NEASC ACCREDITATION REPORT

2014

In the “Issues for Further Reflection” the school states “We at Quincy Catholic Academy stand firm in our commitment to school improvement, school identity, and Catholic ideals” The Visiting Committee is convinced that the accreditation process, as embraced by the school, and the implementation of all self recommendations and those recommendations made by the visiting committee will most definitely set the stage for positive growth, school improvement and quality assurance.

CONCLUSIONS

It is the conclusion of the visiting committee that Quincy Catholic Academy will use the process of accreditation to build the future vitality of the school. The Recommendations formulated by the school with immediate and future goals are well thought out and the school is poised to effect immediate change. Most notably, the ardent dedication of the Principal the Board of Trustees, the dynamic faculty and staff, all dedicated to the common goal of building a very good school into a great school with a healthy enrollment, serving the needs of the community in which it is located is the most salient attribute.Additionally, the visiting committee duly notes that there is a tremendous “esprit de corps” at this school. This vibrancy continues to contribute greatly to taking this school, still in its infancy, to great heights.

OBSERVATIONS

Commendationsthe Visiting Committee commends

Quincy Catholic Academy for the manner in which the entire school embraces the school’s mission.

the Administration, Faculty and staff of Quincy Catholic Academy for maintaining the strong sense of Catholicity which permeates the entire school.

STANDARD ONE -MISSION

CommendationsThe Visiting Committee commendsthe Board of Trustees on the diversity of its

membership and ability to utilize the specialized talents, expertise, and skills of local area business people

the Board of Trustees in its commitment to Catholic education and the vitality of the school

  

 STANDARD TWO- GOVERANCE

The Visiting Committee recommendsthat the Quincy Catholic Academy Board of Trustees

ensure that the board membership is adequate in number and diversity to more effectively serve the school.

that the Quincy Catholic Academy Board of Trustees consider adding a Nominating Committee which would continually serve to identify and appoint new board members

that the Principal and school board review the current strategic plan with a view to increasing the projections to at least a five year period and adding information such as projected costs, methods of implementation etc. to create a more comprehensive plan.

Recommendations:

CommendationsThe Visiting Committee commends Quincy Catholic Academy for its clearly stated

information on the school web site and student welcome packet regarding tuition assistance.

the school principal of Quincy Catholic Academy for her involvement with prospective students and parents during the admissions process.

the school for increased enrollment since the school’s inception in 2010.

Quincy Catholic Academy for involving their grade 8 students in the tour guide process.

 STANDARD THREE - ENROLLMENT

RecommendationsThe Visiting Committee recommends that Quincy Catholic Academy consider adding the mission

statement to the brochure that is part of the student welcome packet.

that Quincy Catholic Academy review the mission statement with prospective families during initial visits and/or tours of the school.

that Quincy Catholic Academy conduct formal exit interviews with students and their parents who depart the school prior to leaving documenting specific reasons for their departure.

The visiting committee concurs with the Quincy Catholic Academy’s self-recommendation to create a student/parent questionnaire to be mailed to graduates 3-6 months after enrollment in their selected school.

Recommendations The visiting committee concurs with the school’s self-

recommendation to provide more in-house professional development opportunities for teachers.

The visiting committee concurs with the school’s self-recommendation to hold monthly grade level meetings and further recommends establishing a more formalized and frequent schedule of those meetings.

The visiting committee concurs with the school’s self-recommendation to establish inter-grade level meetings and further recommends establishing a more formalized and frequent schedule of inter-grade level meetings.

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STANDARD FOUR - PROGRAM

that the principal and faculty set a realistic time line to complete the Quincy Catholic Curriculum so that it may be implemented throughout the school.

That QCA provide time to teachers meet together during common planning time with a view to establishing a more formalized and frequent schedule of meetings.

That the principal provide scheduled professional development in differentiated learning so that teachers may more fully integrate best practices into daily instruction.

