts of our
community in appropriate and targeted ways
•  Hold community events that are targeted to
specific HFS groups
Build school pride by:
•  Showcasing our students and alumni in a
positive way in the external community
•  Honouring and celebrating the symbols of our
school (e.g. the uniform)
Invest in the professional development and personal
growth of our staff (including a focus on wellness)
Profile and celebrate the talents and expertise of our
staff, students and alumni
Engage our community in the development of
implementation plans
An Engaged and Welcoming Community
Strategic
Desired Outcomes
Focus Area by 2020
Suggested Strategies
•  HFS seen as the place to be
among Jewish day schools
•  Many external ambassadors
for HFS
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A Welcoming •  Accessible to diverse Jewish
families and children
and
•  More external community
Inclusive
participation in HFS
Community
programs
•  A transparent admission
process
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Positive
External
Image and
Awareness
A Centre for
Jewish Life
•  Jewish life is embedded in
everything we do
Build awareness through marketing and
targeted outreach:
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Clarify admissions policies and financial
assistance processes
Improve our financial assistance process:
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Partner with other organizations
Host events and workshops for the community
Hold events in external spaces
Enhance web presence
Conduct targeted recruitment
Explore options to ensure it is an impartial and
private process (e.g. third party assessment of
need)
Strengthen the opportunities for meaningful
Jewish experiences and explorations
Improve our entrances so that they are more
welcoming spaces and showcase Jewish life
Enhanced connections to Medinat Yisrael
Financial Strength
and Stability
Financial Strength & Sustainability
Strategic
Focus Area
Desired Outcomes
by 2020
Advancement / •  Develop a Culture of
Development
Philanthropy among
all stakeholders
within the community
Suggested Strategies
•  Raise awareness of the School’s needs and
why HFS needs to fundraise
•  Prepare a clear development plan including:
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Financial
Health
•  Conditions in place
for long term
financial health and
sustainability,
including creating a
longer-term financial
assistance plan
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Fundraising goals (incl. endowment)
Fundraising strategies (stewardship and
cultivation, campaigns, recognition of donors
and volunteers)
Clear and transparent communications
Develop a long-term strategic financial plan
Develop financial policies (e.g. investments,
endowment-related)
Implement an improved and timely budgeting process
incl. multi-year capital and operating
Explore alternate revenue opportunities which
diversify the School’s revenue sources and raise its
profile
Explore potential for cost-sharing with other
organizations
Develop a comprehensive risk management plan