This area of the school improvement plan provides a profile of St. Anastasia Catholic School and the community we serve. By studying the student and community demographics, student performance, and stakeholder perspectives, we can better evaluate our overall performance and plan our future course of action.

St. Anastasia Catholic School and Community encourages students, faculty, and staff to grow spiritually each and every day. By simply walking on campus, one can feel a sense of comfort and true Catholic values. The Catholic identity is visible in the statues, crosses, paintings, and/or artwork appearing in every room of the school. The campus grounds and building walls have numerous statues, crosses and a mosaic. Bulletin boards throughout the school feature work that reflects the Catholic identity.

Each week begins with teachers gathering together for M.E.S.A., a Meeting to Energize St. Anastasia. It is then that the teachers pray together for school-related and personal intentions. On a daily basis there is exposition of the Blessed Sacrament from 7:15-8:15 AM in the church. It is not unusual for teachers as well as parents to stop in church for a few minutes of prayerful reflection before classes begin.

Every morning begins with a student-produced broadcast which includes daily prayers and devotional readings related to the liturgical seasons and current issues facing the world. In the Fall of 2007, the live telecast, "St. A Live" will resume from The Sowinski Media Center via televisions to every classroom.

Catholic identity is evident in the daily programs and curriculum at St. Anastasia. Along with daily prayers, the Catholic faith is integrated throughout each classroom using the Religion Series, Blest Are We (grades 1-5) and Christ Our Life (grades 6-8). The study and celebration of saints, feast days, and Catholic heroes enrich the students’ education. A living rosary is presented by the students, as well as the Living Stations of the Cross.

Many special programs are offered to the students and staff that promote spirituality, service, and social justice. Some of those programs are:

Liturgical Year Celebrations~ Preparation for First Communion and Reconciliation, Spiritual Retreats for grades 2 and 8, Lenten offering of monies for world hunger needs (Holy Childhood Association), classroom presentations of The Last Supper, May Crowning, the Christmas Pageant, presentation of the Passion Play, and grade level Patron Saints.

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Curriculum~ Catholic Schools Week, Peace Week (a program which encourages peaceful solutions to daily conflicts), Advisor/Advisee Program for grades 7-8 (a program which encourages students to discuss social and moral issues in their daily lives), Family Life and Morality for grades 5-7, "Game Plan" for grade 8 (life choices), Gospel Weekly magazines, Guardian Angel Program (grades k and 7 and 1 and 8).

Stewardship~ Participation in parish children’s choir and hand bell group, nursing home visits, Thanksgiving Food Drive, Holiday Toy Drive, collections of food and clothing for needy families in St. Lucie County, natural disaster relief missions, response to individual community needs (soldiers in Iraq, family debt or illness), Project "Clean Your Desk" (involves donating school supplies to schools in need), service days (grade 7 and 8), Lenten "Rice Bowl" Project.

Professional/Personal Development~ Protecting God’s Children (Diocesan sponsored program to protect children from abuse), Echos of Faith (religious certification for teachers and staff), Diocesan-sponsored catechetical workshops.

St. Anastasia School is supported by the larger Catholic community in many ways. The school has several opportunities for parents and parish members to become involved in students’ education and interests. The Chess Club and intramural sports programs such as soccer and cheerleading are evidence of these community-led organizations. Parish members and parents serve on the School Advisory Council and the Parish Council. School funding is obtained through tuition and fees, St. Anastasia Parish support, financial support from other area parishes, as well as St. Anastasia Bingo and the school’s thrift shop, Anastasia’s Attic.

Parents are required to give ten service hours of their time and/or talent each semester to the school. The Home and School Association, run by St. Anastasia parents, provides money for teacher materials, sponsors student interest programs, and recognizes teachers’ accomplishments. Community support is evident in the reaching of monetary goals set for fund raisers such as the annual Magazine Drive, Jog-A-Thon, and Winter Festival. Families and community members are encouraged to participate in Catholic Schools’ Week activities, Back to School Night, Portfolio Night, cookouts, and All-School Liturgies.

