VISION STATEMENT

In pursuit of our mission, our work at Manhattan Catholic Schools will be guided by this vision which has been developed by teachers, parents, and students.

1. We are a mission of Seven Dolors Parish, St. Thomas More Parish, and supported by surrounding Catholic and Christian communities.

2. Principal, Teachers, Staff, Students, Parents, and Parishioners work together in developing a unified faith community.

3. Students acquire intellectual growth through a rigorous and retrospective comprehensive program, which prepares them for future endeavors.

4. Encourage students to cultivate respect for self by developing healthy habits promoting physical growth.

5. Students will develop spiritually through prayer, participation in church ministries, Eucharist, service to others, and religious instruction to achieve strong Christian values.

6. Develop a Christian life-style that is based on the Catholic Faith Traditions.

7. Instill respect, acceptance, forgiveness, love, patience, social justice, honesty, perseverance, and a strong moral character to develop responsible Disciples.

8. Students will acquire the ability to confidently and successfully face the challenges and experiences of an ever-changing world.

9. Continually evaluate the needs of our students, staff, and school for enhancement of educational, social, and spiritual growth in preparation for the future.

COMMUNITY CHARACTERISTICS

         Manhattan Catholic Schools serves kindergarten through eighth grade students.  Of the 283 students enrolled in 2007-2008, 263 students are Catholic.  A majority of these students are parishioners at either St. Thomas More or Seven Dolors Parish.  Governance of the school is the responsibility of the Bishop of the Salina Diocese who delegates authority to the diocesan superintendent and the individual parishes.  Manhattan Catholic Schools is located within the Seven Dolors Parish complex and the Pastor serves as the local superintendent.  Currently Manhattan Catholic Schools has one Principal and a Development Director.
            The Manhattan Catholic Schools' Council of Education acts as a representative body for the Christian Community of Manhattan.  The council meets monthly and is a consulting and advisory body, identifying and articulating the educational needs and aspirations of the school.  Membership includes principal, teacher representative, pastor, parents and parishioners from both Seven Dolors and St. Thomas More parishes.  The principal has the responsibility of administering the educational program of the school and is responsible to the superintendent/pastor and the council for all matters pertaining to the school. 
            Students representing grades sixth through eighth serve on a student council.  The primary purpose of this organization is to work with the principal and faculty representative to continue to keep a line of communication open between the student body and the administration.
            The local Superintendent with the advice of the principal and School Council sets the tuition amount each year.  Typically, 27% of the annual operating budget is paid through Parish and Diocesan subsidies, 25% from annual fundraising and endowment earnings, and 50% from paid tuition. 
            Manhattan Catholic Schools have a Long Range Planning Committee whose function is to develop a set of goals targeting areas they feel need emphasizing in order to support the mission of the school.  These goals are to be used as guidelines for the MCS Council of Education, each of its committees, the teachers and staff at MCS, the PTO, and Booster Club.
            Manhattan Catholic Schools are situated within the city of Manhattan, Kansas.  Manhattan is located in the east central part of the state, lying where the Kansas River and the Big Blue River converge.  Manhattan is located off the major thoroughfare in Kansas, Interstate 70.  The population of Manhattan, according to the 2007 census is 50,737.  Kansas State University, with an enrollment of more the 23,000 students, contributes significantly to the population of Manhattan, as well as nearby Fort Riley Military Base, with over 38,000 active military and dependents.  The Manhattan Christian College, Manhattan Area Technical College, American Institute of Baking, Crum's Beauty College, American Academy of Cosmetology and Massage Therapy, Flint Hills Job Corps Center, and UFM Community Learning Center are also located in Manhattan.
            Manhattan can generally be described as a fairly young and highly educated community.  The median age in Manhattan is 23.5, with 73% of the population under 45 years of age.  Over 40 percent of the workforce in Manhattan have attained a bachelor's degree or above.
            Our current census records indicate that 87% of Manhattan's population is white. The remainder of the population is comprised of approximately 5% African American, 4% Asian and 4% Hispanic.
            Economically, Manhattan has a low unemployment rate of 2.8%.  The major employers in Manhattan are Kansas State University (5,529), Fort Riley Civilian Personnel (4,168), Unified School District #383 (1279), Mercy Regional Health Center (755), Farm Bureau (445), McCall Pattern (260), Home Depot (115), Target (202), Wal-Mart Super Center (470), Pawnee Mental Health Services (300), ALLTEL Wireless (330), Alorica (400), and AuthFlorence (580) .  Other large employers who have opened recently include Manhattan Surgical Center and Western Wireless.
            The local public school district, with a current enrollment of 5,886, is seeing a significant increase in student enrollment.  In 2007, the district re-opened a previously closed elementary school that now houses 233 students. The public high school, where a majority of our students attend after 8th grade, has been selected as one of four "National Exemplary Schools."  Many of our graduates have contributed to this success.  Manhattan has one other private school available.
            The city of Manhattan has many organizations and facilities that support and enhance learning in our school.  The Konza Prairie Research Natural Area, Manhattan Arts Center, Manhattan Parks and Recreation Department, Sunset Zoological Park Education Department, Beach Museum of Art, Tuttle Creek Dam and Reservoir, Kansas State University, and Riley County Historical Society, Farm Bureau, Riley County Extension, American Legion, USD #383 Wide Horizons Program, Riley County Conservation, Manhattan Fire Department, and the Manhattan Public Library provide educational opportunities for field trips and speakers to our school.  Manhattan Catholic School also is supported by our own PTO and Booster Clubs, as well as the Knights of Columbus organizations from Seven Dolors and St. Thomas More parishes, and St. Isidore Student Center. We receive support from our local priests and parish staff members.  We have tutors available through the local Community Service Program and teacher aides, available through Kansas State University.  We also have science students and professors that help to evaluate our Science Fair.  A majority of our parents volunteer in the school in some capacity.  Whether it is through the Development Office, committees, sports, activities, fund raising, or enriching arts education through Picture Person, our students also have many opportunities for community service and good works through the Seven Dolors Food Pantry, Flint Hills Breadbasket, Emergency Shelter, Budget Shop, Animal Shelter, and several retirement communities.
           

