Strategic and Master Plan

Strategic Plan

Our legacy is a spirit of both possibility and promise - a community that sets to work not only for the benefit of their own children and students, but also to plan and invest in a still more exceptional education for those who will follow.  

Our Strategic Plan preserves the school's character as a healthy, joyous and distinctive learning community, while envisioning new initiatives to advance our mission, reinforce our strengths and expand upon our commitment and connection to the greater community.

MCDS is committed to fostering students' growth as inquisitive, competent, eager and purposeful participants in a rapidly evolving world of opportunity and challenge.  Key elements of the current plan include:

• Core Curriculum Review:  Dynamic mapping and integration of core curriculum to ensure alignment with the school's mission and philosophy as well as with best educational practices.
• Enhancement of Technology:  Tools for a wide variety of learners to explore multiple avenues of understanding and expression, and an integrated technology plan to address curriculum, standards, access, teacher training and resources.
• Environmental Sustainability:  Integrated ecological literacy curriculum for all grade levels, and a green practices action plan to make MCDS facilities and daily practices ecologically sustainable.
• Global Awareness and Engagement:  Advance our ongoing efforts to build and nurture an inclusive school community that welcomes a diversity of people, ideas, cultures and principles of equity and justice; and to encourage effective participation as world citizens.
• Teacher Development:  Ensure MCDS faculty and staff have the skills to implement program initiatives, and explore a Teacher Development Institute.
• Parent Education:  Extend our current Community Education program to include a focus on strategic initiatives, and incorporate developmentally appropriate student involvement.
• Facilities:  Address acute space shortages and enhance our facilities based on the campus master plan to support curricular and auxiliary programs.
• Financial Stewardship:  Refine long-range financial and development plans to attain the school's strategic goals. 

Master Plan

As MCDS strives to envision the future for its students, it must also articulate how the campus can support the mission of the school.  The Master Plan addresses the physical campus facilities, both buildings and outdoor spaces, but its ultimate purpose is to facilitate the school's educational vision.  The school seeks to be a responsible steward of its beloved campus and craft an intelligent plan for future generations.

The master plan was guided by principles that would ensure any future improvements to the campus will be consistent with the school's mission and values:

• Maintain the character and quality of the existing campus
• Preserve the open feel and connection to the natural site
• Keep the campus within the existing footprint
• Utilize buildings as much and as long as possible
• Minimize program disruption
• Use sustainable, sensible and educational design strategies

 A key objective of the plan is to recommend programmatic priorities and identify a rational location and sequence in which they can occur.  It addresses urgent space needs that affect the educational experience at MCDS and promotes enhanced learning and working environments for students, faculty, staff and the broader MCDS community.  The plan reflects our values, our traditions, and our continued commitment to preserve the quality and character of this very special campus for students and families.