Parish Religious Education Classes are held on campus on a weekly basis. Diocesan leaders use the school, church, and Parish Center as facilities for workshops, liturgies, and reflection days.

St. Anastasia Catholic School admits students of any race, color, nationality, and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally made available to

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students of the school. Enrollment at St. Anastasia has shown a moderate decrease in

recent years. Currently, there are 661 students enrolled, and there are waiting lists for several grade levels. Annual re-registration takes place in February. Enrollment for new students occurs in March for the upcoming school year.

A reason for withdrawal is included on all withdrawal forms. The reasons are then evaluated to determine if there is a need to improve services in any area. Although records are not complete in this area, a database (spreadsheet) has been developed to better analyze reasons for withdrawal from year to year and to identify patterns or trends that may require attention. For those students who do not re-register in the Spring, a new questionnaire will include questions regarding reasons for their decision not to return.

Current reasons for withdrawal from St. Anastasia include: relocation, financial difficulties, enrollment in a Magnet School, and in rare cases, academic or emotional challenges.

St. Anastasia is a parish school. It is also the only Catholic elementary school located in St. Lucie County. The student population is comprised of pupils from 11 feeder parishes, the non-affiliated and non-Catholic sector, and the home parish of St. Anastasia.

Make up of school by parishes 2004-2005

The 2004-2005 pie chart indicates that 48% of the students are St. Anastasia Parishioners.

Seven percent of the students are non-affiliated Catholics while 19% are non-catholic. St. Marks and St. Lucie Parishes are home to the next greatest percentage of students.

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Make up of school by parishes 2005-2006

The 2005-2006 pie chart indicates that 41% of the students are St. Anastasia Parishioners. Eleven percent of the students are non-affiliated Catholics while 15% are non-catholic. The percentage of non-catholic students declined from the previous year.

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Make up of school by parishes 2006-2007

Currently 44% of the students are St. Anastasia Parishioners, 8% are non-affiliated Catholics, and again 15% are from the non-catholic domain.

Over the last three years, there has been a decline in the number of non-Catholic students. Aside from St. Anastasia Parish, St. Marks and St. Lucie Parishes represent the home parish of the majority of students.

Cooperation and reciprocity is evident between St. Anastasia School and its 11 feeder parishes. Sacramental programs are supported by the school activities and curriculum. Priests from the feeder parishes assist twice a year in an all-school Reconciliation, and are invited to attend special Liturgies during the school year. Books, videos, and other resources are shared among parishes and advertisements for St. Anastasia School are included in the feeder parish bulletins.

The following graphs provide information related to the families of St. Anastasia students. This information, which may impact learning, was gathered during the 2005-2006 school year.

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Many parents of St. Anastasia students have achieved educational levels beyond high school, with more mothers than fathers having junior college or a four-year degree. Fathers, however, have slightly more post-graduate degrees.

Approximately one-half of both mothers and fathers are in management/professional occupations. The other half includes representation from a variety of occupations as

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shown in the charts below. Two-thirds of the guardians are in managerial/professional positions, and the other third are in technical/sales occupations.

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The majority of families at St. Anastasia are traditional families, with only about 10% of the families being single-parent families. Nearly 90% of parents are married, while about 8% are divorced.

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The primary language of the school’s families is English, with Spanish speaking homes representing about 5% of the total families.

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The majority of families earn $60,000 or more annually. About 11% earn less than $40,000. Nearly 40% earn $100,000 or more each year.

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Nearly one-half of St. Anastasia families live within ten miles of the school. Nearly one-fourth of the families live over 15 miles away.

There are many opportunities for parents and parishioners to be involved in the St. Anastasia School community. An active Home and School Association has the primary purpose of "service" to the school. This organization plans guest speakers and service projects and organizes a volunteer program to aid in the instruction of the school. The School Advisory Council is an advisory organization under the auspices of the Diocese of Palm Beach and the Parish of St. Anastasia. This group meets with the Pastor and Principal once a month. Representatives from all parishes of the county, as well as the non-Catholic sector are evident on the council.