STUDENT CHARACTERISTICS

            Manhattan Catholic Schools in the 2007-2008 school years has an enrollment of 283 students. We have seen a steady enrollment since 2003. We have 145 male students and 138 female students. Of our current student population 258 are Caucasian and 25 Non Caucasian.  The number of students, K-8, receiving Special Education Services is 17. There are 8 students who qualify as low SES.  The number of students living in two-parent households is 244. There are 39 students living in non-traditional households. We have 263 students who belong to Catholic families and 20 students who belong to non-Catholic families.

                                       Student Demographics

The average daily attendance in the 2006-2007 school year was 96.62%. and students were reported tardy 1,021 times. School policy dictates that any student, in grades 1-8, absent for more than 12 days during the school year are required to make up this time at the rate of 2 hours for every day over the maximum amount of 12 days. Every five tardies is counted as a .25 day absence. The average 8th grade graduation class is 26 students per year.  We have had a zero drop out rate for our 7th and 8th graders over the past 5 school years.  Over the past five years, we have had one student suspended or expelled.
Most of our students enter at the kindergarten level. We also see an increase of enrollment at the 1st and 2nd grade levels due to curriculum and religious instruction. A majority of the student population had attended a preschool program. Of our current 8th grade students 58 % attended grades K-8 at Manhattan Catholic Schools. Many of our students have parents with high levels of education who in turn have high expectations for their children.  Many students are exposed to a myriad of educational opportunities outside the school setting, to include world travel.
During this past school year, 06-07 the 3-8th  grades all received the State Standard of Excellence on the State Assessments for Reading and the 3-7th grades also received the State Standard of Excellence on the State Assessments for Math.  This is a significant increase for us as a school and we feel it is due to the implementation of our NCA goals during cycles one, two, and three.  We have implemented many new programs, upgraded curriculum and had more staff development opportunities in math computation, reading comprehension, and growth and knowledge in liturgy.  We have also begun after school tutoring targeting our lower achieving students. 
As shown in the following tables and the displayed graphs, our students consistently perform at high levels on the IOWA Test of Basic Skills, State Assessments, and our Local Performance Tests.  It is also important to note (see chart on the previous page) that our numbers of minority, low SES, and special needs students is increasing.   ****When test scores were computed in grades 1 – 8, for the 2003-04 school year we had enough students to disaggregate by minority and white and low SES and non-SES. 