That Quincy Catholic Academy consider expanding the middle school Mathematics program to include Advanced Mathematics and Algebra

CommendationsThe Visiting Committee commendsthe students of Quincy Catholic Academy for

being engaged in their school community and proudly sharing with the committee the opportunities they have for academic growth and support.

STANDARD FIVE-EXPERIENCE OF STUDENTS

RecommendationsThe Visiting Committee recommendsthat the administration consider conducting a

survey to assess students’ view of student life at Quincy Catholic Academy.

that Quincy Catholic Academy explore the notion of engaging non-English speaking parents in appropriate focus groups so that the school may receive feedback from all ethnic groups.

That Quincy Catholic Academy consider establishing an online grade book system for the primary and intermediate grades in addition to the middle school.

That Quincy Catholic Academy explore the possibility of translating some pages of the school website, surveys and forms into the native language on non-English speakers to reflect the composition of their parent and student body.

That Quincy Catholic Academy include a statement of non-discriminatory policy to be written in the school’s brochure and the student welcome packet.

That the Principal and faculty make a concerted effort to the formation of a technology committee to align technology resources and efforts to include teaching tools, instructional plans, reporting systems and support the archiving of student information.

CommendationsThe Visiting Committee commendsQuincy Catholic Academy for the impressive facility with an

updated Science lab, gymnasium and newly constructed outdoor playscape.

Quincy Catholic Academy for the growing K-0 and K-1 program.

Quincy Catholic Academy for the after school activities, sports, and clubs which are well organized and staffed.

The community involvement is evident within the school.Quincy Catholic Academy for its plans for the installation of

an elevator.Quincy Catholic Academy for the availability of scholarship

funds and financial aid. 

STANDARD SIX-RESOURCES TO SUPPORT PROGRAM

Recommendations: The Visiting Committee concurs with the self-study

recommendation that written procedures for library and technology need to be completed.

That more professional development on the use of technology in the classroom is provided to the teachers.

That textbooks including math, reading, science and social studies textbooks should be reviewed and updated on a regular basis.

That the principal and faculty explore ways to better utilize the current library.

That the school begin to explore ways to move the nurse’s office with a private bathroom and teacher’s bathroom(s) to more centralized locations in conjunction with planned renovations.

CommendationsThe Visiting Committee commendsthe Early Childhood teachers for currently seeking

a Masters in Early Childhood from Wheelock College.

Quincy Catholic Academy for providing curriculum and learning activities which are developmentally appropriate for three and four year olds.

The K-0 classroom for being well staffed and providing for the health and safety of the youngest learners.

 

STANDARD SEVEN – EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM

RecommendationsThe Visiting Committee recommendsThat Quincy Catholic Academy consider

creating a survey to receive feedback from parents of the preschool students to inform future programmatic decisions.

that Quincy Catholic consider developing parent letters, forms and other communications for non-English speaking parents.

CommendationsThe Visiting Committee commendsThe faculty of Quincy Catholic Academy for its enthusiastic and dedicated effort to bring the mission of the school to life through high-quality programs and instruction. 

STANDARD NINE - FACULTY

RecommendationsThe Visiting Committee recommends That Quincy Catholic Academy institute a formal and

standardized teacher assessment program that expands upon the current classroom observations and annual summation to provide teachers with necessary tools to assess and achieve individual, departmental and school-wide goals.

That the school further develop and institute a formative evaluation process for staff that is consistent, fair, and understood by all.

That Quincy Catholic Academy and its governance develop an evaluation procedure to assess school administrators.

That the school continue to build and maintain a system of professional development within the institution that serves the mission of the school and its students and furthers the professional growth of its faculty, staff and administration.

That the school make the final course provider selection and fully implement a faith formation/religion certification program for online courses for teachers and administrators.

CommendationsThe Visiting Committee commendsadministration of Quincy Catholic Academy for its strong leadership and continuing guidance as the school evolves into a viable and effective institution. RecommendationsThe visiting committee concurs with the recommendation identified in the self-study that the school continue with curriculum mapping, finalize the curriculum plans, and distribute them to the faculty.