Other opportunities for involvement include special events such as "Career Day", assisting with liturgical presentations or reenactments, participating in the School Improvement Process, teacher appreciation activities, and classroom volunteering. The school website, www.stanna.org, keeps parents and parishioners up to date on information pertaining to the school or daily assignments.

St. Anastasia offers "pull-out" enrichment classes for qualified Grades1through Grade 6 students. Placement in these classes is based on teacher referrals and K-Bit testing as well as standardized testing. Additional extra-curricular enrichment activities include

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after-school art classes, sign language, choir, Chess Club, Jazz Band, Accelerated Reader, Sunshine Math, and Battle of the Books.

St. Anastasia School sponsors and/or has on its campus various extra-curricular activities for all age levels. These include: Altar Servers, Lectors, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, Brownies, Chess, Soccer, Basketball, T-Ball, Cheerleading, Tennis, Golf, Homework Clubs, and Interscholastic Sports for boys and girls (grades 5-8). Students must be academically eligible to participate in interscholastic sports and cheerleading.

St. Anastasia offers several family support services. An after-school care program is available on all regular school days from the time of dismissal until 5:30 PM. Bus transportation to and from school is available through John Carroll High School. Parent Education programs are made available through the Guidance Department. Summer School and Summer Camp are offered during the summer months. Rainbows For All God’s Children is an additional service for students who have experienced loss, divorce, or separated parents.

St. Anastasia is fortunate to have on its staff a full time Guidance Counselor whose services are available to all students and parents on a limited basis. The counselor is responsible for individual assessment, individual and group counseling, referral to outside agencies, parent consultation, teacher consultation, and classroom guidance. The counselor is also available for classroom lessons that focus on values and morality.

St. Anastasia School serves as an education center for parents and other adults in the Fort Pierce area. Parent to Parent, a parenting program lead by a facilitator using professionally prepared videos is offered to fifth grade parents. The St. Anastasia Parish Religious Education Program uses the school facilities for instructional classes. The local Community College, IRCC, utilizes school facilities for English As A Second Language (ESOL) classes. Sacramental preparation activities for parents and their children are sponsored by the school. Home and School Association and Advisory Council meetings are held at the school and are open to all parents. School events such as liturgies, prayer services, and special Advent and Lenten presentations are open to all members of the community. Parents and parishioners are encouraged to attend weekday morning and all-school masses with the students.

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St. Anastasia School offers many publications to keep parents informed of school activities. A newsletter outlining school activities, events, and information is sent home each Thursday along with a folder containing students’ weekly work. A Parent-Student Handbook is distributed to each family and outlines all school policies. Teacher newsletters are sent home to keep parents current on classroom events. Annual yearbooks and photo albums highlight the current year and the many activities that take place on campus.

Meetings open to parents, parishioners, and the community take place throughout the school year at St. Anastasia. Open House for New Families is a way to welcome new students and their families. Back To School Night for parents allows families to learn vital information and meet the teachers in a relaxed atmosphere. Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences are held throughout the school year. Portfolio Night, which is held in the spring, offers students the opportunity to share their educational growth with family members. Student Study Team meetings are attended by parents, teachers, school administrators, support staff, and guidance counselors. These meetings are designed to establish a support system for the family and an educational plan for the student.

St. Anastasia School and the Home and School Association sponsor a variety of seminars in which parents can learn techniques for parenting and communicating within the family setting. Presentations on topics such as teenage issues, financial investments, healthy lifestyles, drug and alcohol awareness, and the importance of families, are open to all.

Parents who intend on becoming a volunteer at St. Anastasia are required to participate in the Diocesan sponsored program Protecting God’s Children. This program educates the parent on recognizing signs of a potential child predator. Requirements for completion of this program include a background check and fingerprinting. The Diocese provides this training at no cost to the families.