IOWA Tests of Basic Skills – 2003-2004
Average Percentage of students performing at the High and Low Stanines
(7-9)          (1-3)
Grades 1 – 8

Area tested:     Reading Comp.           Language Total                       Math Total      Computation

High Stanine         54%                              58%                                  53%                 35%

                          
IOWA Tests of Basic Skills – 2006-2007
Average Percentage of students performing at the High and Low Stanines
Grades 1 – 8

Area tested:     Reading Comp.           Math Computation

High Stanine        63%                         50%         
    
Low Stanine        1%                           6%

INSTRUCTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS

            The basic organization for the school consists of self-contained classrooms in grades kindergarten through five.  We offer a half-day kindergarten program and have two sections of each grade, one through five.  Classes switch between two teachers for some subject areas.  Grades six, seven, and eight are organized into a middle school structure and are housed in a separate building across the street. 
Middle school students alternate between four core, one religion, and three specials or elective teachers during eight forty-five minute class periods each day.  The core subjects offered in the middle school include Math, English/Language Arts, Social Studies, Science, and Physical Education.  Students also take electives which may include: Spanish, Life Skills, Robotics, Family and Consumer Sciences, Power Point, Band, Art, Algebra, Journalism, Geometry, Drama, and Health and Nutrition.  Newly adopted curriculum in the Junior High School include 7th/8th History in 2003, Life Skills in 2002, Family and Consumer Sciences in 2003, Robotics in 2000, and Accelerated Math for 7th grade in 2002.
The 7th and 8th graders can participate in extracurricular activities like volleyball, basketball, football, track, and Scholars bowl.  The 6th graders are allowed to participate in track.  These are all inter-school activities in which we are a part of the Tri-County League.  Grades 7 and 8 also take the Emporia State Scholarship Tests each year. 
Students in the elementary grades are taught the core subjects in self-contained classrooms.  Students go to art once a week, physical education and music two or three times each week, and library once a week.  The 5th grade students also participate in band.  Grade 4 goes to the computer lab once a week for keyboarding skills. Students go to the computer lab a couple times each week and work on computerized programs for reading or math facts.  Teachers in the elementary building have a fifty-minute plan time each day with two of the days being common times to plan with their partner grade-level teacher. 
Newly adopted curriculums in the elementary building include Reading in 2002, Science in 2003, Mastering Math Facts in 2003, Mavis Beacon Typing in 2002 and Math Facts in a Flash in 2003 and the Quarter-Mile Math Fact Race in 2002.  We adopted new Religion and Social Studies programs in 2004 and new Math programs in the elementary and jr. high in 2006. 
Common instructional techniques at Manhattan Catholic Schools are direct lecture instruction followed by drill and practice, as well as large and small cooperative groupings, hands on activities, technology, cross curricular and cross grade level activities. Students create many large projects, like Science Fair, States Fair, and a History Fair.  We are fortunate to have many quality speakers and guests from our local community available to speak on a variety of topics and subjects.
Testing and diagnosis for special needs students is done by the Manhattan School District (USD 383) subsequent to in-building screenings by the School Improvement Team at Manhattan Catholic Schools.  Services for Special Education, Speech, and Occupational Therapy are provided for those who qualify at appropriate sites within the public school system.  Title I and Gifted services are offered on-site to those who qualify and are provided through USD 383.  School counselors, psychologists and social workers are also available to Manhattan Catholic Schools through the local school district. Our lower achieving students, as identified by test scores and teacher observations, are given after school tutoring two days a week.  In grade 1 through 5 students are tutored in math and reading by teachers and volunteer tutors.  Individual teachers also enlist the aid of volunteers (parents, former educators, and community volunteers) to work within the classroom setting assisting the lower achieving or struggling students.  The Junior High students receive tutoring as the need arises.  Our Parish complex also includes a separate child care center that provides services to the kindergarten students as well as an After School Program to grades 1-5.
Cox Communications provides Internet services to our computer lab and classrooms.  Southwestern Bell has given us two $10,000 dollar grants to upgrade our computer lab and the PTO provided funds to have computers installed in each classroom.  In the past few years we have upgraded our phone system, with each room having voice mail, and networked computers. 
Staff development opportunities come from a variety of sources.  We attend a fall Diocesan inservice each year with a speaker chosen by the Diocesan Professional Development Council and a spring Diocesan inservice on the topic of teacher renewal.   We have 2 half-day inservices in our building on topics relating to our NCA goals.  Teachers also meet every Wednesday from 3:00 to 4:00 to do staff development, NCA work, assess student work or test scores, meet with textbook representatives, share classroom strategies, and current articles.  One Wednesday each month is directed solely to a staff meeting.  The school provides opportunities and support for teachers to attend workshops through NCA, KSDE, ESSDAC, State Conferences, USD 383 Technology courses and the Kansas Association of Independent And Religious Schools.  Teachers have opportunities for independent staff development through Kansas State University, University for Man, Tele-Net, Parish workshops and courses in Religion, and the Internet.