Quincy Catholic Academy “Where the Leaders of Tomorrow are Educated Today.”

1. Quincy Catholic Academy“Where the Leaders of Tomorrow are Educated Today.” Back to School Night September 12, 2013

2. Mission Statement Quincy Catholic Academy is a diverse learning community of students from Preschool to Grade Eight. We are dedicated to faith and values formation, academic excellence,and service to others. We are guided by the teachings of Jesus as we prepare for life in the twenty-first century.

3. NEASC AccreditationNew England Association of Schools and Colleges “The process is designed to give specific attention to each of the dual purposes of accreditation: quality assurance and school improvement.” • Faculty and staff have been working on a self-study report for 2 years • Finishing up this year…parent survey, recommendations • Spring visit from evaluators

4. Focus:Elevating the Essentials To Radically Improve Student Learning “Many leaders would rather launch new initiatives, regardless of their effectiveness. Why? Because it distracts them from the harder work of seeing to it that their highest, simplest priorities are implemented – “actually done.” “The implementation of coherent curriculum; effective lessons; and abundant amounts of purposeful reading, writing, and talking should be our highest priorities.” “To protect the core, leaders must work diligently to “filter” what comes into the organization- the ceaseless assault of new programs and trainings that seduce employees away from the core – in our case, from actually monitoring and implementing sound curriculum, effective instruction, and authentic literacy.”

5. Faith and Values Formation • Whole school prayer every morning. • Classroom prayer daily • Whole School Monthly School Masses/Grade Level Masses • Whole School Prayer Services/Grade Level Prayer Services • “Reach for the Stars” – Respect, Effort, Attitude, Caring, Helping

6. Academic Excellence This year we will FOCUS on implementing effectively all that we have embraced… • Technology – Ipad implementation and Apple TV ***Ms. Foley’s award*** • Latin and Greek Roots • Kahn Academy • Implementation of the Common Core Standards • Development of “thinking skills” for Stanford 10

7. Service to the Community Many efforts of the past (11 thank you letters at the end of last year!) will continue…dress down days, food drive, St. Jude Math-a-thon, letters to soldiers, cell phone collection, collection for My Brother’s Keeper, etc…. This year already… Water table at Cochran Road Race Cards and letters for firefighters

8. Other Notes of Importance… • Security System • Communication – EVERY Thursday via e-mail! • NEW website (www.quincycatholicacademy.org) • Facebook • Whatsthehomework.com • Engrade (middle school) • admin@quincycatholicacademy.org

9. Thank You for Your Support! Working together we can do GREAT things! Working together we can help our children reach their full potential! Working together we can accomplish all that we want and keep a smile on the faces of our children! Check out these smiles!!!!