The core curriculum at St. Anastasia School includes the areas of religion, math, language arts, science, and social studies. Unique to the St. Anastasia curriculum is a double language arts period offered at least 3 times per week in grades 5-8. Learning goals and objectives are determined at diocesan and local levels. The process used for evaluating and selecting textbooks is based on a six year cycle. Textbooks are selected from a Diocesan approved list. New publications are requested by department chairs, surveyed by teachers, discussed in departmental meetings, and ranked for selection. Faculty recommendations are presented to the administration for final review. Teachers, department chairmen, and the administrative team participate in the selection process.

Student learning styles are integrated into instructional planning and teaching strategies via varied instructional procedures and materials. Technology, such as computers, Smart Boards, digital cameras, professionally made audio tapes, and overhead transparencies

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are used daily to enhance learning. Daily lesson plans include teacher objectives, materials needed, procedure, activities or assignments, and assessment.

Subjects are integrated throughout the curriculum in many ways. Pre K through grade 2 utilizes the Plan-Do-Review technique using centers that are related to a common theme. The High Reach Program in Pre-K integrates subject areas in meaningful and fun ways, yet still addresses 8 Learning Domains. Units of study in grades 3-8 are spread across the curriculum through writing, experimenting, and research projects. Students use graphic organizers, vocabulary, writers’ workshops, and "hands-on" activities to enhance their writing skills across the curriculum. Samples of students’ work are collected in a portfolio, which is then passed on to the next teacher.

There are many educational programs of special significance at St. Anastasia. These include Learning Resource Classes for grades 1-8, Speech and Language, Title I Reading, Band, Art, Spanish, General Music, Computer, Drama, Study Skills, Newspaper (Journalism), Integrated Media Skills (taught by the media specialist for grades K-6), High School Algebra, and Physical Education. All of these programs enrich the St. Anastasia curriculum.

Integration of Catholic truths and values is brought about at St. Anastasia not only by its curriculum but also by the presence of teachers, administrators, and staff who share a commitment to delivering those values to others. All members of the administration and staff are qualified by preparation and experience to teach and work at St. Anastasia School. Administrators and teachers meet personnel standards for supervising and teaching in a Catholic School in the state of Florida. The chart below depicts a profile of the faculty and staff.

*Full time is 30 or more hours per week.

St. Anastasia follows the Florida Catholic Conference Standards as to class size limits, while trying to keep primary grades below the maximum allowed by the FCC. We are fortunate to have a teacher assistant in every classroom in grades Pre-K through 3. There is also an assistant for each grade level in grades 4-8. This reduces the teacher/student ratio at St. Anastasia.

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Teaching positions at St. Anastasia are announced to the school and community. These positions are also advertised on the Diocesan Web page, the school website www.stanna.org and the church bulletin. Available positions are usually filled by active members of the community or from families within the school or parish community. After a review of resumes, the top candidates are called for a formal interview. The formal interview involves current teachers and administrators who assist each other with the final selection.

Formal teacher observations take place two times during the school year. The first observation is completed after the first semester. The second observation is completed at the end of the school year. Formal evaluations are placed in the teachers’ files. Informal observations take place frequently throughout the year with administrators stopping in for classroom visits and lesson plan checks. Feedback is given to the teachers as warranted and appropriate.

St. Anastasia School offers the following benefits to its employees:

-A health insurance package through the Diocese of Palm Beach*

-A pension plan which is currently 7.25% of salary

-Free after-care program for all children of employees

-Services from the local Credit Union

-A $25,000 Life Insurance Policy*

-17% discount on tuition

-An optional 403B Plan

(* Indicates services offered to full time employees only.)

Faculty and staff members have on-going opportunities for spiritual, professional, and personal growth. The Diocesan sponsored Echos of Faith classes are attended by all teachers. The entire faculty is required to update their knowledge base using Virtus, a program that provides the foundation and structure of all the risk control initiatives undertaken on behalf of the Catholic Church. Teachers and staff are always encouraged to attend daily adoration at the church, and to attend Mass. Many faculty members are teachers of the Parish Religious Education classes which take place every Monday at the

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school. Teachers are also involved in the new Children's Liturgy Program and the new Nursery Program which are offered at the 9:30A.M. Sunday Mass. There are also faculty members who are sponsoring other adults in the process of becoming Catholic (RCIA).