STANDARD TEN -ADMINISTRATION

CommendationsThe Visiting Committee commendsQuincy Catholic Academy for establishing a relationship with the Lynch Foundation as a wonderful way to access expertise in planning and executing an early childhood program. The collaborative efforts have led to effective classroom set up, curriculum, and instruction, in addition to providing the financial resources for all of the above. 

STANDARD ELEVEN- EVALUATION AND ASSESSMENT

RecommendationsThe Visiting Committee recommends That the school formulate an exit interview for students and faculty

who have left Quincy Catholic Academy, and utilize the data to inform admissions, program planning, and administrative practices.

That the school develop a formal, written questionnaire to ascertain the experience of student alumni/ae.

That the school attempt to more fully meet the standard by exploring common assessments such as DRAs and benchmark (pre and post) assessments for common curriculum, especially Envision Math and Reading Street.

That the school resolve the discrepancy between reporting progress and measuring it, by implementing varied, yet common assessments.

That the school develop a formal self-evaluation template for the periodic self-evaluation of the principal.

That the school develop and publish a policy and plan on diversity and difference, derived from its mission and core values, and that it implement it to evaluate the status of the school in this regard and to guide planning to achieve goals.

CommendationsThe Visiting Committee commendsQuincy Catholic Academy for providing a safe

facility in which all doors are locked and t security is monitored through an updated camera system located in the office.

Quincy Catholic Academy for providing an enclosed playground where children of all ages can interact.

Quincy Catholic Academy for ensuring that 75% of the teachers are trained in CPR.

  

STANDARD TWELVE – HEALTH AND SAFETY

Recommendations:The Visiting Committee concurs with the

recommendation by Quincy Catholic Academy To create a document to record and follow up on

any incidents regarding health and safety.  that the school take immediate action to repair the

phone in the playground for direct communication to the school.

that the school administration assign more than one teacher to supervise the students during recess on the playground at all times.

that the school consider relocating the nurses office to a centralized location.

the school post fire drill escape routes in hallways and stair wells.

CommendationsThe Visiting Committee commendsthe school administration for implementing

and maintaining and effective system of external and internal communication and accurate record keeping.

STANDARD THIRTEEN - COMMUNICATION

 RecommendationsThe visiting committee concurs with the

recommendation identified in the self-study to offer translated versions of important notices and the school’s Web site for the benefit of non-English-speaking families.

The visiting committee concurs with the recommendation identified in the self-study to distribute minutes from Board of Trustee meetings. 

that the school administration seek ways to adopt a school wide online grade book system with a view to producing a comprehensive printed report card as well as progress reports.

CommendationsThe Visiting committee commends the Board of Trustees and the school administration for ensuring and securing the more than adequate resources which provide for the needs of the school and students.

STANDARD FOURTEEN-INFRASTRUCTURE

RecommendationsThe Visiting Committee recommendsthat Quincy Catholic Academy consider developing a

two tiered technology committee first to address the infrastructure and then integration with the goal to develop a written long range plan for school implementation.

The tiered approach would include continued investment in the school network, hardware, software, archiving and devices; and ongoing professional development, best practices and shared teacher experience/knowledge in technology integration across the curriculum.

that the principal and Board of Directors complete endorse and implement the 3 year plan to address short and long range needs including technology.

CommendationsThe visiting committee commendsthe Quincy Catholic Academy community for

their full commitment to the accreditation process.

The Quincy Catholic Academy administration, faculty and staff for their “esprit de corps” which contributed greatly to the success of the accreditation process from the first planning meetings to the visiting committee’s arrival

STANDARD FIFTEEN-THE ACCREDITATION PROCESS

RecommendationsThe visiting committee concurs with the

recommendation identified in the self-study to convene monthly meetings to discuss curriculum mapping, with a view to setting a realistic timeline for its completion and implementation.

that the principal ensure that all faculty, staff, Board of Trustee members, and other constituencies, are familiar with the self-study report and are aware of the school’s self-recommendations contained in the report which can be implemented immediately as a catalyst for school improvement.