AFG Final Report Highlights...
The Mission of Father Judge High School is:
to provide a quality Catholic education to the young men of the Philadelphia area through the dissemination and infusion of spiritual, intellectual, physical, emotional, and social values instilled with the spirituality of Saint Francis de Sales.
We Believe…
1. As did our patron Saint, that you should not wish to be anything except who you are and strive to be that well.
2. Each student has the capacity to develop his spiritual, emotional, and intellectual gifts to his fullest potential to become a viable member of the community.
3. The student who perseveres in the face of challenge will succeed in life personally, professionally, and spiritually.
4. A willingness to consider, to change, and to implement new ideas is necessary for continuous improvement.
5. In an increasingly uncertain world, our core values will endure, providing our students with a sense of stability as they face the challenges of the future.
6. Our sacramental celebrations promote a sharing and building of our Christian faith community.
7. Parents, families and faculty that work together will help our students reach their goals.
8. We will continue our tradition of success.
9. A Salesian Gentleman manifests a profound respect for God, himself, and all others in a spirit of humility and gentleness.
Objective I
By 2008, Father Judge students will demonstrate improved reading ability across the curriculum. Data/Information used to support this goal is based on the two measures, A and B, shown below.
A. Increase overall verbal ability as measured by the PSAT Verbal Reasoning score (this includes Critical Reading Skills). Baseline data results are shown below.
Goal: 25.0 % increase (2008)
B. Increase overall verbal ability as measured by the Prentice Reading Diagnostic Assessment. Administered to both the freshmen and junior classes during December 2002.
Goal: 25 % increase (2008)
Objective II
By the year 2008 Father Judge High School students will demonstrate improved writing ability. Data/information used to support this goal is based on the two measures, A and B, shown below.
A. PSAT Recognition of Writing Errors score
Goal: 22.0% increase (2008)
B. Microsoft Word Tools for readability of reading Samples
Goal: 63 % increase (2008)
Objective III
To improve the academic, social, and spiritual responsibility of our students
A.) To provide an improved orientation program for incoming freshmen that would help them reach their academic goals as measured by a reduction in the number of academic failures
Baseline (2001-2002): No baseline data are available
B.) Increased participation in the Liturgy, Eucharistic Adoration, and
Retreat experiences and improved results in the Religious Knowledge and Attitude Survey administered to all students
Baseline (2001-2002): A 10% increase in participation
0.59% (2 students at Lunchtime Liturgies in year one
per period) and a 2% increase each year after
Baseline (2002-2003): 50% of all students will attend a
46% all of Seniors retreat sponsored by Father Judge
participated in a Kairos during their four years
retreat
Baseline (2002-2003): a 10% increase over current
60.7 % (Grade 9 score) results in the Religious
64.2 % (Grade 10 score) Knowledge and Attitude
62.1 % (Grade 11 score) Survey
68.0% (Grade 12 score)
C.) Decrease unexcused lateness and absences among students
Baseline (2001-2002): a 10% decrease in the number of
5.10 absences per student unexcused absences and a 20%
4.7 lates per student decrease in the number of
unexcused latenesses
ACCREDITATION RECOMMENDATION
As a Validation Team, we are asked to make an accreditation recommendation to the Commission on Secondary Schools at the conclusion of our visit. Our four-person team has unanimously concluded that
1.) The school has clearly defined appropriate objectives.
2.) The school has established conditions under which they can be achieved.
3.) The school is working toward achieving the objectives now.
4.) The school should be able to continue to do so for the foreseeable future.
In addition, the Validation Team believes that Father Judge High School has shown evidence that each of the following Accreditation for Growth parameters are in place.
A Focus on Student Performance and Growth· There is a focus on student performance and school improvement efforts are aimed at student learning, student performance, and student results.
A Culture of Accountability in Student Performance· The objectives are measurable, there is a viable internal monitoring process, and an accountability system for monitoring the accomplishment of the action plans has been developed.
A Planning Ethic· The school is engaged in a continuous clarification of its unique mission, beliefs, and expected student performance objectives. The school is action-oriented as shown by the development of long-term strategic action plans that integrate program, services, facilities, and support to address growth needs.
Commitment to Continuous Improvement· The school is committed to continuous evaluation, an annual review process, peer review, and a dynamic process with the flexibility to modify action plans.
Involvement of Representative Constituents· There is a climate of inclusiveness and evidence exists of the involvement and collaboration of stakeholders in the planning process.
The Validation Team will be pleased to recommend continued accreditation for Father Judge High School.
CONCLUSION
As Father Judge High School prepares for the future, the Validation Team would like to highlight some areas that have been quite evident to us during our visitation:
1. Father Judge High School has a clearly articulated Mission Statement and strong foundational beliefs as represented in its Belief Statements, which were extremely evident to the Validation Team in our interactions with faculty, staff, and administration.
2. Father Judge High School is indeed true to its mission in that it has a strong academic program which prepares its young men for college and goes beyond this college preparation to prepare students for a life embellished by Catholic values and the mission of the Oblates of Saint Francis De Sales.
3. Father Judge High School has a dedicated faculty, staff, and administration who are open to the concept of change and willing to take the risks necessary to maintain an excellent educational program for its students. In particular, it is clear that the faculty have been empowered by the present administration to participate in and take full responsibility for the future of Father Judge High School.
4. The concepts of planning and annual review need to be ongoing and to involve as broad a representation of the school's constituency as possible and to include as many indicators of success as possible.
These areas certainly indicate a bright and hopeful future for Father Judge High School as it enters the future, but these areas bring with them a strong responsibility for the school to maintain its Mission and Beliefs Statements over the next few years. The leadership of the present president and principal indicate a strong future for the school.