Some members of the St. Anastasia School faculty and/or staff are members of the following Professional Organizations:

National Catholic Educational Association

Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development

National Association for the Education of Young Children

Chamber of Commerce

Reading Council of St. Lucie County

Delta Kappa Gamma

Florida Music Education National Convention

Adrian Dominican Order

TCAC Sports Organizations

Zora Neal Hurston Foundation

Royal Palms of St. Lucie County

U.S. Master Swimming

American Counseling Association

St. Anastasia School subscribes to the following professional journals:

Today’s Catholic Teacher

Catechist

Religion Teacher Journal

School Library Journal

The Instructor

Challenge-Reaching and Teaching the Gifted Child

Mailbox Magazine

AIMS (Hands-on math and science)

Florida Reading Association

-Teachers on the Cutting Edge (research quarterly)

International Reading Association

-Reading Today (newspaper)

-The Reading Teacher

-Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy

Federal monies are available annually to St. Anastasia School for staff development. Federal guidelines require that all teachers participate in a staff development needs survey each spring to determine these workshops. Additional monies for staff development, workshops, and conferences are provided by the school. The past two years of in-service programs at St. Anastasia have focused on technology. "Powerpoint" and its uses, "Gradebook" for recording student data and grades, and "My School Online"

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which lists student classwork and homework assignments, have all been workshop topics. Teachers also attend Diocesan sponsored inservices pertaining to curriculum, textbooks, and spirituality.

The yearly budget allocation per teacher for school-site development at St. Anastasia is approximately $285.00. This includes funding from local and federal sources. At this time, a 5 year Staff Development Plan is being developed by the Principal, following a survey of all teachers.

The four-building campus of St. Anastasia Catholic School contains a Main Building, two smaller multi-classroom buildings, a multi-room band facility, and the Sowinski Family Media Center, which houses a teacher resource room, religious resource room, Art, Spanish, Title 1, Computer, Speech and Language and Music classrooms. A covered pavilion and physical education office, along with 2 playing fields and 2 playgrounds are also located on campus. Two outdoor eating areas with covered tables are located near the center of campus. All facilities are also used for parish functions such as parish religion education classes, retreats, St. Vincent de Paul meetings, weekly Bingo, and other parish events.

There are many technological resources available on campus. The Sowinski Family Media center houses two computer labs, each with 18 student stations and 1 teacher station. Each multimedia computer is networked to both a black and white and color printer, and internet access is readily available. Students also have access to scanners and digital cameras. Each teacher station contains a projector and an interactive Smart Board for instructional purposes. Every classroom has at least 2 computers available for student use.

St. Anastasia has a full time maintenance department. Daily upkeep and janitorial services are supplied by this maintenance staff. As part of a preventative maintenance plan, inspections are done as follows:

-State of Florida Department Inspections are scheduled 4 times yearly in classrooms, on the playground, water fountains, and food preparation areas.

-Sprinkler and fire alarm systems are inspected annually.

-AC units are inspected and filters are changed monthly.

-Extermination of all grounds by Adams Pest Control takes place on a monthly basis.

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Many capital improvements have taken place at St. Anastasia School. The status of this capital improvement plan is outlined below.

- The Sowinski Family Media Center (Completed August, 2006)

-A new roof on the main building (Completed July, 2006)

-A new roof and lights on the pavilion (Completed 2004)

Goals for future capital improvements:

-Renovate the Main Building-windows, doors, kitchen, HVAC Systems, restrooms

-Update the Technology Plan-acquire new hardware and software

-Create a data base for grades, report cards, permanent records

-Purchase a new and improved playground

-Put into operation the existing security cameras

-Purchase new audio/video equipment for the "St. A Live" television program

Health, safety, and security issues are reviewed at the beginning of each school year and are revisited as needed. Health responsibilities are overseen by the office manager. Health records, including physicals and up-to-date immunizations are updated annually. The St. Lucie County Health Department periodically reviews student health records. Students in selected grade levels are given annual sensory screenings which include vision, hearing, body mass index, and scoliosis.

Safety and security at St. Anastasia consists of a multifaceted plan which includes the following measures:

-Children are under adult supervision at all times while in school.

-All visitors must sign in at the office and receive a visitor’s pass. Anyone on campus without a pass is asked their purpose, and directed to the office.

-Teachers and staff are required to wear an identification tag at all times.

-Emergency evacuation procedures (fire, tornado) are posted in a visible place in each classroom. Practice drills are performed several times throughout the year.

Representatives from each Unit meet monthly with the Assistant Principal to discuss security issues and offer solutions to maintain a high level of safety.

g. Budget and Finance

Each year the school budget process begins with the Principal soliciting suggestions regarding physical plant and classroom material needs from faculty and staff through the Principal’s Council, Department Chairs, and the Office Manager. Input regarding need is also sought from the School Advisory Council and the Pastor. A finance committee is appointed in November by the President of the Council to prepare a suggested budget.

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This committee works closely with the Principal and in consultation with the Pastor. In mid-January, the budget is presented by the finance committee for the Pastor’s review and approval. This proposed budget is explained to the entire council in late January for its review and approval. The tuition and other pertinent financial information is addressed in the Thursday newsletter for all parents in February.

The per pupil costs at St. Anastasia, as stated in an annual report completed

each September, are as follows:

Per Pupil Costs

2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07

Spent per pupil $4088 $4368 $4848 $5240

(projected)

% of increase

from previous year n/a 7% 11% 8%

The increase in per pupil costs annually reflect a modest salary increase for all employees, as well as an increase in related employee expenses. It is believed that the larger-than-usual increase from the 2004-05 school year to 2005-06 of 11% is due to the major hurricane damages the school suffered from both Jeanne and Frances, as well as the increase in fuel costs which impacted most all services, utilities, transportation, supplies and materials.

For the 2006-07 school year, 49 or 7% of the students received academic scholarships or financial aid. The sources of the scholarships and aid include: generous school and parish families; trusts and gifts through the diocese; parish bingo; and the school endowment corporation.

St. Anastasia Parish provides monthly financial support as well as many in-kind contributions and services. Other parishes in the surrounding area whose students attend the school provide monthly support following the diocesan formula.

There are a number of local businesses that have a history of maintaining a school-business partnership with St. Anastasia. These include banks, savings and loan institutions, insurance companies, a construction company, air-conditioning companies, a tire company, and restaurants, to name a few. For many years St. Anastasia has also enjoyed a strong partnership with the local community college.

The tuition schedule for the 2003-04 through 2006-07 appears in the table below.

Tuition Schedule (1 Catholic, Subsidized by Parish)

2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07

Tuition

1 Child $3201 $3388 $3575 $3790

% of increase 6% 5% 6%

from previous year

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As noted in the table above, the rate of tuition increases for the last 3 years has remained consistent, hovering around 6%.

The table below depicts the dollars budgeted for 2006, as well as dollars spent in the

3 previous years.

2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07

Budget $2,803,858 $2,979,167 $3,249,709 3,476,861

Dollars

% of increase

over previous

years 6% 9% 7%

It appears that yearly expenditures increase about 6-7%, with the exception being between the 2004-05 school year and the 2005-06 school year. In 2005-06, due to

hurricane damage, there were roof repairs, wall repairs, testing for mold, and increased fuel costs, causing the 9% increase in dollars spent.

Tuition and fees represent about 83% of the school’s income for 2006-07. Direct student fundraising is only 1% of the budgets revenue, while profits from the uniform store, thrift shop, extended care, the lunch program and summer camp bring an almost 9% of the revenue. St. Anastasia Parish and surrounding parishes provide about 7% of the school’s annual revenue.

Salaries, related expenses, and employee benefits account for 68% of budgeted expenses for the 2006-07 school year. Instructional expenses at 17% is the next largest expense item. Plant costs, fixed costs, program expenses and administrative expense round out budgeted expenditures for 2006-07.

Personnel costs, which is 68% of the total budgeted expenditures, is a low percentage in relation to other institutions.

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